INSIDE
HELPING BABY SLEEP BETTER • BENEFITS OF SKIN-TO-SKIN CONTACT
20
15
SP
EC
IA
L
ED
IT
IO
Richmond University Medical Center | www.RUMCSI.org/baby
The Facts About High-Risk Pregnancy A BABY’S 9 INSTINCTIVE STAGES CHECKLIST:
PACKING A HOSPITAL BAG Richmond University Medical Center
2
N
MESSAGE FROM ThE PRESIDENT & ChIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Thank you for your interest in richmond university medical center (rumc). as a native staten islander, i was born in this very hospital when it was st. vincent’s. today, i am proud to lead this dedicated team as president & chief executive officer. many times, our first interaction with the medical center is with the birth of a child. our clinical chairs, Dr. michael moretti of the Department of obstetrics and Gynecology and Dr. brian mcmahon of the Department of pediatrics, both share the philosophy of the hospital — to pair state-of-the-art advances and technology with human interaction, care and trust. We remain deeply committed to providing the highest quality of care to the staten island community each and every day.
our quality achievements demonstrate our success. out of the approximately 3,000 babies born at richmond university medical center each year, an average of 600 are treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (nicu), which has been consistently recognized as a leader in the field. You and your family are in good hands at richmond university medical center, and we appreciate your trust. Wishing you and your family health and happiness,
Daniel J. messina, ph.D., Fache, lnha president & chief executive officer
OUR MISSION STATEMENT The Medical Center is a not-for-profit healthcare provider serving the diverse community of Staten Island and its neighbors. We provide quality patient-centered care through a full spectrum of emergent, acute, primary, behavioral health and medical services. We do this in an environment that promotes the highest satisfaction among patients, families, physicians and staff.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SHARE YOUR BABY’S BEAUTY! Tweet a photo of your RUMC baby with the hashtag #RUMCbaby. We can’t wait to see those precious pics.
3 We’re on a Journey to Become a Designated ‘Baby-Friendly’ hospital
Find Us online!
4 Why Rooming In Is a Win-Win
Scan this QR code for easy access to our website. No smartphone? Visit us on the web: www.RUMCSI.org/baby
5 Growing Preemies Into healthy Babies for 50+ years 6 high–Risk Pregnancy 7 Checklist: Packing for the hospital
10 A Baby’s 9 Instinctive Stages
8 Take the healthy Pregnancy Quiz
11 Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact
SENIOR LEADERSHIP Daniel J. Messina, Ph.D., FACHE, LNHA President & Chief Executive Officer Pietro Carpenito, M.D. Executive Vice President Rosemarie Stazzone, RN, MSN, NEA-BC Chief Operating Officer & Chief Nurse Officer Richard Salhany, MBA Senior Vice President of Medical Operations Edward Arsura, M.D. Chief Medical Officer Joseph Conte, MPA, CPHQ Senior Vice President of Regulatory, Quality, Risk & Legal Affairs
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Murphy, HPH, FHFMA Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President of Finance Patricia Caldari Vice President of human Resources Erika E. Hellstrom, MBA Vice President of Development & Executive Director of the RUMC Foundation Robert Ren Vice President of Revenue Cycle Nancy Taranto, RN, LNC Vice President of Quality & health Informatics Peter Stathopoulos, M.D. President of the Medical Staff
Ann Marie Grieco, Stefanie Racano, Andrew Burt, Amanda LoMonaco, heather Wolf, Margaret Semon, Bina Valenzano Richmond University Medical Center is an academic and clinical affiliate of The Mount Sinai hospital and has an integrated surgical program with SUNy Downstate Medical Center.
www.RUMCSI.org 355 Bard Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310 The information contained within this magazine is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, for which your physician is your best choice.
We’re on a Journey to become a Designated ‘baby-Friendly’ hospital
A
t Richmond University Medical Center, we love all our babies — the ones we’ve delivered in the past, the ones arriving today and of course, the ones who will be born at our hospital tomorrow. With this idea in mind, we invite all of our new and expectant mothers to help make our hospital as baby-friendly as possible by practicing the fundamentals of natural maternity: breastfeeding, rooming in (having baby stay in Mom’s hospital room) and skin-to-skin contact (placing a nearly naked baby directly on Mom’s skin). A GLOBAL EFFORT Back in the 1990s, the World health Organization (WhO) and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) established a set of guidelines that would help new moms find the support they needed to feed their babies naturally. They launched the Baby-Friendly hospital Initiative (BFhI), and encouraged hospitals around the world to equip new moms with the physical and psychological tools they needed to use their own milk to nourish newborns. Why? Research shows a number of health advantages to breastfeeding for both mom and baby, including everything from increased immunity for the baby and the forging of a more immediate maternal bond between mother and child. In addition, studies showed that there were certain economic advantages to breastfeeding
for nations around the world, which had been spending a lot of money on formula and formula-related products for newborns who would have benefited from breast milk. The BFhI assists hospitals in giving mothers the information, confidence and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies or feeding formula safely, and gives special recognition to hospitals that have done so. GETTING ON BOARD Today, we honor the legacy of the BFhI and the healthy changes it has introduced into maternity by inviting all our moms to breastfeed. To get them breastfeeding, we encourage them to room in, or share a room together, because this arrangement increases skin-to-skin contact — and skin-to-skin contact leads to breastfeeding. We’re here to help with all three essential steps. Articles on pages 4, 10 and 11 will get you started; the BFhI is about making sure that all mothers have the information they need to make the best decisions about infant feeding and the help they need to meet their feeding goals. OUR PROGRESS Richmond University Medical Center is participating in the first cohort of the Department of health and Mental hygiene’s Community Transformation Grant to provide funding and resources for the BFhI. We’re currently in the last phase of a four-phase journey to becoming baby-friendly: Our maternity physicians and nurses have increased skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn to 90 percent, creating elevated breastfeeding rates of 60 percent.
Richmond University Medical Center
Need Breastfeeding (Lactation) Help?
Why Rooming In Is a
Win–Win I
n the past, it was traditional for American moms who had just given birth to have their precious newborns placed immediately into the protective care of the nursery, where they slept separately under the watchful eye of maternity nurses. It all seems logical … but what if the mom and baby shared the same room and the nurse helped care for the baby in the room? The thought might sound strange but as it turns out, making a mom’s room the nursery for the first few days following childbirth has some pretty amazing health benefits associated with it. The style is called “rooming in,” and it’s catching on — most likely because it leads to a number of important health benefits. When moms room in at Richmond University Medical Center, they:
• • • • •
Learn about their baby’s needs and responses, including hunger cues. Establish a fundamental maternal bond. Promote healthier sleep patterns for themselves and their babies. Improve communication with hospital staff and family. Are more likely to breastfeed — and do it more frequently!
And when they breastfeed, studies show that their babies will gain more weight, be less likely to develop jaundice, receive additional antibodies to prevent and fight any infections, and conserve energy by not crying so much. Rooming in gets the ball rolling on all these things, and it’s something that Richmond University Medical Center supports. Ask your doctor how we can help you room in after your newborn is delivered.
Keep your newborn close: The results will be powerful.
S
omething all new moms need to know is that Richmond University Medical Center offers a free service to guide them through the lactation process while they’re in the hospital and even after they’ve left. International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) Carol Olsen and Anna Ruggieri, along with most of our nursing staff, are certified lactation counselors, who make themselves available to postpartum moms so they can successfully breastfeed their babies during and after their maternity stay. Why? “Most moms don’t know all the health benefits of breast milk, so we’ve made it our mission to grow healthier babies by making the breastfeeding process something simple, friendly and stress-free,” Olsen explains. That’s because breastfeeding carries with it a whole range of health benefits, including: • T he delivery of live antibodies from mom to baby. • Lower allergy/asthma rates. • Lower risk of diabetes. “Think of breast milk as your newborn’s first vaccination,” Olsen adds. “It gives him or her an immune boost — and we’re here to make it happen.”
For more information about free lactation services
at Richmond University Medical Center, please call 718-818-4294
Growing Preemies Into Healthy Babies
F
for 50+ Years
or about 600 Staten Island babies a year, many weighing less than 3.5 pounds, Richmond University Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a lifesaver. According to the Vermont Oxford Study, in 2013 the NICU, once again, had one of the highest survival rates in the region: 98.8 percent.
BEHIND THE NUMBERS Part of the secret of the unit’s success lies in the continuity of care: Doctors and nurses hired there tend to stay for many years. “We have a wonderful and dedicated NICU staff,” says Richmond University Medical Center’s Assistant Vice President of Women and Children’s Services and Nursing Education, Kathleen DiMauro, RN-BC, MS, IBCLC.
maintain the old philosophy. You could say it’s micromanaging, but you have to be available and hands-on.” Richmond University Medical Center focuses on leading-edge technology as well as a hands-on philosophy that emphasizes human interaction. “That forces the nurses to be very visual and not rely on monitors. That makes them better nurses,” Dr. Barone says. The staff of the NICU works so hard for positive results. “Besides having great outcomes, we care,” Dr. Lemma says. “That’s such an important aspect at the NICU — and at Richmond University Medical Center in general.”
“A solid group leads to continuity,” adds Richmond University Medical Center’s NICU Director, Anthony Barone, D.O. Richmond University Medical Center is a member of the Vermont Oxford Network, which gathers data from 900 NICUs in the U.S. and Europe. Statistics from 2013 revealed many other successes for Richmond University Medical Center, including a low rate of chronic lung disease, an ever-present threat for premature babies with lifelong consequences. The incidence of overall infections is also very low, Dr. Barone says. A HISTORY OF SUCCESS The NICU’s success story began with Anantham Harin, M.D., who established the unit, says Richmond University Medical Center’s Associate Program Director of Pediatrics, Teresa Lemma, M.D., FAAP. “He was the one who initiated the protocols about 30 years ago.” Today, Dr. Barone continues them together with his associate, Santosh Parab, M.D.; they are still the primary people managing the babies’ ventilators. “When you go to a big center, they’ll have respiratory therapists dealing with the ventilator and the neonatologist making the rounds. We
For more information on the NICU,
please call 718-818-4294 or visit www.RUMCSI.org/baby Richmond University Medical Center
High-Risk Pregnancy: Know What to Expect
A
high-risk pregnancy is any pregnancy in which there could be health problems for mother or baby. And while the term “high risk” sounds scary, it simply means that extra-special attention must be paid to both. In these situations, your doctor may recommend beginning care with a high-risk obstetrician called a perinatologist. Michael Moretti, M.D., Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Richmond University Medical Center, explains: “A perinatologist’s work is focused on keeping the baby inside for the duration of gestation, if possible. Babies have a better chance of survival if they are born at full term, rather than when they are born prematurely.”
Which factors can make pregnancy high-risk? “Pregnant women with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, seizure disorders or autoimmune disorders are potentially at risk,” states Dr. Moretti. Other areas of concern include: • An advanced maternal age of 35 or older; • Lifestyle choices like smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs; • A medical history of cesarean, low baby birth weight, preterm birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), miscarriage or death of a baby shortly after birth; • Underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and epilepsy, or a blood condition, such as anemia or an infection, along with any underlying mental health issue; • Pregnancy complications with the uterus, cervix or placenta; severe morning sickness that continues past the first trimester; or situations like abnormal amniotic fluid volumes, restricted fetal growth or Rh (rhesus) sensitization, which occurs when your blood group is different from your baby’s; • Multiple pregnancy for twins or higher-order multiples; • Overdue pregnancy beyond the anticipated date. What steps can I take to promote a healthy pregnancy? Stick to the basics. For example: • Schedule a preconception appointment. You’ll learn about prenatal vitamins and your ideal pregnancy weight and can discuss any medical conditions.
Dr. Michael Moretti, Chairman of Obstetrics & Gynecology, a Board Certified MFM Specialist at Richmond University Medical Center
• Be cautious when using assisted reproductive technology (ART). Consider how many embryos will be implanted: Multiple pregnancies carry a higher risk of preterm labor. • Seek regular prenatal care. Prenatal visits can help your healthcare provider monitor your and your baby’s health. • Eat healthy. You’ll need more folic acid, calcium, iron and other essential nutrients. A daily prenatal vitamin can help fill in any gaps. • Gain weight wisely. A weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds is often recommended for women who have a healthy weight before pregnancy. If you’re overweight before you conceive, you might need to gain less weight. • Avoid risky substances. Tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs are off-limits — and get your physician’s OK before you stop taking any medications or supplements. What else do I need to know about high-risk pregnancy? Ask your healthcare provider to discuss specific signs or symptoms to look out for, such as: • Vaginal bleeding; • Persistent headaches; • Pain or cramping in the lower abdomen; • Watery vaginal discharge — in a gush or a trickle; • Regular or frequent contractions — a tightening sensation in the abdomen; • Decreased fetal activity; • Pain or burning with urination; • Changes in vision, including blurred vision. Also, find out which signs or symptoms should prompt you to contact your healthcare provider and when to seek emergency care. Richmond University Medical Center specializes in making a high-risk situation less stressful for you, your baby and your family. Whether your risk is during the term of your pregnancy, or during labor and delivery, we can care for the unique needs of your growing family.
For more information or to make an appointment
at Richmond University Medical Center, please call 718-818-2832 or 718-818-4272
CHECKLIST:
packinG for the Hospital
Because packing for the hospital can be stressful, it is best to get some things ready before your due date, just in case you go into labor a little earlier than expected. Our checklist summarizes travel tips that many new moms have found useful during their labor and delivery for themselves and their newborns: We hope you use it.
MOM’S ESSENTIALS ❑ Health insurance card ❑ Medications — If you have any prescriptions you use regularly, like a thyroid pill or asthma inhaler, make sure you bring enough for the duration of your stay.
❑ Pillow from home — This makes you more comfortable; just make sure you place a different colored pillowcase on it to distinguish it from white hospital pillows. ❑ Extra washcloths — These also need to be colored to distinguish them from the hospital’s white washcloths.
❑ Nursing bras — These support swollen, tender breasts and help keep breast pads in place.
❑ Mints or breath strips — Many women experience nausea/ vomiting during labor and delivery; these will help freshen your mouth.
❑ Sports bra — This is good for suppressing lactation if you are not planning on breastfeeding.
❑ Lollipops or other hard candies — These can alleviate dry mouth.
❑ Breast pads — you will need these whether or not you are breastfeeding because they stop leaks by absorbing milk.
❑ Glasses and contact lens supplies — you’ll want to catch every moment, so make sure you can see.
❑ Nursing pillows — These can be used if you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding; either way, they reduce the strain on your arms, neck and back while feeding your baby.
❑ Large envelope/file folder — This item may be used to store any loose paperwork.
❑ Preregistration forms from the hospital
❑ Nightgown and robe — Make sure both open in the front if you are planning on breastfeeding. ❑ Slippers — During early labor, it is always recommended to walk around. ❑ Socks — Many women complain about their feet being cold during delivery, so have a couple of pairs on hand. ❑ Discharge clothes — Choose an outfit that fit when you were around 6 months pregnant.
❑ Technological needs — Pack your phone charger, tablet or other must-haves so you stay connected with friends and family during this important time.
BABY’S ESSENTIALS ❑ Infant car seat and infant head support — you will not be allowed to leave the hospital without these; make sure you bring the instructions.
❑ Toiletries — To be more comfortable, take a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm, makeup, hairbrush, shampoo, soap, lotion, hair dryer, etc.
❑ Discharge clothes — Pick something cute, but comfortable.
❑ Sanitary pads — The hospital can provide you with these, but many women feel more comfortable when they bring their favorite brand with them. Remember, you are going to need a pad designed for a heavier flow.
❑ Booties/socks — you’ll want to keep their toes warm, as well.
❑ Hair clip or band if you have long hair — Women with longer hair like to have it pulled out of their faces during labor and delivery.
❑ Hat — Because babies lose the vast majority of body heat through their heads, you need to keep them insulated. ❑ Receiving blankets — Newborns love to be swaddled, and these blankets are perfect for swaddling. ❑ Mittens — Many newborns have longer nails; these prevent them from scratching their faces and other parts of their bodies.
Richmond University Medical Center
Take the healthy Pregnancy
Quiz
Pregnancy is an exciting and busy time for families. you spend time wondering about your baby-to-be and making plenty of preparations to welcome the newest member of your family. By taking this quiz, you can learn which lifestyle behaviors are most helpful and which may be harmful to your developing child.
1.
2.
Healthy living habits during which trimester are most crucial for the well-being of your developing fetus?
4.
£
A. First
£
A. 50 pounds
£
B. Second
£
B. 28 pounds
£
C. Third
£
C. 40 pounds
£
D. All
£
D. 15 pounds
Women in their 30s and 40s can have healthy pregnancies, but are at increased risk for which condition?
5.
Which of these exercises do doctors recommend during pregnancy? £
A. Brisk walking
£
A. Chronic fatigue syndrome
£
B. Running
£
B. Diabetes
£
C. yoga
£
C. hypertension
£
D. All of the above
£
D. B and C 6.
3.
How much weight gain is normal for a woman of average build during pregnancy?
Which of these alcoholic beverages is safe to drink occasionally in very small amounts while you’re pregnant?
How does exercise benefit a pregnant body? £
A. Strengthens muscles
£
B. Reduces fatigue
£
A. Beer
£
C. Decreases stress
£
B. Wine
£
D. All of the above
£
C. Mixed drinks
£
D. None of the above
7.
8.
If you overexert yourself during exercise while expecting, it can be harmful for your developing baby because it:
9.
In a recent study, researchers found that taking over-thecounter painkillers during pregnancy may increase the risk for which of these conditions?
£
A. Increases your body temperature
£
B. Floods your lungs with carbon dioxide
£
A. Premature birth
£
C. Reduces oxygen to the fetus
£
B. Birth defects
£
D. Causes waste by-products to enter your blood
£
C. Miscarriage
£
D. Delayed labor
How do mom’s stress levels affect the fetus?
10.
Most domestic airlines won’t allow expectant mothers to fly after:
£
A. Cause premature birth
£
B. Produce low birth weight
£
A. 12 weeks
£
C. Change baby’s mood
£
B. 24 weeks
£
D. All of the above
£
C. 34 to 36 weeks
£
D. 40 weeks
See correct answers below. LEARN MORE ONLINE BY VISITING OUR HEALTH LIBRARY: www.RUMCSI.org/hEALTh
ANSWERS 1.
2.
3.
The correct answer is A. Although it’s important to treat the entire pregnancy with care, the first trimester is the most critical for the baby. All internal organs form at this time, and the embryo is the most susceptible to damage from toxins. The correct answer is D. Older women tend to develop diabetes and hypertension more often than younger women. The correct answer is D. Don’t drink or smoke while pregnant. Alcohol and nicotine affect the baby adversely.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The correct answer is B. This is the ideal weight gain for a woman of average height and weight, although the gain might range from 25 to 40 pounds. The correct answer is D. All three exercises are technically safe, but you may want to check with your healthcare provider about a regimen that’s appropriate for you. The correct answer is D. Exercise will benefit you during pregnancy even if you were a couch potato before. The correct answer is C. Stop when you feel tired. Work at a mild to moderate level.
8.
9.
10.
The correct answer is D. high levels of stress hormones in mom’s body reduce oxygen flow to the uterus. Studies have also found that they affect baby’s mood and neurobehavioral development. The correct answer is C. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin may increase the risk of miscarrying in the first trimester. The correct answer is C. This is because the risk for pregnancy complications, including premature labor, increase during the third trimester. When you do travel, carry a medical ID card with the name and phone number of your obstetrician.
Richmond University Medical Center
9
THE MAGICAL HOUR:
A Baby’s
T
he first hours after birth are a developmentally distinct time for a baby. Skin-to-skin contact is essential to helping a mom and newborn establish that vital maternal bond that will follow them both through life. When moms practice skin-to-skin, they become a part of their baby’s world from the first second. STAGE 1: BIRTH CRY This distinctive cry occurs immediately after birth as the baby’s lungs expand. STAGE 2: RELAXATION During the relaxation stage, the newborn exhibits no mouth movements and the hands are relaxed. This stage usually begins when the birth cry has stopped. The baby is skin-to-skin with the mother and covered with a warm, dry towel or blanket.
STAGE 3: AWAKENING During this stage, the newborn may exhibit head movements, open his or her eyes, show some mouth activity and might move his or her shoulders. STAGE 4: ACTIVITY During this stage, the newborn begins to make increased mouthing and sucking movements. STAGE 5: REST The baby may have periods of rest between periods of activity throughout the first hour or so after birth.
Instinctive Stages
During immediate postpartum skinto-skin contact, moms witness nine different newborn stages, each happening consecutively. These brief phases are innate and instinctive for the baby. Within each of them, the baby will display a variety of behaviors.
STAGE 6: CRAWLING The baby approaches the breast during this stage with short periods of action that result in reaching the breast and nipple. STAGE 7: FAMILIARIZATION During this stage, the newborn becomes acquainted with the mother by licking her nipple and touching and massaging her breast. STAGE 8: SUCKLING Baby is ready to latch! he or she will self-attach to the nipple and suckle. STAGE 9: SLEEP After the first feed, baby will be exhausted — and mom might be a little tired, too! Baby will fall into a deep sleep about 1½ to 2 hours after birth. Mother-baby pairs who share this magical hour become moms who feel more attentive and confident and babies who are better self-regulators at 1 year old, whether they continue breastfeeding or not. This short but powerful interlude has the potential to curb recently skyrocketing postpartum depression rates, facilitate trouble-free breastfeeding and provide babies with the healthiest start yet.
Helping Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
Getting your baby to sleep through the night is definitely not easy. however, with a few minor adjustments, there’s no reason your baby can’t learn to sleep through the night. Understand your Baby’s sleep needs During the first two months, your newborn’s need to eat overrules his or her need to sleep. A baby may feed almost every two hours if you’re breastfeeding, and possibly a little less often if you bottle-feed. your baby may sleep from 10 to 18 hours a day, sometimes for three to four hours at a time. But babies don’t know the difference between day and night. So they sleep with no regard for what time it is. That means your baby’s wide-awake time may be from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. By 3 to 6 months, many babies are able to sleep for a stretch of six hours. And by the time they reach 12 months, they can usually sleep through the night. Understanding Cues Newborns express their need to sleep by giving several cues; some fuss or cry, while some might display with gestures such as rubbing their eyes. Newborns can be taught the difference between day and night by limiting the activity levels, surrounding light and noise levels as nighttime approaches.
need a Physician? Call our Physician Referral Line 800-422-8798
WhEN yOU PRACTICE SKIN-TO-SKIN ...
BENEFITS OF SKIN-TO-SKIN CONTACT
T
ouch is healthy for humans — it forges bonds, triggers memories and, for newborns and moms, increases the chances of breastfeeding, which leads to a whole range of health benefits, including increased immunities and quicker weight gain for newborns. Skin-to-skin care is good for you, too. It can lower stress and help you bond and connect with your newborn. It can also improve your ability to make breast milk and to know when your baby is ready to nurse.
NEWBORN IS:
MOM IS:
More likely to be breastfed Better able to initiate breastfeeding
More confident all around Stabilized in her vulnerable postpartum hours Less anxious In less engorgement pain More likely to initiate bonding
Likely to breastfeed for longer Breastfed sooner postdelivery Calmer for medical procedures More likely to optimize early brain development
NEWBORN hAS:
MOM hAS:
Stable breathing/heart rate Greater weight gain Less need to cry More regular temperature Optimal blood sugar levels Enhanced immune response
Direct exposure to feeding cues Direct exposure to soothing cues A happier postpartum experience An enriching bonding experience
KiDs ComE FiRsT at Richmond University medical Center
E
very parent wants the best for their children, especially when they are sick or injured. Richmond University Medical Center provides exactly this for Staten Island families, with a team of qualified doctors and nursing staff that works together in a kid-friendly, nonthreatening environment with one goal in mind: to heal children as quickly and comfortably as possible. Whether treating infants with special needs in the hospital’s highly acclaimed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or delivering inpatient, outpatient or urgent care to older children, Richmond University Medical Center offers the highest quality care to children from birth through adolescence. “We have a full-service pediatric department that meets the needs of a wide range of pediatric patients,” explains Richmond University Medical Center’s
Department of Pediatrics Chair, Brian R. McMahon, M.D., FAAP.
nephrology and surgery subspecialty services are also offered.
In 2013, almost 1,000 children up to the age of 16 years old were admitted to the hospital’s 24-bed pediatric unit. Patients with chronic or congenital conditions are treated in this unit that includes a 3-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) staffed day and night with a board-certified pediatric intensivist, and a 3-bed hematology/ oncology suite where most services can be provided on an outpatient basis, allowing patients a normal lifestyle while they undergo treatment. On-site pediatric pulmonology, endocrinology,
Peds Express, a program available at the hospital, aims to make the trip from the emergency room (ER) to the pediatric unit quicker and less stressful for young patients and their families. When a pediatrician sends his or her patient to the ER and it is likely the patient will need to be admitted, the doctor can call ahead to have the case assigned to Peds Express. Once the pediatrician in the ER confirms the need for admission, the patient begins his or her way to the pediatric unit, where the goal is to have him or her settled there within 90 minutes.
For more inFormation on peDiatrics,
please call 718-818-4294 or visit www.RUMCSI.org/baby Richmond University Medical Center Richmond 11 11 University Medical Center
childbirth education at richmond university medical center It’s important for parents-to-be to prepare themselves as much as possible for their baby’s arrival. That’s why Richmond University Medical Center offers childbirth classes for parents as they prepare for their new baby. The optimum time to start is once you enter your 30th week of pregnancy.
❏ GROUP CLASSES* Monday classes (3 sessions) 7:30–9:30 p.m. Saturday classes (2 sessions) 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Fee: $125 (payable by check or cash) Included in the classes are materials, snacks and goodies. you can also take a tour of the Labor & Delivery and Maternity suites. Private classes available upon request.
❏ BREASTFEEDING CLASS This class is led by a lactation counselor. Topics covered include: latching, different feeding positions, diet, medications and pumping (when and how). Call to make reservations. This program is free. Bring your partner, your mom or a friend. For dates and to register, contact the Prepared Childbirth Office at 718-818-4294. Please leave a message and contact number. *Richmond University Medical Center reserves the right to cancel any program should there be an insufficient number of participants.
important numbers to keep handy • Main Line: 718-818-1234 • Physician Referral Line: 800-422-8798 • Antepartum: 718-818-3287 • Breast Pump Rental: 718-818-4438 • Labor & Delivery: 718-818-2170 • Lactation Services: 718-818-4375/1596 • Newborn Observation Unit: 718-818-2323 • NICU: 718-818-4310 • Pediatric Clinic: 718-818-1080 • Pediatric ER: 718-818-2070 • Pediatrics: 718-818-4320 • Prenatal Clinic: 718-818-1069 • Prepared Childbirth Office: 718-818-4294
our maternity Facilities, niCU and More The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a 25-bed Level III intensive care unit comprised of 19 intensive and intermediate beds and 6 continuing care beds. The unit specializes in the care of the high-risk newborn, accommodating neonates as small as 1 pound. Labor & Delivery is a unit that provides care to the childbearing patient and family. The unit offers 9 birthing rooms, 3 triage beds, 2 operating rooms, a delivery room, a recovery room, an antepartum room and a triage area. The Maternity Unit is a 28-bed unit comprised of 8 private and 14 semiprivate suites. Pediatrics is a 24-bed pediatric unit that includes 3 Pediatric Intensive Care beds and a pediatric hematology/oncology division. The hospital offers the community a full range of children’s services, including medical and surgical services, pediatric hematology/ oncology and critical and emergency care.