Having a baby in the NICU is a challenging and stressful experience, even more so during this global pandemic. We remain committed to providing an environment that allows your baby to heal and develop as well as maintaining opportunities for you to stay connected and engaged in your babies care. We hope the resources and information shared throughout the unit, in our newsletter or on the Brigham Baby App address the anxiety and fear every NICU parent faces.

Although support may look different right now, please know we are here and in this together.

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

VISITATION POLICY:

• Please enter the hospital through the Main Entrance at 75 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

• Enough Food and beverage for the single visit is permitted by the bedside, not to be stored for later

Question: Why are we not conducting a temperature check of all people entering the hospital as part of our screening process?

Answer: Our current screening strategy is based on data that shows that most people with mild COVID-19 do not have a fever. Temperature checks would not be a sensitive screening strategy.

Hand to Hold’s NICU Now Audio Support Series is a support-based podcast aimed to eliminate the many physical and emotional barriers NICU parents face in accessing and receiving support, allowing them to listen as they commute to and from the hospital as well as at their baby’s bedside. NICU Now is unlike any other podcast because it tackles tough subjects with compassion and experience, including guilt, grief and information to help parents care for their premature babies.

They have just released three new podcast episodes to help parents and NICU professionals cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

• On NICU Now, our counselor on staff, Lexi Losch, talks about the emotions most commonly experienced in the NICU, how parents can process these emotions in a healthy way, and how to manage stress during the COVID-19 crisis. Listen to episode 27: Processing Emotions During COVID-19.
• On Beyond the NICU, NICU graduate parent Jessica Tyler speaks about her emotional response to COVID-19 and the recurrence of anxiety. Listen to episode 8: NICU PTSD in the Time of Coronavirus.
• Finally, on NICU Heroes, guest Lori Gunther, MS, CPXP, discusses the many ways COVID-19 can impact NICU professionals and staffing in the NICU during COVID-19. Listen to episode 12: A NICU Professional's Response to COVID-19.

Stress is a common feeling amongst parents experiencing a NICU admission. Explore the reasons why and how you can work toward decreasing that feeling in time.

https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/coping-with-stress-in-the-nicu.aspx#

Creating space in the day to stop, come down from the worried mind, and get back into the present moment has been shown to be enormously helpful in mitigating the negative effects of our stress response. When we drop into the present, we’re more likely to gain perspective and see that we have the power to regulate our response to pressure.

Here’s a short practice you can weave into your day to step into that space between stimulus and response.

S = Stop

Stop what you’re doing right now, get in a comfortable position, either seated or lying down.

T = Take

Take a few deep breaths. Maybe in through the nose initially, and then out through the mouth. With each exhalation allow your body to soften a bit more. As long as you’re here with the breath right now, allow your body to settle into its natural rhythm of breathing. Breathe in and sense the breath coming in. Breath out and sense the breath going out. Allow your body to take the breath it needs in its natural rhythm of being alive.

O = Observe

Begin to observe your body, noticing if there’s any tension or tightness anywhere, including the face. If you do notice any of that just allow it to soften, or just mindfully adjust your body as it feels like it needs to. Be aware of how you’re feeling emotionally right now. If there’s a sense of calm or ease, maybe some restlessness or irritation, or maybe even sadness. Or you could be feeling neutral. Whatever’s there, see if you can be aware of it and notice how it feels physically in the body. Continue to observe yourself physically and emotionally in this moment, just letting things be. Be aware of and observe your mind right now, noticing if it seems distracted or cluttered or if it seems like it’s settling into being here. Either way, it’s OK—the “o” of observe is just to allow us to be aware of our experience in the moment; physically, emotionally, and mentally. The moment we notice that our mind is off is a moment we’re present. Settle in, be aware of the fullness of your experience physically, emotionally, and mentally, and just let be.

P= Proceed

Proceed is just dropping the question of: “What’s most important for me to pay attention to right now?” or “What am I needing right now?” Allow whatever answer is there to simply percolate and arise. Proceed with that in this next moment. Always remember to acknowledge yourself for taking this time. This is a great act of self-care; take the final moment to acknowledge yourself for taking this time.

shared by: https://www.mindful.org/

A NICU journey is experienced by the whole family. Hand to Hold has created a comprehensive list of books recommended for NICU siblings to help families process the experience together.

https://handtohold.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Sibling-Support-Recommended-Books-1.pdf

Playworks is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a play environment to benefit children's physical health and social and emotional learning. They have developed programming to keep kids active and having fun while social distancing at home.

https://www.playworks.org/news/playathome-with-playworks/

Play At Home Playbook - English

Play At Home Playbook - Spanish

Livestream Recess with Playworks

Playworks will also be broadcasting #PlayAtHome Recess live on Facebook at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Tune in for stretching and warm-ups, interactive games, cheers, and cooldown activities.

Want to see what it is like? Check out Morning Stretch and Up Down Stop Go!

Many families are currently experiencing or are anticipating financial concerns due to the outbreak, compounded by their baby's NICU admission. Please reach out to your NICU social worker for ways in which we can help guide you through this journey.

Mass. 2-1-1 has information on financial resources for residents of Massachusetts.

Search on-line at: https://mass211.org OR call: 211

Information is available in different languages.

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.

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

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. Our Family Support Specialists strive to educate, support and provide connections for NICU families.

Maria Conley (617) 525-8682

msconley@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.

Anna Kiriakidis (617) 732-4866

akiriakidis@bwh.harvard.edu

Spiritual Care

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

Follow Brigham’s Spiritual Care Services on Instagram for uplifting quotes and images.

Mikhala Heil (617) 732-7480

mheil1@bwh.harvard.edu

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

athomas50@bwh.harvard.edu

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