| Kansas City, MO — The anticipation of welcoming a new baby to the family is one of life's most joyful experiences. However, when a baby is born sick or very small, the birth experience can be a challenging one for the family. Babies who are admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) receive highly specialized medical care to increase their chances of surviving and becoming healthy, active children. For parents, the sight of their baby attached to various machines by tubes and wires can leave them feeling overwhelmed and powerless to help.
The March of Dimes Greater Kansas Chapter and Saint Luke's Hospital are partners in an exciting new program to support families of babies who are admitted to the NICU. The March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program is designed to complement Saint Luke's commitment to the philosophy of family-centered care. The program will respond to the unique emotional and informational needs of the families of nearly 400 babies each year who spend their first days, weeks, or even months, in the NICU at Saint Luke's. This special program addresses issues that arise during the family's NICU stay, their transition to home, or in the sad event of their baby's death.
The March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program was first implemented in 2001 in three model sites in Ohio, South Carolina, and Colorado. The success of these model sites has prompted the March of Dimes to expand the program to ten additional sites, including Kansas City. NICU Family Support has several components that make the project unique:
- A part-time NICU Family Support Specialist who interfaces with NICU families and staff
- A volunteer parent-professional advisory committee guiding program selection, development and implementation
- A base of direct service volunteers providing support and comfort to families within the NICU setting
- A Parent Care Kit - comprised of written materials and keepsake items - being distributed to every family in the NICU
- Customized programs developed to complement already existing services in the NICU at Saint Luke's.
In 2002, the rate of preterm births in the United States was 12.1% of live births, or 1 in 8 babies. This is an increase from 11.9% in 2001. The total number of preterm births in 2002 was 480,812. Many babies born prematurely die or face lifelong disabilities. More than half of all premature births happen for unknown reasons. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death in the United States.
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at www.nacersano.org. |
