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Bonding And Baby Care
Bonding And Baby CareNarratorThe NICU can seem a little overwhelming at first and some parents might feel a bit disconnected from theirbaby as they watch all the doctors and nurses working hard to take care of him or her. But it’s very importantthat parents be involved in their baby’s care in the NICU as soon as possible.Jeannette Whitney, MD, NeonatologistOne of the things that we encourage parents to do when they first come in to see the baby the first time, is weencourage them to touch the baby, just constant touch, and also to talk to the baby. And so it also lets thembond with the baby, that they feel they can do something for the baby.NarratorTo help your baby, the NICU strives to make the environment as calm as possible. To do that they’ll keep thenoise to a minimum so as not to over stimulate the baby.Valencia Walker, MDWhen the baby is able to sleep better and be more comfortable and peaceful, babies grow better. And thefaster they grow, the faster they heal, the faster they go home. And I think it's really good for parents just totouch their child, to really make that connection and have the child feel real versus just a sick patient in theICU. So it really becomes about helping the parents learn the child's personality and learning how to interactwith them.NarratorThe NICU staff will show you how you can be involved in the care of your baby as soon as your baby is stable.Andrea Randall Shih, MotherIt's hard to be a mom in the NICU. But the nurses and doctors make it lot easier. I change her diaper. They letyou give the baths and the bottles, and you can be here whenever you want to be here. So that really helps.Jeannette Whitney, MD, NeonatologistKangaroo care is where we encourage family members, not just the mother, but the father or family membersto place the baby with skin-to-skin. And that just helps the mom's milk production, and it also helps the babiesdevelopmentally. They do better as far as heart rate and respiratory rate, and just calming.MotherAll the nurses are very loving. Some of the things they have you do when you're here is called kangaroo care,where you hold your baby skin to skin on your chest for at least an hour. It helps the baby to come morefamiliar with you and it calms them.Erin Hamilton Spence, MD, NeonatologistDads doing kangaroo care makes a difference. They do grow better and they gain weight better over time.NarratorBreastfeeding is another great way to emotionally bond with your baby and moms should begin as soon aspossible.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.NICU00009A EN BondingAndBabyCare.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 2Bonding And Baby CareOrly Elyashar, MotherWe're having a little skin to skin where she feels me, she listens to my heart rate. And I actually produce moremilk when I have her smell close and near, and it's just a very nice bonding experience. I look forward to itevery morning.NarratorBonding with your baby is bound to be your most memorable experience during your baby’s NICU stay. Touchyour baby. Learn her cues. Discover her personality. And just love her up.Sarah Cohen, MotherIt's a really cool experience. I think the minute she was born there was just an immediate bond that I didn't feelduring pregnancy. It was just a little bit different. But everyday that I'm with her you start to learn theirpersonality and their quirks. And I think it just becomes stronger and stronger every time that you're with thebaby.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.NICU00009A EN BondingAndBabyCare.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 2 of 2
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