Last week, Governor Baker shared the Four-Phase Plan set forth to reopen the state of Massachusetts. This plan will help guide hospital leadership in their continued work to develop the Brigham and Women's Recovery & Reimagining plan. Thank you for your partnership and understanding as we work to maintain the safest possible environment for our Brigham community.

Our multidisciplinary Newborn Intensive Care team is committed to the clinical and developmental well-being of your baby. As a parent or caregiver, we aim to provide various opportunities for you to maintain connection, engagement, knowledge and advocacy both on and off the Unit.

CALL: NICU PHONE NUMBER: 617-732-5420

VISIT:

• One BANDED family member is allowed in a 24-hour period
• Please enter and exit the hospital through the lobby at 45 Francis Street to complete a health screening
• All visitors are to wear a mask over their nose and mouth at all times while in the unit
• Green visitor sticker and parent band should be worn at all times
• Visitor should remain in the baby’s room throughout the visit except to eat in the NICU lobby or cafeteria
• Discounted parking available, stop at the front desk for a pink validation card

MY BRIGHAM BABY APP

• Fill out a request form located at the Unit Coordinator desk

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

• Scan the QR code at the Unit Coordinator desk or email Family Support (msconley@bwh.harvard.edu) to be added to the mailing list

UNIT IPADS

• Talk to your babies’ nurse about connecting with your baby remotely when you are not able to be by the bedside

Have you been CARING FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IN THE NICU?

Be sure to complete a self check-in to ensure you are prioritizing your own mental health while caring for your baby in the NICU. Then, grant yourself "permission" to take some time for yourself each and every day. You are worth it!

Parents and children alike feel big emotions when a new baby is admitted to the NICU. In addition to mothers and fathers finding time for their own mental health, it is important to find a moment of calm together, as a family. Try some of these Mindfulness Practices for Families.

https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3406-mindfulness-practices-for-families

With warm weather upon us, enjoy some time outside!

Art activity: Painting with Ice

Materials needed: Ice cube tray, food coloring, popsicle sticks, paper, water

Make a batch of ice paints using the materials above! Be creative while keeping cool. Click on the link below for instructions.

https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/painting-with-ice/

Physical activity: Painting with bubbles

Materials needed: Bubble solution, food coloring, bubble blowers, paper

Click on the link below to paint with bubbles! This activity is perfect for outdoors.

https://funlearningforkids.com/bubble-painting-art-activity/

Our Social Service team is currently staffed remotely. We remain available by phone and email during business hours to provide emotional support, information and resources to help you care for your baby during your NICU admission and help plan for when baby comes home.

Social Work

In addition to providing support and counseling, our social workers can assist families with tasks such as health insurance registration, finding a pediatrician, or locating community resources.

Alicia Katz (617) 525-8320

akatz22@partners.org

Susan Berliner, LICSW (617) 732-8403

Tuesday-Friday

sberliner@bwh.harvard.edu

Marysabel Gomez, LPC (617) 732-5419

mgomez15@bwh.harvard.edu

Family Support

Our Family Support Program is staffed by former NICU mothers. Working closely with the medical team, they help parents navigate the many emotional twists and turns that accompany the NICU journey.

Maria Conley (617) 525-8682

msconley@bwh.harvard.edu

Maria Raskind (617) 525-8682

mraskind@bwh.harvard.edu

Care Coordination

Care coordinators are nurses who complete intake assessments upon admission and can assist families in preparing for the transition home or to a specialty care nursery closer to home.

Spiritual Care

The Spiritual Care Services Department provides compassionate emotional, spiritual, and religious support as resources for healing.

(617) 732-7480

Child Life Graduate Student

Child life is available to help you and your family understand and cope with the hospital stay of your baby in the NICU. Child life provides therapeutic activities, preparation, intervention and education. Child life promotes positive coping for siblings of NICU babies.

Ashlee Thomas (617) 431- 3238

athomas50@bwh.harvard.edu

FAMILY PRESENCE POLICY:

• Please enter and exit the hospital through the lobby at 45 Francis Street to complete a health screening

• One BANDED family member is allowed in a 24-hour period

• All visitors are to wear a mask over their nose and mouth at all times while in the unit

• Green visitor sticker and parent band should be worn at all times

• Visitor should remain in the baby’s room throughout the visit

• A family eating area has been set up in the lobby, near the Unit Coordinator desk. Please enjoy your food in this designated area only, not by the bedside. A refrigerator and microwave can be found here as well.

• Both parents/banded caregivers are allowed to be present on the day of baby's discharge

GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BABY: Parents are encouraged to call at any time for information about their baby. When calling please ask to speak to the nurse caring for your baby, giving your baby’s first and last name. The unit coordinator will transfer your call directly to your nurse. If the nurse is busy caring for your baby and is not able to answer, you may need to try back again in a bit.

DISCOUNTED PARKING: Discounted parking is available for NICU parents (cost $5.00) in the garage at 80 OR 45 Francis Street. Please stop at the front desk and speak to the unit coordinators for the pink validation card.

HAND HYGIENE: Practicing good hand hygiene is an important part of your baby’s care. Please wash your hands with soap and water at the sink in the waiting area or in your baby’s room at the start of your visit; use hand sanitizer each time you enter your baby’s room and again every time prior to touching your baby. Remember to use hand sanitizer again after you touch door handles, personal or NICU objects, other persons or yourself. Please wipe your cell phone off with the sanitizing wipes prior to use.

PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS:

Please reference previously published newsletters for additional information and resources.

• week of April 6th - https://www.smore.com/q15vz
• week of April 13th - https://www.smore.com/1z26w
• week of April 20th - https://www.smore.com/6fhmq
• week of April 27th- https://www.smore.com/jn157
• week of May 4th - https://www.smore.com/qz69c
• week of May 18th - https://www.smore.com/u2vgn

Website: https://www.brighamandwomens.org/
Location: 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, USA
Phone: (617)732-5420
Facebook: facebook.com/BrighamandWomensHospital
Twitter: @BrighamWomens