Little fingers and toes, testing, tasting everything in sight,
baby
loss – a poem
His smiling face brings joy. Spit up, gurgles, midnight feedings and diaper changes,
15 Things I learned in 2014
Motherhood is the most difficult thing I've ever done. There is no possible way to fully prepare for the worry, fear, joy, pain and love that consumes the heart. No matter what you think it will be like, you will be wrong, and it's not a bad thing.
problem solving – a poem
His frown speaks volumes indicating the catastrophe about to take place.
picking up plums – a poem
picking up plums Curses form inwardly as I stare at the plums strewn across the floor. Do I attempt the five-second rule? Or do I throw them out? I review my irrational options ignoring the real reason I curse. With a widened stance l crouch down, slowly, carefully reaching over my growing belly. In a … Continue reading picking up plums – a poem
Call for Entries: NICU Design Competition
I received an email from the LinkedIn Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) & Quality Innovators group advertising an NICU design competition. You can download a PDF of the information package from the website: Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Inc. Design Competition. There are two categories for this competition - theoretical and actual facilities. From the website: … Continue reading Call for Entries: NICU Design Competition
Music as Medicine
George Stroumboulopoulos (Strombo) had a post on his website this past week that described the effects of music on premature babies. Strombo writes: Traditional lullabies and favourite songs (slowed down to resemble lullaby) were played or sung for the babies, along with rhythm therapy such as a whooshing of the ocean or a heartbeat. Researchers … Continue reading Music as Medicine
NICU Environment
Last month, I wrote my thoughts on Sunnybrook Hospital's new NICU parent coordinator. Kate Robson, the Sunnybrook Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parent Coordinator, responded to my question: ... is there a way of minimizing the feel of the breathing machines and tubes, and interjecting some life from outside those stabilizing entities? She gave me a link (Thank You!!!) … Continue reading NICU Environment
Navigating the NICU
I was looking through some old articles I bookmarked for later reading and found this one, about a person hired to help families navigate the difficult world of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). While the article presents the job description of a person hired specifically to coordinate families as they deal with premature babies, it … Continue reading Navigating the NICU