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The NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) looks after babies born prematurely, babies who require surgery shortly after birth, and babies who require treatment for infectious diseases, etc., and provides care 24 hours a day. Advanced medical care such as artificial respiration management, nitric oxide inhalation therapy, and hypothermia therapy is also available. All staff members work hard to ensure that babies are able to be discharged from the hospital in good health as soon as possible.
Holding your baby, feeding them, talking to them, feeling their reactions... After birth, there are many opportunities to interact with your baby. Keeping your baby in the NICU is like depriving the family of these opportunities. Therefore, when parents visit the NICU, we try to give them as many opportunities to interact with their baby as possible, as long as their baby's condition allows.
However, due to the spread of COVID-19, visitation restrictions were put in place. This was a necessary measure to protect all babies from infection, but it was extremely difficult for even the parents to be unable to see their babies in the NICU. The staff brainstormed ideas and started sending photos and videos of the babies with messages attached. This allowed us to realize our long-planned online visitation plan.
An online visit (Grandpa, Grandma, and everyone else were all together at home)
Our online visits are safe and secure, as they do not affect the NICU's precision equipment or leak personal information. Families can get a sneak peek at how their babies are doing before they're even scheduled for discharge. The baby will appear on the device we lend you, and grandparents, older siblings, and everyone else can see it. If you're lucky, you might even hear their voice. You can see the baby on the device at Kitano Hospital, so feel free to wave or say hello. We've received positive feedback, with comments like, "I thought it would be a long time before we'd meet, so I'm so happy," and "It felt closer than a video." Of course, meeting your baby in person is the best option. We hope that we can return to normal life soon.
We also lend the same dedicated terminals to some private obstetricians and gynecologists. When a baby is transported to Kitano Hospital, mothers are often still unable to go out immediately after birth. Using the online visiting system, you can hear directly from the doctor in charge about the baby's test results and treatment plan, and see how the baby is doing after transport. We plan to continue and expand this system in the future to support families who are suddenly faced with the decision to admit their baby to the NICU and are filled with anxiety.
Pediatrics, Premature and Neonatal Department, Director Hiroshi Mizumoto
We were interviewed by NHK about the efforts being made by our NICU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was broadcast on News Hotto Kansai, but is also being streamed worldwide on NHK World. It is available in English, but please do take a look.
A hospital in Osaka helps parents deal with pandemic-related separation from their newborns. pic.twitter.com/XwH9r6haYO
— NHK WORLD News (@NHKWORLD_News) October 5, 2020
