Can't believe what I heard when 1 of my co-workers said to an NICU mom, today...

[gentlebirthmothr]

Also a poll as well.

Basically, the mom asked if they offer an infant CPR class, she asked the baby nurse, she didn't have any idea about it. Neither my co-worker, she wrote the hospital's parent education # on a sticky for the woman to call when she got home. All this time I find it hard to believe that they don't have any courses for this, which I looked at the website, they exactly do. Valley Hospital-Parent Education.

Think thats it.

Thank you.

[gentlebirthmothr]

Voted Yes and don't know how describe my feelings into words.

Thank you.

[NaomiLorelie]

Some NICU's require a CPR course before babe goes home, and IMO they should.

[*guest]

Seems like it's something that everyone would benefit from doing. I'd expect special instructions upon discharge for children with health problems, but something like CPR knowledge should be made available to all parents.

[2Sweeties1Angel]

I think all parents should have an infant CPR class no matter what. You never know when your baby is going to stop breathing and you'll have to do CPR to revive it--I'm speaking from experience here. I hadn't taken the class but DH had--if he hadn't DS would have died at 2 weeks instead of 3 mos.

[blessed]

Originally Posted by teagreenribbons

Voted Yes and don't know how describe my feelings into words.

Thank you.

OwlMyste, is that you?

[Belle]

I'm not sure I understand the question. The way you asked it said that

"Should Hospitals offer NICU Parents separate CPR course then well born parents "

Why should there be a seperate class for NICU parents? I think all parents whould have infant CPR. I'm sure the local Red Cross offers classes that they could take even if the hospital doesn't. Maybe you could let the nurses know this so they can pass such information on to their parents.

[lilyka]

I guess I am confused. My hospital offers a basic first aid class prenatally, then NICU parents are required to have a crsh course upon departure from the hospital. If you took the class or are certified it is a quick go over but if you didn't take the class it is formal instruction. I don't know what they do when normal parents leave the hospital.

[peaceful_mama]

i voted no to separate because I think ALL mamas and daddies should be offered the opportunity to attend thanks.

[applejuice]

i have to renew my CPR certificate every three years. Every time I go, there are expectant Grandparents there, but I have never seen parents; I learned infant CPR in my homebirth preparation classes, but I have no idea whether or not CPR is offered in hospital childbirth preparation classes.

When I did teach Childbirth Classes for Homebirth Parents, I did teach the parents infant/newborn CPR. For newborns it is very different. Their lungs are delicate and very sensitive and care needs to be taken, and their breastbone is very fragile too.

I had a lifeguard in my class telling me I was doing it wrong. : If I did what he was directing me to do, I would have blown out the babies lungs.

In the 1980s, a midwife in No. California was on trial for murder because there was a problem with a baby with a homebirth. The baby was transported, and the EMT killed the baby because he used improper technique on the baby ... Dr. Mendelsohn took the side of the midwife, and she was exonerated.

But the headlines still were in everyone's memory as to the midwife being responsible for having killed the little baby.

[sapphire_chan]

Wait, you mean this hospital doesn't offer an infant CPR course? I vote no because I thought that all parents should be offered an infant CPR course.

[happyblessedmama]

when our third child was in the NICU we were required to take a CPR class before discharge.

[OnTheFence]

Originally Posted by NaomiLorelie

Some NICU's require a CPR course before babe goes home, and IMO they should.

Yep I agree. NICU babies are more prone to breathing problems, apnea, etc. Our friend has a preemie and she was required to take CPR and first aid and also a caar seat safety course. This was part of the "graduation process".

[sciencemama]

I have no NICU experience but when my dd was born the hospital strongly encouraged us to attend classes on breastfeeding and bathing during the post-partum stay. (This was a large hospital.) A CPR class would have been an excellent addition (I mean, do we really need a whole class on bathing? Maybe "Newborn Care" and include bathing, CPR, and basic medical info.)

They also broadcast classes on the TV... a great option for moms recovering from C-sections.

[jkpmomtoboys]

I voted yes and it's a totally emotional vote. I had an infant CPR class at the hospital where ds1 was in the NICU and it was AWFUL to be in an infant CPR class with these women with full-term infants and a full-term infant sized doll. Some of the women actually had their babies with them and it made me feel terrible.

So yes, yes, yes...

[mamaverdi]

I voted yes. I have a hard enough time dealing with so many people who think since my baby wasn't premature he shouldn't have problems....so I'm sure moms of preemies have similar lack of understanding things happen from other parents.

Evidently my step-sister's NICU didn't require them to even konw how to work their car seat because my mom found that she (the ss) was not tightening the straps for the baby's carseat. Um, WTF? Isn't that basic? And then a month later, after my mom had showed her how to do it, she still wasn't doing it. Again How. Hard. Is. It?

mv

[Kiki Runs]

Originally Posted by OnTheFence

Yep I agree. NICU babies are more prone to breathing problems, apnea, etc. Our friend has a preemie and she was required to take CPR and first aid and also a caar seat safety course. This was part of the "graduation process".

Just stucking this here as a reminder that babies are in the NICU for reasons other than prematurity as well, lol!

Both my babes went to NICU (for different reasons) and neither time was a CPR class even mentioned! DS was in the NICU unnecessarily (and, honestly, it is a stretch to call it a NICU - very, VERY unprofessional care) and was not at any more risk of problems than a "normal" newborn.

DD was in the NICU (technically the IICU, at Children's) for about a week and a half. We were not told of any CPR classes, but there were flyers around the hospital about them (ok, and to be fair, it was in dd's chart that *I* gave rescue breaths/CPR at birth, so maybe they truly didn't think we needed it?). But, again, dd left the NICU not at any greater risk for breathing problems than those fabled "normal" babes/


I agree that EVERY parent needs the information, not just parents of NICU babes.

kinsey