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Newborn Care Nursery
Newborn Care Nursery
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Family Information
As parents, you are encouraged to spend as much time with your baby as you wish any time day or night; you can phone at any time and as often as you need, especially if you are worried about your baby.
From the start, make it your goal to form a working relationship with the healthcare team; help us keep in touch with you. It is important that the nursery knows where you can be reached. Please make sure your contact number is up to date.
Visitors
As parents, only you can decide who may visit your baby; visitors should come with parents unless you have made other plans. Please tell your baby's nurse or the Nursing Unit Clerk, who can visit your baby when you are not there, this will be noted on the visitation kardex.
Information About Your Baby
We will only give Information to all parents on admission. The telephone number for the nurseries is (604) 875-2136 or 1-888-300-3088.
The Nurseries Routine
Shift changes happen from 7:00 - 7:30 a.m. and 7:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Most of the staff in the Nursery work 12-hour shifts. The day shift starts at 7:00 am, and the night shift starts at 7:00 pm. Shift change can be a very busy time as staff going on or off shift report to one another. Therefore, it is not always a suitable time to visit.
Rounds
Rounds occur every morning from 8:15 - 10:30 a.m. and include all of the staff on the health care team; you are welcome to join rounds on your baby.
Parents' Group
You are invited to attend a bi-weekly meeting for parents. The meeting gives parents a chance to talk about their concerns and to connect with other parents. It happens Wednesdays from 1:30 - 2:30 pm in the NICU Family Lounge.
What to Expect
Babies come to the nursery for specialized care that is not available in their community. You may meet families from British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon.
Between 1600 1700 babies are admitted to our nurseries each year.
The average length of time a baby stays in the nursery is twenty-two days. A helpful guide to use as a marker for going home is your baby's due date. If your baby was born at 25 weeks gestation, your baby will likely be in hospital for about 15 weeks. If your baby has complications, the stay in hospital will be longer.
The first week may be the hardest, but eventually you will get used to all the equipment and strange sounds and learned to just pay attention to your baby.
Keeping Warm
Most babies are cared for in an incubator. This can make touching and being close to your baby seem hard for you. The incubators are covered to protect your baby from the light and noise in the nursery. Other babies are kept warm, observed, and cared for on an open-bed warmer. As babies mature, gain weight and become stronger, they can move into a crib or cot. This is usually when a baby weighs about 3 pounds (or between 1300-1500 grams).
Monitors
There is alot of equipment in the nurseries. The most common equipment is the monitor that measures the baby's heart rate and breathing (cardiorespiratory monitor). Other monitors measure the amount of oxygen in the blood (oximeter).
Breathing
Many babies are in our nurseries have problems breathing. In the case of premature babies it is because the lungs are not fully developed. Babies born near term may be too sick or weak to breathe without the support of a ventilator.
Babies often need oxygen therapy too which can be given many different ways. It can be added to the air in the incubator, by nasal prongs in the nose, or by the ventilator.
Nutrition
Most babies are not well enough to be fed right away. An intravenous (IV) will be used to give nutrition (TPN) and medications.
The most common place for IVs is on the hands or feet. Sometimes the umbilical cord or veins on the scalp are used. If the scalp is used your baby's hair may need to be shaved. The nurse will try to save some hair from your baby's first haircut.
We strongly encourage mother's to breastfeed or express their milk for their baby. There are a number of breast pumps available but limited freezer space.
Tests and Procedures
Babies in the our nurseries frequent need tests or procedures such as blood tests and x-rays. This provides up-to- date information about your baby's changing needs.
The nurses and or doctors will be able to explain any tests or procedures and answer all your questions.
Blood Transfusions
Many babies who are in Special Care Nursery require blood transfusions. There are many reasons for this. Most babies need frequent blood tests. Over time, the blood your baby loses may need to be replaced. Sometimes premature babies are unable to make enough red blood cells and they develop anemia. Other reasons for a blood transfusion are surgery or blood disorders. All efforts are made to avoid blood transfusion when possible. Your consent for a blood transfusion is required.
Giving Your Own Blood to Your Baby
This is called Directed Donation. Only parents can give blood to their baby; the screening takes time, as long as two weeks. Start the process as early as possible. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of giving your blood to your baby.
Research
There are often a number of research projects, studies, or clinical trials going on in the Nursery. You may be asked for permission to have your baby take part in one or more of these studies.
All research in the Nursery has been carefully reviewed and approved by special committees: the Research Review Committee at Children’s and Women’s, and the University of British Columbia Research Ethics Board. The committees make sure that the study follows certain standards and may improve the way care is provided to infants.
Your written consent is always needed before your baby can be in a study. Someone will explain the study to you before asking you to sign a consent form. They will tell you the reason for the study and what they expect to learn. They will also explain any risks or benefits of the study.
Remember that the final decision belongs to you. You cannot be forced to have your baby in a study. You can also change your mind at any time. Your baby's care will not be affected if you decide not to take part in a study, or if you change your mind after the study has started. Ask a lot of questions. If you do not understand the answer, just ask again and again until you do.