World Prematurity Day is held on Sunday 17 November and raises awareness of premature birth and the devastating impact it can have.
Becky’s story
Hi I’m Becky one of the Neonatal Outreach Nurses, I am part of a team of five who see babies in the community once they are discharged home.
What I love most about my job is creating a bond with a family, so they have a familiar face when they take that big step and take their baby home for the first time. It’s such a daunting time for them after being in hospital for so long so being there to support them is just the best feeling.
A typical day for me is going to one of the Neonatal Units at Lincoln or Boston and catching up on the babies on the ward who will come under our care once they go home.
I then join the medical ward round with the consultant to help formalise a plan for getting the babies home as soon as we can. I am then also around to catch up with families and complete any education and training before they go home.
In the afternoon, I usually have visits which can be anywhere in Lincolnshire. I weigh the babies, offer guidance with feeding and emotional support for the families. Then it’s time to head home or back to the unit to complete my paperwork and answer any calls or emails.
I am currently in the process of setting up a new service for our team which is home phototherapy. This is treatment with a special type of light (not sunlight) used to treat newborn jaundice by making it easier for the baby’s liver to break down and remove the bilirubin from the baby’s blood. It will be a great addition to our service and will allow us to keep more babies at home with their families rather than being admitted to hospital.
I absolutely love my job and can see the difference it makes to so many families. Having a premature baby can be such a distressing time but knowing that our team is there to support them along the way and help get their baby home as soon as possible is just the best feeling.
We are there to support them physically and emotionally when they do get home so they can adjust to their new family life. Seeing the parents’ faces light up when I tell them their baby is ready to go home and the big day has arrived will always be a special part of my job.
Suresh’s story
Suresh, a preterm baby, arrived on the neonatal unit at Lincoln County Hospital due to a capacity issue in another hospital.
Mum Raj and Dad Nils, Suresh’s parents, found themselves miles away from home, with a new, preterm baby and all the health and emotional issues that were involved. The family was separated from family, friends, home comforts and with very little control over their situation.
Raj and Nils had spoken to friends and family prior to the birth and had heard about skin-to-skin which they then googled to find more information.
On the ward, both Raj and Nils provided skin-to-skin for extended periods. Mum Raj would hold baby Suresh for hours and then change over with Nils, only leaving Suresh in the incubator when necessary.
Although skin-to-skin is beneficial to all preterm babies, this family spent exceptional extended periods of time together.
Denise a ULTH clinical educator gave the parents a certificate for their commitment to skin-to-skin care for their son.
Raj and Nils had explored the benefits of skin-to-skin prior to the birth of Suresh. They felt it brought a closeness to the family, improved bonding and importantly gave them a purpose and a degree of control over their baby’s care and daily routine in hospital.
It helped with their personal wellbeing; they felt calm and useful when holding Suresh and they could physically see how he calmed and settled and how his heart rate and oxygen saturations stabilised.
They felt they were well supported and encouraged by staff, who helped with the physical movement of baby Suresh (due to all the wires monitoring him) and ensured they personally remained comfortable and safe.