Neonatal Intensive Care Unit:

Continued from last issue

Prevention of Infection in the NICU

Everyone who comes into the NICU must wash their hands when they enter, there will be a sink and antibacterial soap in the room and near the entrance of the NICU. This is a crucial part of keeping the NICU environment as clean as possible so the babies won’t be exposed to infections. Hospitals require visitors to wear hospital gowns and if a child is in isolation, you may also need to wear gloves and a mask.

Noise and Light

Try not to bang things on the incubator or infant warmer, talk in a loud voice or slam doors. If you are concerned about the light, ask a nurse if you can drape a blanket partially over the incubator. It is most important to let your baby sleep when he or she needs to.

Bonding with your baby in the NICU

Bonding with your baby in the NICU is as important as bonding with any newborn, sometimes even more so. Parents can always visit and spend time with their NICU babies. The number o f people who can visit a baby in the NICU may be limited, but parents are usually allowed to visit their child any time of the day.

Other family members can visit only during specified hours and only a few at a time. Young siblings are not allowed in the NICU because children have a greater risk of introducing an infection. Depending on how sick your child is, you may be able to hold your little one even if he or she is on a ventilator or has an IV. A gentle, consistent touch will be the most reassuring.

If you can hold your baby, you may be able to breast feed or pump your milk and feed your baby with a spoon. Most NICUs encourage mothers to breast feed their babies at the bedside. “Kangaroo car” or skin – to – skin contact is another option to help you forge a bond with your new baby. Place your baby on your chest underneath your shirt to keep him or her warm. Research has shown that skin – to – skin contact can improve baby’s recovery time and help them leave the NICU sooner.

The best way for parents to help their babies in the NICU is to be there for them and learn to read their behaviour. This will help you to figure out when your baby is stressed and needs to rest, when your baby is ready to bond with you, what type of interaction your baby likes, what time of day your baby is most alert and how long your baby can respond to you before getting tired. Although you want to make time for interacting with your infant, your baby needs periods of undisturbed sleep.