Wednesday 14 March 2012

BRILLIANT BEGINNINGS

Brilliant Beginnings is a one-stop resource centre for parents, infants, and toddlers (newborn-4 years) in the Calgary area. Their goal is to equip parents with the tools to understand early development and how to optimize this crucial time of learning. 
Brilliant Beginnings' curriculum utilizes a multi-sensory, active-learning approach that is shown to enhance learning in young children. Classes focus on contextual learning (themes), language & literacy, motor, and problem-solving skills all while having tons of fun!
 

Brilliant Beginnings also provides a variety of services to support your child's social, emotional, and cognitive development. These include parenting support (in your home), parenting workshops, and public education.


The founder, Melanie Gushnowski, M.Sc has a Masters in Applied Psychology with a major in Human Development and Learning.  I understand Melanie  formerly worked at the early intervention clinic located at Alberta Children's Hospital and has lots of experience with prems.  This is a great resource for those of us who do not qualify for the perinatal early intervention clinic. 






http://brilliantbeginnings.ca/

Saturday 3 March 2012

TOP 5 RULES TO FOLLOW IN NICU

1. DO NOT COMPARE YOUR BABY TO ANY OF THE OTHER BABIES IN THE NICU
All babies are born under different circumstances and there are so many factors that influence how your baby is progressing.  You do not have all that information and the exercise of comparing your infant to the infant in the next bed who may be gaining weight faster or seeming to be getting better sooner will not be helpful.

In the event that it is your infant who is gaining well or seems so much bigger than the next infant, it is even more important to keep those comments to yourself.  A parent who is watching their infant struggle does not need to hear you confirm their worries.

This happened to us a few times, and it was hurtful to hear someone comment on how small or sick my son looked. These parents most certainly must have assumed I couldn't hear them discussing us with the nurses but I could and it was the last thing we needed in an already stressful situation.

2. DO NOT BRING MORE THAN 2 PEOPLE BEDSIDE
This is tricky.  Of course you want to show your family your baby and it is so tempting to to have your parents of other children in to see your preemie.  This is understandable.  But the NICU has rules, and they ask that you have no more than 2 people bedside during any visit.  You are not the only person who wants to have family visit the baby, every parent in the NICU feels the same. But if everyone disregarded the rules it would be absolute mayhem.  On low flow hours (early in morning or late evening), the units are often quieter and bringing an additional visitor (ie two grandparents + yourself) may be permissible but ask first.  Babies are very sensitive to noise, and 2 or 3 people per bed can amount to a lot of extra talking/noise in the NICU at any given time.  Please be sensitive to the other babies, and families and do not take advantage of these guidelines.

3. PUT ALL BAGS, PURSES, COATS AND FOOD IN A LOCKER
We witnessed a number of women bringing their purses bedside.  I have no doubt that the nurses told them that was unacceptable but since it occurred fairly regularly I will highlight the rule again.  Purses are often put on the floor, then the counter where items that come into contact with your infant are placed. So many germs and bacteria can be transferred this way.  LEAVE YOUR PURSES IN A LOCKER.

4. DO NOT HOG THE BREASTPUMPS
At Rockyview, mothers do not have a separate pumping room and pump milk bedside.  There are a limited amount of pumps and they have to be shared. Once you are done with a pump, clean it and return it to the hallway where you found it.  If the NICU is quiet and you intend on using it again shortly, at the very least clean it and place it in the pod hall so that others can spot it if they need to borrow it quickly in between your pumping sessions.  I heard stories of mothers hiding the pumps in their pods (crazy) and refusing to share, but never experienced it first hand.

5. CLEAN EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH
Once you are done with a chair, breastpump, pillow, scale, wipe it down with cavi wipes.  CONS and other infections may be able to be prevented if people diligently wash their hands and sanitize the items/objects that come into contact with the infants.  Also return all used gowns, clothing and pillow cases to the proper laundry hampers when you are done with them.