Do You Have Questions About the Care Your Baby Will Receive in Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit?
Let us answer your questions and give you the tools and knowledge you need to provide the best care for your baby. At Nebraska Medicine, we encourage family-centered care, which respects each family's individual values, needs, cultures, resources, and strengths. We believe that by working as a team, our medical professionals and your family can give your baby the best possible start.
What is Family-Centered Care?
Family centered care means our professionals and the families we work with recognize and respect the knowledge that each bring to the care of the baby and work together to provide the best care possible. We recognize that the family is the one constant in the baby's life, while our professionals will have short term involvement. We want to work in partnership with your family to help ensure the best possible experience for you and your baby. We'll listen and act on observations that your family makes, respect your cultural differences, and involve your family in day-to-day decision making and care.
Nebraska Medicine's doctors, nurses, and other professionals see your family as a partner, and our decisions are made with a team concept. We believe teamwork requires:
- Open Communication
- Sincerity
- Trust
- Objectivity
- Empathy
- Honesty
- Respect
- Shared Vision and Goals
What does Developmental Care Mean for Me and My Baby?
Developmental Care in the NICU supports who your baby through physical and emotional development.This practice includes:
- Immediate involvement of families in caring for your baby.
- Explaining the special needs of your baby at each stage of development.
- Family participation in Kangaroo Care to foster growth and attachment.
- Focusing special attention on keeping your baby calm and comfortable throughout his/her NICU stay through: proper positioning, protection from too much light and noise, watching closely for any signs of pain and providing medication if necessary to keep your baby comfortable.
- Gentle stimulation for your baby's hearing and vision through a specific collection of developmentally supportive toys and music.
- Care giving designed to respond to you and your baby's emotional and physical needs including information and education regarding post-partum depression.
- Providing a group of nurses that will regularly care for you and your baby's needs while in the NICU.
- We provide "rooming in rooms" to help with the transition from the NICU to home. Parents are able to care for their baby in a home like environment with nursing and medical support as needed.
- Comforter program to provide your baby with emotional support when you are not able to be in the NICU.
- Participation in the Developmental TIPS Program, a statewide program to provide developmental support as necessary to age three.
- Referrals to Nebraska and Iowa Early Intervention Programs if necessary to provide special services to infants in need.
- Vision evaluation services by an ophthalmologist for infants at risk and laser surgery for infants in need.
- Hearing screenings are performed on all infants prior to leaving the hospital.
- Car seat evaluations as needed.