Navigating NICU
The NICU can be a profoundly traumatic environment for parents especially as Australian hospitals are not set up to support the mother infant dyad. Unfortunately there is a lot of pathologisation of normal mothering behaviours, bullying of parents and a lack of evidence based care.
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Working with consumers, the MCN created a guideline for women, doulas, childbirth educators and other birth workers to help families navigate this system.
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The guideline assists families:
-Understanding abuse in NICU
-When misinformation has been given
-How to advocate without issues escalating to inappropriate child protection involvement
-Communication strategies so care is focused on baby's needs
-How to make sure breastfeeding is respected
-How to safely navigate declining precautionary antibiotics
-How to keep a paper trail
-Resources to go to for help and assistance
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NICU Documents
When navigating the NICU it is important parents have their own documentation and paper trails. The MCN has created a few documents that may assist parents through their journey. This includes an Informed Consent Form for antibiotics, a advocacy meeting checklists when seeing the paediatricians to make a plan of care for baby and forms to make sure breast milk has been stored properly when baby is transferred to another hospital.
Use this form when doctors wish to give your baby antibiotics. With the exception of an emergency, you have the right to negotiate treatment. This form helps make sure providers maintain their informed consent responsibilities and makes it difficult for false child protection reports regarding refusal of care.
Use this form if your baby is being transferred to another hospital and you are sending breastmilk with them. The form can go to the support person or family going with baby or can be kept with you to do over the phone with the NICU. This form must be sent to patient liaison email with request it is acknowledged in writing and passed on to the Nursing Unit Manager
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