Essential Therapy

NICU Occupational Therapist Allison Smith, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, CNT, SWC, demonstrating holding and feeding techniques to a new mother.

In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Dominican Hospital, all babies and families receive Neonatal Therapy—specialized care from Occupational and Physical Therapists who are experts in infant motor and sensory development. These therapists are an essential part of the NICU team, and work with both infants and parents to support the everyday activities that are meaningful to the family. We have therapists who are certified in Neonatal Therapy, Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Neonatal Touch and Massage, Swallowing Assessment and Treatment, and Lactation Counseling.

The NICU environment can be stressful for babies who have just exited the warm and cozy womb of their mother, and for parents who didn’t expect the first moments with their baby to be in the NICU. Neonatal Therapists help infants in the NICU to be comforted, develop their motor skills, and engage in their world through positioning and handling techniques. The therapy team also help families understand how to interact and bond with their babies during everyday tasks such as diapering or bathing. Their goal is to coach parents to be involved in their infant’s care and read their infant’s cues in order to provide the best care possible.

One area that babies in the NICU sometimes have difficulty with is eating from a bottle or breast. Our neonatal therapists have advanced certifications to assess babies’ safety with swallowing and to support babies to develop the skills to eat, whether they are born too early or have difficulty breathing after birth. The most important aspect is parent involvement, and our Neonatal Therapists specialize in collaborating with parents every step of the way during this challenging time.