The Care Notebook was developed for the family of a newborn with a history of opioid exposure, as a "go-to" resource . It is given to opiate-dependent pregnant women who enter or are already in treatment during their pregnancy, or during the antepartum period when they meet for a consultation with the Neonatalogist.

At this consultation, a history and current medical information is obtained, the parents are informed of expected outcomes for their baby and potential treatment their newborn may need in the first few weeks of life.

Families are encouraged to use The Care Notebook as an ongoing resource and diary during their pregnancy and most importantly in the first year of their baby’s life.

The Care Notebook template is offered as a resource to improve the coordination of care for families both during and after pregnancy. Sections in the notebook include:

• Stories: This section includes stories written by mothers in recovery.  They share their story; their fears, struggles and accomplishment and the wonderful challenges of being a mother.  These stories are to serve as a source of encouragement and community for women who have become pregnant and are in a treatment program
• Personal Information: Family and newborn history, current and ongoing newborn history
• Resources and Contacts: Community resources for pregnancy, families and children 
• Before Birth: When to call the doctor, signs and symptoms of preterm labor, pain relief options
• After Birth: Information on initial care of baby including breastfeeding and feeding schedules
• Development and Play: Bonding and reading with baby, play, developmental milestones
• Baby Medicine: Neonatal Abstinence Screening Tool (NAS), treatment options for newborn withdrawal (as needed)
• My Notes and Thoughts: Pages for notes, monthly calendars, a list of appointments and a sleeve for business cards

The notebooks provide clinical information as well as an opportunity to document and save historical data on their baby; thereby empowering the mother to be an advocate and provide ongoing information on her baby's health, growth and development.  The ICON project has raised awareness and put a human face on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for pregnant women.

For more information on the ICON project or The Care Notebook please contact VCHIP’s Project Director, Miriam Sheehey at miriam.sheehey@uvm.edu or 802-656-9107.