Posted Tuesday, February 26, 2008 by
chris smith
Here's a great story recently aired on the CBS Evening News about Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and their efforts to treat pain in tiny infants. Katie Couric leads into the story & Sanjay Gupta is reporting from the NICU. Not only does the story touch on a subject that's near and dear to my heart (Preemies and their environment) but it also touches on some of the equipment & monitors being used to mitigate pain for these little ones.
Posted by: Mary Beth Starrett on Monday, September 15, 2008
Hello Chris, I just read about your idea for the sound/light monitor in the NICU, in the Indy Star. I am thrilled to hear about your product. A true melding of skill and experience and necessity! My son was in the NICU for only 2 weeks, but I remember very well how agonizing it was to leave him all alone and go home to be with my husband and 4 year old over night. During the day I would return to the NICU, never leaving our baby's side. I would whisper to him, hum to him, murmur my love and dreams for him. The NICU nurses told me every day that my presence and my sounds calmed him. He was a very agitated little protestor when I was not with him. He is 22 now and STILL protesting loudly!! But it occured to me, while reducing unwanted sound and light in the NICU, do you think if would be beneficial to have each baby's mother's voice, murmuring softly and gently in the hours she is absent from the NICU? If that would be beneficial, would it be possible? Very sincerely and gratefully, Mary Beth Starrett