Supported by public health data and trends showing low rates of COVID-19 across the state, Phase 3 reopening began in Massachusetts on Monday, July 6 and will begin in Boston on Monday, July 13. Many types of businesses (such as gyms, museums and movie theaters) have been able to reopen, and the size of in-person gatherings has increased. Brigham and Women's Hospital continues to support our Safe Care Commitment by continuing the employee attestation process as well as patient and visitor screening and physical distancing measures. We kindly remind you to remain vigilant in the decisions you make for the health of yourselves and your babies.

We hope you continue to find the resources and information shared throughout the unit, on our website, in our newsletter and on the My Brigham Baby App to be helpful over the course of your NICU admission here at Brigham and Women's Hospital. This newsletter has moved to a monthly publishing as the flow of updates and information has decreased since the height of the pandemic. Never hesitate to ask questions, share fears or celebrate victories big or small with members of your baby's care team.

Thank you for trusting our BWH family to care for yours.

NICU FAMILY PRESENCE POLICY:

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

• Both BANDED caregivers may visit on the same day and at the same time

• 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.

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. 617-732-5420

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.

Each baby admitted to the newborn intensive care unit has a multidisciplinary team caring for them, but who is taking care of you? Having a baby in the NICU is both physically and mentally draining. It is critically important to pause to recognize what you need to do for yourself, prioritizing your own health and well-being at times while caring for your littlest love.

Author Natalie Estelle's experience as the mother of a 25-week micropreemie has given her the first-hand insight necessary to publish a self-care book titled, 52 Self-Care Tips for NICU Moms.

Please email BWH NICU Family Support specialist, Maria Conley, for a complimentary ebook copy of 52 Self-Care Tips for NICU Moms. You can enjoy ebooks on any device with the free Kindle app for iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, PC and MAC, and on Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets.

• email: msconley@bwh.harvard.edu
• Subject line: eBook

With a baby admitted in the newborn intensive care unit, during a global pandemic, you are likely to experience periods of intense emotion, whether it be by the bedside after an overwhelming conversation with the clinical team, sitting in traffic on your way home from the hospital, in the shower or during a late night pumping session. Practicing grounding techniques may be a useful coping skill to help you through this anxiety provoking time and beyond.

• Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.
• Benefits kids’ physical wellness, academic success, and social-emotional health
• Inspires all kids to be active and mindful with a wide range of offerings that appeal to kids’ different ages, interests, skills, and abilities

GoNoodle: Good Energy Summer is a free online resource that provides tons of ways for kids and families to be active, stay mindful, have fun, and learn throughout the summer!

• Movement, yoga, and mindfulness videos
• Downloadable curricular and craft activities
• Recommended off-screen individual and family activities

Camp Kinda is a free virtual summer experience designed to keep kids in grades K-8 engaged, curious, and having fun—even if they're stuck at home. It's like summer camp... kinda.

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

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
• week of May 25th - https://www.smore.com/39u7q
• week of June 1st - https://www.smore.com/0uc1y
• week of June 15th - https://www.smore.com/8zk1b

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