Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.
Issue link: https://spiritofwomen.epubxp.com/i/573970
2 4 SHUTTERSTOCK S P I R I T O F W O M E N FA L L 2 015 w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m N E O N A T A L C A R E positive outcome for all involved. Many hospitals have a wide range of counseling services available for all family members, acknowledging that the way a young child deals with the stress of having a brother or sister in the NICU is very different from how a parent copes with the situation. In addition, a NICU baby's older siblings may now be allowed to visit, as long as they're healthy. "It helps them gain a better understanding of why Mom and Dad are gone so much," explains Dr. Martin. "They feel like they're part of the process, and then they start to bond with their new sibling." Family-centered hospitals may also offer other services to aid in the coping process, such as on-site showering and laundry facilities for parents who need to stay at the facility for long periods of time. "We try to partner the family with a primary nurse, so they develop familiarity with a staff member," says Dr. Martin. "It helps when you have a particular nurse, or team of nurses, who you feel you can speak to, instead of a constant rotation of new faces." BABY-FRIENDLY PRACTICES The impact of family- centered care, however, goes well beyond the immediate needs of families while their child is in the NICU. Family-focused NICU and neonatology programs also emphasize sound child-rearing choices. Recently, pediatricians and pediatric hospitals across the country have united to urge mothers to breastfeed their newborns. It's also encouraged in the NICU, if the child is medically stable and strong enough to breastfeed. "There's a mountain of research pointing to the many benefits of breastfeeding," says Dr. Marilyn Giorgi, a neonatologist at Community Medical Center in Toms River, N.J. "Children breastfed as babies have fewer occurrences of respiratory tract infections, ear infections, eczema, diabetes and other conditions. Moms indicate a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer, hypertension and cardiovascular disease." Family-centered NICUs also place an increased emphasis on palliative care (relief from symptoms and pain in a serious illness). Palliative care is a relatively (continued from page 23) new development in neonatology, but one that Dr. Tracey Thompson believes is incredibly important. "Premature infants actually feel more pain than older infants, children and adults because their pain pathways mature before pathways that modulate the pain response," says Dr. Thompson, a neonatologist at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn. "We now understand more about that. Palliative care is now a key component of care at all ages and addresses the quality of life for those with life-limiting illnesses and their families. It's a huge part of the neonatology field now," she adds. • In addition to specially trained nurses and physicians, the medical professionals who work with babies and families in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may include: • Occupational therapists to help fgure out how well a baby is feeding and swallowing • Physical therapists, who look at any problems a baby has in moving and how they might affect sitting, rolling over or walking • Registered dietitians (RD), who help make sure a baby is getting all needed nutrients • Respiratory therapists trained to care for babies with breathing problems • Social workers, who can help families get information from their baby's provider, offer information on their baby's medical problems, give emotional support, help navigate insurance and help plan for when their baby comes home • Speech and language therapists, who often help newborns with feeding problems Source: March of Dimes Who's who in the NICU Family-focused neonatology programs also emphasize sound child-rearing choices.