includes neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurses and respiratory therapists, all of whom are specially trained to provide critical care for babies. “Once I was settled in my room at St. Luke’s my husband, Michael, took me to the NICU to see our son for the first time,” said Becker. “It was difficult. He looked terrible and had all of these tubes hooked up to him. We were told he had aspirated on meconium and was having difficulty breathing.” Meconium aspiration can happen before, during or after labor and delivery when a newborn inhales a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid. Meconium is the baby’s first feces, which is sticky, thick and typically passed in the womb during early pregnancy and again in the first few days after birth. The inhaled meconium can partially or completely block a baby’s airway.
care at St. Luke’s. But the more we thought about it we realized it would ease the burden on my husband who was driving from Cedar Falls to Cedar Rapids daily. It was nice to get closer to home.”
transition smooth and eased any fears or concerns we had. After several weeks in both NICUs Joseph was sent home. Today he’s a healthy and happy five month old.
Team effort
“My experience with St. Luke’s and Allen was unbelievable,” said Becker. “I think the doctors and nurses take the care they give to a personal level and really love their patients. You can tell they really want what is best for them and want to help them. I would definitely recommend them to anyone.”
The success of St. Luke’s NICU outreach model at Allen is now being embraced by UnityPoint Health –Trinity Health System in Bettendorf and Moline, IL. “We try to keep the babies and moms in their home communities when possible,” said Dr. Rosenblum. “It’s a total team effort. We believe it is the right thing to do for the baby and the parents.”
We invite you to learn more about St. Luke’s Birth Care and NICU at unitypoint.org/babies.
“When we transferred to Allen it was nice to know it was all the same people caring for Joseph,” said Becker. “It made the
“The team at St. Luke’s was so great about explaining everything they were doing for Joseph,” said Becker. “The care at St. Luke’s was amazing. From the time I was admitted they were sensitive to the fact that my baby was in the NICU and I had just had a C-section. They helped me go see my baby whenever I wanted. The nurses were fabulous in both Birth Care and the NICU. I can’t say enough good things about them. I never realized Allen and St. Luke’s worked with other smaller hospitals to take care of sick babies. I’m so glad they do.” After two weeks at St. Luke’s NICU, the team talked with the Beckers about transferring Joseph to Allen Hospital in Waterloo. “We really liked the care Joseph was getting at St. Luke’s,” said Becker. “So when they mentioned sending him to Allen’s NICU so he could be closer to home we were a little hesitant because he was getting such great Michael and Amber Becker are grateful for their son, Joseph, who is healthy, happy and keeps his parents up at night with typical teething woes.
St. Luke’s Health Beat | Fall 2013 | 5