September 09, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
September is Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Awareness Month. Families do not plan or expect to end up in the NICU with their baby, but premature births, or medical conditions at birth, mean that a baby will need specialized care for a period of time that could be just a few hours after birth or extend many months, until a baby is healthy enough to go home. Here are resources that you may want to share with families, in case they find themselves in the NICU.
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August 05, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
August is all about lactation! August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding* Week, August 8th - 14th is Native Breastfeeding Week, August 25th - 31st is Black Breastfeeding Week and in the USA, the entire month recognized as National Breastfeeding Month. Today’s research review summarizes a study that examined nursing and the passage of COVID-19 antibodies from parents who received a COVI-19 vaccination after birth and during bodyfeeding.
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October 20, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza
As childbirth educators, we should be sharing information with families about the tests and assessments that newborns undergo in the first hours, days and weeks of their lives. Rather than being viewed as more unnecessary interventions often delivered as part of maternal and neonatal care in 2020, these screenings are making a real difference in the lives of babies and families. Newborn Screening is one of the most effective public health campaigns ever initiated. Through early detection, there has been a positive impact on infant health across diverse geographic, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic differences.
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February 25, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Leaving the hospital without one’s baby, who is still being hospitalized after the birth, is to put it simply – very difficult. Postpartum Support International (PSI) recognizes that parents whose baby (or babies) are spending time in the NICU are at higher risk for developing mental health issues like postpartum depression and/or anxiety due to the uniquely stressful experience of the NICU. Having a baby in this situation can be very isolating. PSI now has an online virtual support group just for families in this situation.
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September 24, 2019 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
September is Baby Safety Month and this is a great time for childbirth educators and other perinatal professionals to do a quick review of the material and information that they share with families for both accuracy and relevancy. Recommendations change and new information comes out all the time, so staying up to date with an annual spot check is good practice. Baby Safety Month is a great time to do that. If you want to reread Connecting the Dots’ previous suggestions on this topic, you can find that information here.
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