Did you know massage decreases the amount of time phototherapy is needed? Jaundice in neonates is a common problem, effecting 60-80% of babies. Historically the primary treatment for jaundice has been phototherapy, but phototherapy is not without risks. Side effects include rash, diarrhea, hyperthermia, dehydration, possible increased risk in childhood cancer, and physical separation from [...]
Did you know mothers want to be present for their infant's painful procedure? In a 2020 article published by the Journal of Neonatal Nursing, Hassankhani et al examined the effects of maternal presence and nursing bias during a painful procedures in Iran. Due to cultural differences, only mothers were permitted to participate in care. 15 [...]
Did you know skin-to-skin is more effective at reducing stress than care in an incubator? Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are exposed to many stressors. Growing evidence suggests that stress in early life can lead to long-term neurodevelopmental consequences. These NICU stressors are often unintended or necessary medical interventions to keep the infant [...]
Do you know the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affect oral feeding? In a December 2019 article, Fucile et al explored the intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting oral feeding in preterm infants. Safe and successful oral feeding requires more than just suck, swallow, and breathe coordination. As discussed by the authors, intrinsic factors include the [...]
Did you know changes in models of care increase preventative therapy referrals? In a 2019 article, the Royal London Children’s Hospital in the United Kingdom reported on a Quality Improvement Project that was conducted in their Level II NICU. The Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) team believed that the current model of problem-based referrals was [...]
Did you know that skin-to-skin holding benefits fathers too? In a 2019 research study, Huang and associates studied the effects of paternal skin-to-skin contact on term infants and their fathers after cesarean delivery. A total of 100 infants born via cesarean section and their fathers were studied. The newborns were randomly assigned to 2 groups (n = [...]
Did you know parental involvement can reduce pain in preterm infants? In a 2019 literature review entitled Pain, Parental Involvement, and Oxytocin in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Filippa et al explored the many painful and stressful procedures preterm infants experience on a daily basis in the NICU, as well as the role of oxytocin [...]
Did you know LOS can be decreased when we focus on non-pharmacological interventions for opioid exposed infants? In a 2019 literature review, Piccotti and associates examined the effects of the opioid crisis on pregnant women, mothers, and their infants. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey, more than 14 million people in [...]
Did you know how we engage with families impacts how supported they feel? In a 2019 article entitled Parents’ Experiences of Support In NICU Single-Family Rooms, Liu & Associates explored parental feelings of support and nonsupport in the single family room design of a Level III NICU in Canada. We know that single family rooms [...]
Did you know each time you position a baby in the NICU you can improve their motor development and weight gain? In a 2019 study, Improving Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in NICU Patients, Painter & colleagues examined the impact of developmental positioning on length of stay, weight gain, tone and flexion. Researchers performed a retrospective chart [...]