NICU helps parents bond with newborns

A recent expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hamad Medical Corporation’s Women’s Hospital is providing parents the opportunity to become even more involved in the care of their critically ill newborn to ensure their best possible chance of recovery.
“In our Tiny Baby Unit (TBU), we now have the capacity to allocate individual space for our babies that are born before the 28th week of pregnancy,” said Dr Hilal Al Rifai, Women’s Hospital Medical Director and Director of its Neonatal/Perinatal Services. “This means our nurses have optimal access to each baby and parents have more privacy which gives them a better chance at bonding with their child.”
In the TBU, each baby is assigned a nurse who administers one to one care for the duration of the baby’s stay in the unit. This allows them to build relationships with parents spending more time practising bonding techniques such as Kangaroo Care. This is an important practice that encourages parents to have skin-to-skin contact with their baby by placing them on their chest which can play an integral role in a baby’s recovery process.
“Having my baby girl born at 24 weeks was the worst thing imaginable. I was shocked, terrified and unprepared for the journey ahead,” said Sally Dandachli whose baby Masa was born at 24 weeks gestation. “Thankfully, the Women’s Hospital NICU staff caring for Masa were incredible. The doctors listened attentively to our questions, always considered our feedback and the nurses never left my baby’s bedside, helping me bond with her each day. I felt at home in my surroundings among caregivers who felt like family and this was an enormous source of comfort during the most difficult time of
my life.”
Sally also recalls having the ability to express breastmilk for baby Masa in one of the two new dedicated breastfeeding rooms. Since offering this designated space, the unit has been able to increase the number of babies receiving breastmilk. NICU also offers daily support sessions for parents during their HUG (Helping you grasp) days. HUG is a multidisciplinary parent education programme which organises annual events for staff and parents in recognition of World Prematurity Day November 17.