A World Without NEC
More than a hundred years ago they called them “weaklings.” That was the name they used for low birthweight newborns who were small and frail in appearance compared to their healthy term newborn...
View ArticleThe ENFit Enteral Connector Transition: Ready When You Are
Sometimes the community decision has been made for your hospital to transition to ENFit enteral connectors after months of discussion and inclusion of multiple departments. Now what? Where to begin?...
View ArticleTransitioning to Breastfeeding In the NICU
The value of human milk for all infants is no longer a debate. Empirical evidence supports the practice of providing human milk regardless of infants’ gestational age. Due to immaturity, the premature...
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Predictions for Mother’s Own Milk Feedings at NICU Discharge
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for infants for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding for one year or longer (AAP, 2012). Breast milk has many...
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Cleaning ENFit in the NICU: What You Need to Know
If you’ve converted your NICU enteral feeding devices to ENFit connectors, you may have questions about proper cleaning techniques. Or, perhaps you are considering converting, but have concerns about...
View ArticleWhat’s in a Name? Establishing a Distinct Patient Naming Convention to...
The Joint Commission (JC) has a relatively new element of performance that went into effect in January 2019. Its intention was to decrease the risk of misidentification errors in newborns. It resides...
View ArticleBreastfeeding Initiation: Your Questions Answered
By now, you’ve heard the importance of providing opportunities for mothers to breastfeed (or pump, if needed) within a timely manner after birth to establish future milk supply. There are many...
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How Can We Improve Chicago’s High Rate of Maternal/Infant Death?
Maternal and infant mortality rates are at an alarming rate across the nation. In Chicago, infant mortality exceeds the national rate. This is unacceptable. It is critically important to reduce these...
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Breastmilk is Medicine – The Role Of The Mother-Baby Nurse in the NICU...
The American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life.1,2 Additionally, the Healthy People 2020 report recommends...
View ArticleDigging Wellness in the NICU
My recent move to Cincinnati has awoken my love of trees. Living near a forest made me more acutely aware of my senses. The smell of trees and majestic presence of tall oaks brought calm to my inner...
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