Navigating the NICU
Description
This course is designed to provide birth professionals (midwives, doulas, and other perinatal care providers) with essential knowledge about what to expect when a newborn is transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It will cover medical, emotional, and logistical aspects to prepare birth professionals for supporting families through this challenging experience.
Module 1: Introduction to NICU Care
- Lesson 1: What is the NICU?
- Overview of NICU levels and types of care provided.
- Lesson 2: Common Reasons for NICU Admission
- Prematurity, respiratory distress, infections, congenital anomalies, etc.
- Lesson 3: NICU Team Members and Their Roles
- Doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, lactation consultants, and other specialists.
Module 2: Understanding NICU Procedures and Equipment
- Lesson 1: NICU Environment and Setup
- Exploring the layout, equipment, and technology commonly found in NICUs.
- Lesson 2: Common Medical Interventions
- Ventilators, IVs, feeding tubes, phototherapy, and other interventions.
- Lesson 3: Monitoring and Assessments in the NICU
- Vital signs, growth tracking, and developmental milestones in NICU care.
Module 3: Supporting Parents Emotionally and Practically
- Lesson 1: Navigating Parental Emotions
- Grief, guilt, fear, and uncertainty—how to support parents emotionally.
- Lesson 2: Effective Communication Strategies
- Helping parents understand medical updates and NICU processes in a compassionate way.
- Lesson 3: Supporting Parent-Baby Bonding in the NICU
- Encouraging kangaroo care, breastfeeding, and maintaining connection despite challenges.
Module 4: Breastfeeding and Nutrition for NICU Babies
- Lesson 1: Importance of Breastmilk for NICU Babies
- Nutritional and immunological benefits of breastmilk in the NICU.
- Lesson 2: Pumping and Lactation Support
- Guiding parents through pumping, milk storage, and breastfeeding challenges.
- Lesson 3: Supplemental Nutrition and Feeding Challenges
- Tube feeding, donor milk, fortifiers, and transitioning to oral feeding.
Module 5: Discharge Planning and Transitioning Home
- Lesson 1: Preparing Parents for NICU Discharge
- What parents need to know before bringing their baby home.
- Lesson 2: Home Care for NICU Graduates
- Feeding, medications, follow-up appointments, and growth monitoring.
- Lesson 3: Emotional and Psychological Adjustment Post-NICU
- Recognizing post-traumatic stress and providing long-term emotional support.
Module 6: Professional Boundaries and Self-Care for Birth Professionals
- Lesson 1: Defining Your Role in NICU Support
- Understanding your scope as a birth professional in NICU situations.
- Lesson 2: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Parents and Providers
- When and how to advocate for parents and collaborate with medical teams.
- Lesson 3: Self-Care and Compassion Fatigue
- Strategies for preventing burnout while providing emotional support to NICU families.
Module 7: Legal and Ethical Considerations
- Lesson 1: Consent, Documentation, and Privacy in NICU Cases
- Understanding medical consent and maintaining client confidentiality.
- Lesson 2: Ethics in Supporting NICU Families
- Respecting parental decisions and NICU protocols while offering support.
Course Assessment:
- Final Quiz: Comprehensive review of NICU terminology, procedures, and support strategies.
- Case Study Review: Analyze and discuss real-world NICU cases to develop practical application skills.
Course Completion and Certification:
- Certificate of Completion: Awarded to participants who complete the final quiz and case study with satisfactory results.
Course provided in online video modules.