Children's Mercy Kansas City’s Post

It’s the last day of Bliss’ Full Term Awareness Month and #rarediseaseday2024 As a neonatal parent 2 times over, one born premature and one born full term, I want to share a little about my daughter’s story. Having had a prem baby first, I fully expected that I might have another prem baby. However, when I got past 37 weeks with her we breathed a sigh of relief and started to believe that this time we’d get a ‘normal’ experience. Sadly it couldn’t have been more different. Despite a straightforward birth at 38 weeks and 5 days and everything seeming to be ok, (we even went home initially), things went quickly downhill for Eleanor. At 3 days old she had emergency bowel surgery for a serious blockage which resulted in the loss of some bowel, a stoma, a 2 month stay on an neonatal intensive care unit, sepsis, and a devastating diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis. It was terrifying, traumatising, exhausting and so much harder the second time round as we had a two and a half year old at home too. There are many reasons for full term babies needing neonatal care, and a statistic that not many people know is that 60% of babies who need neonatal care are full term. Eleanor was one of those statistics. Although both of our neonatal experiences were incredibly difficult, we had the harder, longer, more traumatic time with our full term baby. Many people think that neonatal units are only for premature babies, but it’s important to remember that that isn’t the case and that term babies can be very poorly too and need the expert care and attention that only a neonatal care unit can provide. At my role at Bliss we hear so often how isolating the experience can be for parents of a term baby on a neonatal unit. More awareness needs to raised so that all babies born needing neonatal care, and their families, experience the best care possible. Bliss represents all babies born premature and sick, and our support services are there for all families too. 🧡 #fulltermfeelings #rarediseaseday2024 #bliss #cysticfibrosis

Pumping breast milk in the #NICU is a demanding task, and as a dad or partner, you play an essential role in supporting pumping moms through this journey. From the pressure to maintain a consistent pumping schedule, establish and maintain a sufficient milk supply, to navigating the roller coaster of emotions like guilt, frustration, sadness, and exhaustion—the need for support has never been greater. Read "Supporting Pumping Moms in the NICU: A Guide for Dads and Partners" or ways to provide assistance and emotional support to pumping moms in the NICU at https://bit.ly/47rvDcl.

Fathers’ Experiences in the Post Natal Period: Relationships, Stress and Bonding in the Context of COVID-19 and NICU Admission Free. Monday 16 September 2024, from 12.30 to 2 pm, Online: Zoom This Grand Rounds event will incorporate two Doctoral research projects. Firstly Fathers’ Experiences of Parenting and Bonding in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will look at fathers’ experiences of parenting and bonding throughout their baby’s stay in the NICU and the initial weeks post-discharge. Small ways that professionals can support fathers throughout their child’s stay in the NICU are also discussed. The second presentation will explore fathers’ experiences of perceived stress, loneliness and social support during the postpartum period, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. Participants’ descriptions of feeling excluded from maternity care and lacking avenues for information within the Irish healthcare system will be discussed. Presenters: Dr Aisling Hagerty and Sarah Murray Cunningham more info on the events page of The Psychological Society of Ireland All welcome. https://lnkd.in/eGP5zj2s

We know just how important high quality, well-designed equipment can be during neonatal care. Find out more about Weyer THERMOCARE KCE - a helpful addition to any maternity or neonatal setting 👇 The Weyer THERMOCARE KCE modular warming system for infants is exclusively available in the UK from Central Medical Supplies, a specialist supplier of neonatal products. Specifically designed for infants, Weyer THERMOCARE KCE is ideal for babies who need specialised care. The warming system creates an ideal development-promoting and thermally stable environment. The system is height-adjustable and comprises of a warming bed with under-pad heating and a radiant warmer. The bed can be tilted up and down by one hand, with the baby remaining centrally positioned below the radiant warmer. This ensures the infant is not exposed to temperature fluctuations. All of the bed walls can be folded down, also by one hand, allowing unimpeded access for both healthcare professionals and parents. Weyer THERMOCARE KCE features an actively heated gel pad, to stabilise body temperature. The large volume of accumulated heat in the gel pad provides the perfect thermal balance to the baby and supports quick warming of hypothermic patients. The soft and warm gel pad reminds the baby of the contact with their parents’ skin, making the infant calm and content. A radiant warmer provides gentle heat so the baby feels cosy and warm. This combination of long-wave infrared radiation and conductive heat from the gel pad creates the ideal conditions for a thermally neutral environment in open care. Find out more and enquire today 👉 https://lnkd.in/ehSPVg_w #Weyer THERMOCARE KCE [AD]

🌟 Family Reflections: Prematurity is for Life, Not Just the Neonatal Unit 🌟 In 2006, Mandy Daly's journey into motherhood took an unexpected turn. At just 25 weeks pregnant, complications arose, leading to a life-threatening placenta abruption. Her daughter, Amelia Faith, was born weighing a mere 780 grams. The experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) redefined their lives. Key Reflections for the Scientific and Clinical Community: -The Reality of Preterm Birth: Preterm infants are not just smaller; their neurological, sensory, respiratory, and other systems are underdeveloped. This complexity demands a nuanced approach to care. -Parental Challenges: The transition from the NICU to home is daunting. Parents often feel unprepared and overwhelmed by their new caregiving roles. There is a pressing need for better education and support for families post-discharge. -Long-term Health Implications: The journey does not end at NICU discharge. Chronic lung disease, sensory processing disorder, and developmental challenges continue to affect premature infants' daily lives. These experiences highlight the importance of extended follow-up care for preterm infants into adulthood. -Pain Perception and Sensory Issues: Preterm infants undergo numerous painful procedures, impacting their future pain perception. Sensory challenges can affect all aspects of life, from school performance to daily functioning. -The Need for Specialized Care: There is a critical need for the development of sub-specialties to provide ongoing care for adults born preterm. A family-centered and developmentally supportive care model in the NICU is essential to improve long-term outcomes. -Research and Advocacy: Future research must be informed by the lived experiences of preterm infants and their families. This holistic understanding can drive better clinical practices and support systems. Amelia's story is a testament to the resilience of preterm infants and their families. It underscores the necessity for a lifelong, supportive healthcare framework to ensure these children can thrive. Let's continue to push for advancements in neonatal care and support families through their unique journeys. 💖 #PretermBirth #NICU #NeonatalCare #PediatricResearch #FamilyCentricCare #LongTermHealth #MedicalResearch #HealthcareInnovation Read the article (link in comments), words have sometimes more weight than a p-value.

An estimated 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020. NICU technology can support neonatal care and the unique needs of premature babies. GE HealthCare plant manager Eduardo shares his story of how the technology he personally worked on supported his premature son. #PrematurityAwarenessMonth #WorldPrematurityDay2023 #Prematurity #PrematureBaby #NewbornHealth

An estimated 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020. NICU technology can support neonatal care and the unique needs of premature babies. GE HealthCare plant manager Eduardo shares his story of how the technology he personally worked on supported his premature son. #PrematurityAwarenessMonth #WorldPrematurityDay2023 #Prematurity #PrematureBaby #NewbornHealth

An estimated 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020. NICU technology can support neonatal care and the unique needs of premature babies. GE HealthCare plant manager Eduardo shares his story of how the technology he personally worked on supported his premature son. #PrematurityAwarenessMonth #WorldPrematurityDay2023 #Prematurity #PrematureBaby #NewbornHealth

An estimated 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020. NICU technology can support neonatal care and the unique needs of premature babies. GE HealthCare plant manager Eduardo shares his story of how the technology he personally worked on supported his premature son. #PrematurityAwarenessMonth #WorldPrematurityDay2023 #Prematurity #PrematureBaby #NewbornHealth

An estimated 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020. NICU technology can support neonatal care and the unique needs of premature babies. GE HealthCare plant manager Eduardo shares his story of how the technology he personally worked on supported his premature son. #PrematurityAwarenessMonth #WorldPrematurityDay2023 #Prematurity #PrematureBaby #NewbornHealth