{"id":3041,"date":"2018-03-04T10:16:59","date_gmt":"2018-03-04T16:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=3041"},"modified":"2022-02-09T13:33:25","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T19:33:25","slug":"small-baby-unit-delivers-specialized-care-tiniest-babies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/small-baby-unit-delivers-specialized-care-tiniest-babies\/","title":{"rendered":"Small baby unit provides specialized care to tiniest babies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Babies born with less than 30 weeks gestation generally have more obstacles to overcome compared to a full term infant. By the time they reach school age, it is estimated that 50 percent to 70 percent of low birth weight infants are identified to have some cognitive, behavioral and\/or social delays. These difficulties often times don\u2019t resolve with age and can persist into adulthood.<\/p>\n

As a national leader in neonatology, OSF HealthCare Children\u2019s Hospital of Illinois<\/a> saw a need for specialized care for babies born before 30 weeks gestation. In the fall of 2016, OSF Children\u2019s Hospital implemented the Small Baby Unit<\/a> (SBU) within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With many different specialists providing patient-focused care, the goal of the SBU is not only survival, but an improved quality of life for each infant.<\/p>\n

When the unthinkable happens<\/h2>\n

\"Mom Marilyn Holcomb and Joe Penn of Normal were expecting their first child. Marilyn had experienced a fairly normal pregnancy.<\/p>\n

But when Marilyn reached 20 weeks gestation, things quickly took an unexpected turn when her water started leaking. Marilyn\u2019s obstetrician immediately sent her to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center<\/a> under the care of Dr. Yolanda Renfroe<\/a>, a maternal-fetal doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was one of the worst days of my life because I had no idea what was going on,\u201d Marilyn said. \u201cI was devastated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marilyn spent three weeks in the antepartum unit at OSF Saint Francis where she and her baby were closely monitored.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal was to hold off labor as long as possible,\u201d Marilyn said.<\/p>\n

At 23 weeks gestation, the baby\u2019s heart rate started to drop, and Marilyn was moved to labor and delivery where she was monitored 24 hours a day. Two days later, the care team decided it would be safest to deliver the baby.<\/p>\n

A precious gift<\/h2>\n

On December 5, 2016, Joseph Penn made his debut, weighing 1 pound, 4 ounces. He was 10 and \u00be inches long.<\/p>\n

The NICU team from OSF Children\u2019s Hospital \u2013 connected to OSF Saint Francis \u2013 was in the operating room waiting to care for Joseph upon delivery.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe and my parents walked with Dr. Javed<\/a> (a neonatologist) as they wheeled Joseph to the NICU,\u201d Marilyn said. \u201cDr. Javed explained exactly what was happening and what to expect.\u201d<\/p>\n

SBU difference<\/h2>\n

\"JosephBecause Joseph was less than 30 weeks gestation, he was admitted to the SBU.<\/p>\n

The SBU simulates a womb-like environment by keeping the lights down low, safe guarding sleep, noise levels to a minimum, covering the incubator with a blanket and incorporating two-person care.<\/p>\n

With two-person care, one person completes the needed care while the other person provides comfort and support for the baby.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the first things that I felt comfortable doing was holding the top of his head and his legs still while a nurse would provide the necessary care,\u201d Marilyn said.<\/p>\n

Marilyn said the care team immediately involved her and Joe in Joseph\u2019s care, including taking his temperature, changing his diapers and encouraging kangaroo care, which is holding a baby skin-to-skin. Involving the parents from the beginning helps them understand their child\u2019s health complexities and gives them confidence to care for their baby when they go home.<\/p>\n

Home sweet home<\/h2>\n

On April 4, 2017, three days after his due date, Joseph was ready to go home.<\/p>\n

Though Joseph endured a few health-related concerns in the SBU, he only required an apnea monitor and caffeine to help with his breathing when he was released from the hospital.<\/p>\n

Today, Joseph is a \u201chappy and calm\u201d 14-month-old little boy, and developmentally on track according to his age.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the care he received in the SBU was wonderful, from the nurses, the respiratory therapists, neonatologists and the rest of the staff,\u201d Marilyn said. \u201cThe SBU was such a caring environment. You can tell the staff are invested in those babies and families.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Babies born with less than 30 weeks gestation generally have more obstacles to overcome compared to a full term infant. By the time they reach school age, it is estimated that 50 percent to 70 percent of low birth weight infants are identified to have some cognitive, behavioral and\/or social delays. These difficulties often times […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":3048,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[116,223],"tags":[117,649,942,142,413],"coauthors":[690],"class_list":["post-3041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pediatrics","category-patient-story","tag-birth","tag-neonatal-intensive-care-unit","tag-newborns","tag-childrens-hospital-of-illinois","tag-premature-baby"],"yoast_head":"\nSmall baby unit delivers specialized care to the tiniest babies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For Marilyn and Joe of Normal, the special unit offered everything they needed to help their premature child, Joseph, flourish.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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