Family Integrated Care

We have a Family Integrated Care ethos on the neonatal unit. This means that we recognise that being a family and bonding with your baby is really important. Whilst your baby needs expert nursing and medical care, parents also have a vital role to play. We have put lots of things in place to enable you to spend as much time as you want on the unit and our team will support you to be fully involved in the care of your baby.

Facilities to enable you to spend time on the unit

There are no restrictions on parents coming to the unit so you can come anytime of the day or night and we encourage you to your other children to meet their new sibling.
Car Parking for parents is FREE. Please see the reception team who will assist you in arranging this.
Drinks, snacks and freshly made lunches available every day in the Family Kitchen. In addition, for parents who stay all day we can support with a meal voucher for hot food in the hospital restaurant. You are welcome to bring your own food in and leave it in the fridge (please label clearly). We request that everyone clears up after using these shared spaces.
Parent lockers – please just take a key on the day you need these.
A Family Room where you can spend time together, eat your meals or have some space without being too far from your baby.
There is a water cooler so please bring in your water bottle to top up regularly.
3 parent bedrooms available for use. These are particularly for use when establishing breast feeding or to ‘room in’ just before you take your baby home but when available can be used for any of our families wishing to stay overnight. There is a bathroom with shower with these rooms.

In the hospital we also have a shop and cafes as well as outdoor spaces that you can use whilst your baby in the Neonatal Unit.

Ways that you can be provide care for your baby

The Neonatal Unit may seem strange and confusing at the beginning, especially if your baby is in an incubator or needing support with breathing. There may also be lots of equipment, tubes and wires attached to your baby and there are different sounds and smells. The team will explain all these to you. It may feel daunting at first but the team will support you when you and your baby are ready to get involved in different aspects of care. This can include:

Containment, also known as hand hugs, whilst your baby is in the incubator , your still touch will comfort them, helping with rest and bonding
Talking, singing or reading to your baby as they will recognise your voice and this will help to calm them and with your bonding
Skin to skin time, also called Kangaroo Care, for both parents has many benefits for baby and you
Learning to read their cues
Feeding baby (read more about this in the feeding section)
Washing them and changing their nappy – often referred to as ‘cares’
Dressing them in clothes that you bring. We do have some available if you are unprepared for this
Making their beds whether this is in a cot or incubator
Taking their temperature
Taking lots of photos and making memories, we have special neonatal milestone cards to help with this

What should I bring for my baby?

We have supplies of clothes, nappies etc so please do not worry if you are not prepared for the arrival of your baby or their admission to the Neonatal Unit. However, when you are able we would request that you bring in the following items:

Nappies
Cotton wool balls for washing and nappy changes (we do not use wipes whilst on the unit)
Cotton buds if your baby is unable to feed by breast/bottle at first
Large muslin squares* (please wash at home first and write your name on these)
Vests and babygrows
Blankets for skin to skin time
You may like to bring a small soft toy in for in their cot also
Books to read with your baby *
A bath towel when your baby is ready for this (ask the nurse)

*these are great ideas for friends and family who want to buy you gifts – you can never have too many of either!

Please talk to the nurse caring for your baby if you need more guidance around any of these items.

Ways that you can be involved in discussions and decisions about your baby’s care

We realise that this is an unknown world for most parents but we want to provide you with information and support as you will become the expert on YOUR baby and have an important contribution to make to their care.

Each baby has a ‘My Journey Folder’ with written information in.
Display boards and other leaflets will provide other information.
Look at our padlet for links to websites, podcasts and other reliable sources of information on specific neonatal topics.
We encourage you to be here for the ward round where the consultant and other members of the nursing and medical team will examine your baby, review their charts and make a plan of care. This happens Mon- Fri starting in ITU around 09:30. You can be part of this discussion and it is an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions.
Other specialists such as the dietician, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist and occupational therapist all play an important part in the care we provide and you can speak with them when they are on the ward.
We offer weekly HUG (Help Us Grow) sessions for parents. These are in the Family Room facilitated by specialists about specific topics e.g feeding, bathing, going home and are also a great opportunity to connect with other families on the unit.

Mobile Phones

Parents are welcome to use their mobile phones at the cot-side for photographs and texts. Please keep them on silent to help the noise level in the unit. For privacy and noise levels facetime is not permitted on the unit.

When you are at home

We understand it is difficult to leave your babies in the unit when you go home. We offer video updates to try and help with this (ask the nurses to tell you about vCreate) and you can call the unit any time for an update or if you have questions about your baby.

Last Modified: 10:57am 17/09/2024