The unit is equipped with its human and technological resources, own of a IIIb unit level or maximum complexity of care.
At the same time, it is great importance not only at purely technological aspects but also to improve the welfare of infants and neurodevelopment through the so-called Care Focusing on Development or CCD.
Care focused on the development, CCD
They are a set of actions designed to optimize the environment in the neonatal intensive care units because they exert a negative impact on the development of the newborn. The nervous system of preterm requieres favorable environment to develop properly.
The CCD is based on these concepts and the dynamic interaction between the newborn and the family atmosphere. They include issues such as the macroenvironment (lighting, noise) and microenvironment (position newborn kangaroo, manipulation, pain).
The implementation of the CCD in neonatal units worldwide has become a new way of understanding neonatal medicine, more humane and profitable on the future of the young patients we serve.
Parents, active participants
Improve control of body temperature
Promote tactile, olfactory, auditory and visual stimulation of the newborn
Promote breastfeeding
Reduce the risk of infectionThe atmosphere contributes to the organization of the developing brain
The uterus provides ideal conditions for the development of the fetus. It protects from external stimuli (no light) and noise (internal, soft and attenuated). If the baby is premature, she/ he develops outside the uterus and excessive stimulation in the neonatal unit can cause stress and irritability, interfere with her/ his sleep patterns, reduce weight gain, etc.
The position and contention plasticity
Face up: hands toward the midline of the body, legs bent, and some containment elements slightly lateral.How to feed the newborn?
Breast milk is the ideal for the newborn and its advantages are multiplied in premature: it is easier to digest, helps turn the immature intestinal function and protects against infection.
When your child is born, is necessary to teach mothers to extract milk from the first drops of colostrum as well as the operating mode of storage and conservation.
Until 34-45 weeks, premature baby do not have complete ability to eat by mouth, coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing. They are fed through tubes we introduce by mouth or nose into the stomach. The training for future feeding starts from 29-32 weeks and is progressive and individualized. The oral cavity is one of the most sensitive areas of the baby and can develop numerous activities to promote the learning of food. Parents take part actively and we will teach them to do it.
During the stay of the infants in the Neonatal Unit are developed procedures for healing, but can cause pain or discomfort: puncture for analysis placement of roads, medical examinations, etc. Depending on the degree of potential pain of a particular procedure, we use different levels of analgesia: the use of sucrose (sugar dissolved in water) or wrap the child with his hands, for example, are routine acts to perform analytical punctures placement roads and placing pending girls. When pain is more important (intubations, drainage, since interventions or children with assisted ventilation) may require calm-analgesia with more powerful, always in doses adapted to their situation drugs.
Neonatal Care Service (Nursery) and the Neonatal Unit of Quirón Dexeus Hospital
This service consists on a team of pediatricians, neonatologists and nurses. We are professionals who work for the health of the newborn and to support parents before, during and after the birth of his son.
During pregnancy
Possibility of prenatal visits with the neonatologist: in some situations that can occur during pregnancy, the visit of parents with a neonatologist of our team can provide information about the prognosis of the child and the scenario that may occur after childbirth. In the case of diagnosis of anomalies in prenatal ultrasound or income from the mother to the risk of premature birth, your obstetrician will offer a prenatal appointment with the neonatologist.
Childbirth and the importance of skin-to-skin contact in the early stages
The SSC is currently recommended by scientific societies for healthy infants in postpartum. It involves placing the infant in direct, immediate and continuous contact on the mother’s breast during the first hours after bith, avoiding as much as possible separations. This method can be done in healthy infants who are in good condition. The observation of professionals specialized in serving infants in the delivery room is enough to determine whether the baby’s condition is correct.
Why the SSC?
The natural habitat of the baby is the mother. The contact of the baby with her protects her/him, promotes the bond, stimulates the immune system and facilitates better adaptation to extrauterine life, laying the groundwork for a successful breastfeeding. If the mother is not available to the SSC, the baby can also make it with the father.
If needed, the neonatologist pediatrician goes to the delivery room to assess the status of the newborn and assist her/ him.
Parts of the living room
Once the mother goes into the room with the son, the pediatric nurse will perform the initial checks, including pes and size. Mother and son are together in the room during the entire hospital stay. It is what is known as rooming in and is the type of care to newborns as recommended in current neonatal services. The rooming in favor bonding and breastfeeding, makes it easier for parents and children go recognizing each other and reduces the risks of separation. If the mother has a problem that hinders her ability to deal with the infant, the nursery nurses will support her during the hours needed.
The first days after birth
The pediatrician performs two scans for all healthy neonates: one on the first day after birth and another one again the day that the newborn and the mother go home. Throughout the hospital stay, the pediatrician passes daily visit. There are doctors specialized in neonatology available 24 hours a day to meet the newborn in case of problem. The nursery nurses give advice on breastfeeding and newborn cures for 24 hours and routine checks (heel prick, pes). Nurses from the Neonatal Unit make other analysis if needed.
Our hospital has the honor of Baby Friendly Hospital, awarded by UNICEF in recognition of his work to promote breastfeeding. Once the parents are already at home, we also offer the possibility to go to our breastfeeding support group, which meets weekly and provides a phone consultation. You can also attend before the birth of your baby.
Other routine examinations:
The program of neonatal screening (heel lance)
Some infants show no symptoms at birth and normal physical examination, but they may be affected by a genetic alteration that could later lead to serious injury. The neonatal screening program, promoted and funded by the Department of Health of the Generalitat of Catalonia, aims to detect 20 hereditary metabolic diseases, congenital hypothyroidism and cystic fibrosis acute during the first days of life. If these diseases are diagnosed early, they can be treated effectively.
This test is performed by extracting a few drops of blood from the heel during the first 48 hours of life after birth and before hospital discharge. Parents have to fill out a sheet with personal data that the hospital sent with the blood sample to the laboratory in charge of the study. Before the month of a child’s life, the results are sent home.
The program of early detection of deafness (PEAT-C)
One in every thousand newborns suffers deafness which must be treated so that the child can grow up, in general, normally. Deafness has important implications on speech, emotional and child’s motor development. This program is also recommended by the Health Department in all infants and children, especially in those with risk factors (family history, prematurity).
The program is performed by the technique of automated auditory evoked potentials. It is a simple test which involves placing headphones through which sound stimuli are sent and electrodes that allow to register auditory feedback.