NICU care at UnityPoint Health
“ The survival rate for babies born at 28 weeks is about 95 percent so they typically have some acute problems at birth, particularly respiratory distress, but with appropriate nutrition, these babies usually grow and develop healthily.” Dennis Rosenblum, MD, neonatologist
but the NICU team was great about telling me to get in there and take pictures.”
ADVANCED NICU CARE St. Luke’s is the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) as determined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in the Cedar Rapids’ area. Other hospitals like Allen in Waterloo transfer premature babies to St. Luke’s when they are born under 30 weeks gestation or are in need of additional support. St. Luke’s has a comprehensive team of neonatologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and respiratory therapists all whom are specially trained to provide care to extremely premature babies. “The younger the gestational age – the more potential complications are likely,” said Dennis Rosenblum, MD, neonatologist. “The survival rate for babies born at 28 weeks is about 95 percent so they typically have some acute problems at birth, particularly respiratory distress, but with appropriate nutrition, these babies usually grow and develop healthily. Jaelyn needed
some breathing assistance and supplemental oxygen the first several weeks in the hospital, but overall she did really well.”
OVERWHELMING FEELING “Having a child in the NICU is overwhelming at first but the doctors and nurses at St. Luke’s were so great at explaining everything,” said Trisha. “Everyone I met from the housekeeping to the respiratory staff to the nurses and doctors – they were all amazing. I knew Jaelyn was in good hands. It was a very reassuring feeling.” “It’s somewhat ironic we ended up in the NICU because I vaguely remember touring the NICU before Jaelyn was born,” recalled Justin. “We didn’t pay close attention because we didn’t think we’d ever use the NICU. I don’t think anyone thinks they’ll have a premature baby.”
A SIGN “One thing that sticks with me is – while we weren’t really ready to welcome Jaelyn so early – we did have her name picked out,” said Trisha.
“I remember reading the Winter 2014 issue of this magazine and there was a story about premature triplets. One of the triplets’ names was Jaelyn and I thought to myself that’s not really a common name – it must be a sign everything will be OK. It gave us such comfort. My hope is someone will read this article like I did and know it’s going to be OK. The feeling of being overwhelmed and that the NICU stay will never end – I want other parents to know there is light at the end of the tunnel you will get through it. The staff at St. Luke’s will lead you out. We made it.” Today they are definitely in a better place – enjoying their spunky, funloving two-year-old daughter who would rather play with her toys than sit for photographers.
Schedule your tour of UnityPoint Health birth suites today. Cedar Rapids: (319) 369-8129 Dubuque: (563) 557-2837 Waterloo: (319) 235-3620
LiveWell | Fall 2016 |
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