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Having a premature baby in neo-natal ICU is never desired, but it happens. It happens that nearly 20% of babies in South Africa are born prematurely and very likely to be in a NICU. Our view of a NICU is that it a very necessary place for a premature baby, but it should be managed as best as possible to ensure that a family with their premature baby is holistically cared for.
How do Projects 4 Preemies wish a NICU should look like, be like, or experienced?
If we could imagine a space that meets both medical and family’s needs it would be something like this:
A space that is calm, relatively quiet with no unnecessary external noises such as televisions, radios or videos being played on cell phones. An area that uses white noise to block out a lot of the beeping. Soft lighting or covers that can be used to dim out unnecessary brightness – unless procedures have to be done. Access to experts when you need to ask questions, patience from the team to answer your questions and to provide support. An area close by that you can utilise to pump that much needed breastmilk, a bonus will be access to a place that is sanitised that you can wash your pumping equipment and sterilise it. A space that allows you to hold your baby, despite being on respitory support. A place that understands why kangaroo mother care is important and that allows you as a parent to co-care for your child. A place with people that educate you and improve your knowledge about things they do every day. A place that can see you as a family that struggles and provides you with access to councillors or peer support groups. Allow you to become part of the NICU family and help you to read to your child, massage your baby and help to bath the baby. And when you graduate the NICU – equip you to care for your premature baby. As a last thought to be a place that learn and take what you have found to be challenging and improve on it.