I have been writing a paper this week on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a common and life-threatening gastrointestinal disease that occurs mostly in premature infants.  While researching the topic, I was reminded over and over again of the importance of breast milk and I thought I would share some information with you.

Lafeber, Westerbeek,  Van den Berg,  Fetter, and Van Elburg (2008) found that breast milk offers some protective measures against NEC by stimulating the growth of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus. These are both types of ‘good’ bacteria that live in the gut of healthy infants.

Another study found that NEC developed six times more in neonates who were formula fed and 3.5 times more in infants fed formula and breast milk combined than in those fed breast milk alone (Thompson & Bizzarro, 2008).

What a great reason to provide breastmilk for your baby, especially if your baby is a preemie!  The benefits of breastmilk are numerous (See our Lactation page for more info) and in most cases, it is the best thing for your baby.  Please talk to your baby’s physician, nurse, or a Lactation Consultant today about providing breast milk or the use of Donor Expressed Breastmilk (DEBM).

Email me with your thoughts, concerns, or questions on this topic.  I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Pumping!

Julie Hudson, BSN, RN
NCBH NICU  

This week, I just wanted to share some encouraging words with all the NICU families out there:
“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world. Someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”   ~Tom Bodett

If you have a baby (or babies) in the NICU, then you have all 3 of these things. 

Scripture even tells us:  “And thou shalt be secure because there is hope.”  (Job 11:18).

Hope is what sometimes gets you through the hard days and keeps you going even when it doesn’t seem like you have anything left to give.  But, you still may have to wait because some things take time. Remember…..
“Patience is the art of Hoping.”  ~Vauvenargues 

Hope these words encourage you this week….as you wait and hope!

If you have an encouraging word for other NICU families, please drop me an email by clicking on my name below.

Julie Hudson, BSN, RN
NCBH NICU  

     This week, I have been on the other side of hospital life…my grandfather has been in critical condition following cardiac bypass.  It has been a difficult time for our family, full of lots of emotions - stress, worry, etc.  Our family will reflect happily on the staff that have contributed to his care, and we will especially remember the ones who took the time to talk, explain procedures, and who spoke and acted kindly to my grandfather.
     In the NICU, the story is similar.  You will always remember those of us who have touched your child and contributed to his or her health.  We hope that those memories are fond ones and that we have been there to not only nurture your little one, but to offer support and kindness to you and your family.
     If you have a NICU story to share or a word of advice for other NICU parents or NICU staff, please email me by clicking on my name below.  I would love to include your ideas for dealing with NICU life.

Julie Hudson, BSN, RN
NCBH NICU   

Summertime Fun Time!

Join North Central Baptist Hospital for the 5th Annual Summer Celebration. 

Your kids will love the fun activities, and you'll enjoy informative exhibits.

- FREE t-shirt for the first 200 attendees who donate back-to-school supplies
- Great giveaway items from area businesses
- FREE food and refreshments
- Local physicians with FREE family health and wellness information
- Asthma education
- Learn about the Spirit of Women program
- Games, crafts and much, much more!

When:  Saturday, August 7th

Time:  9 am to noon

Location:  North Central Baptist Hospital's Atrium Lobby
                    520 Madison Oak Drive
                    San Antonio, TX  78258

For more information, please call (210) 297-7005

According to the CDC, more than a ½ million babies are born prematurely each year in the United States…that is estimated to be 1 in 8.[1]  This is a staggering statistic, however, recently released numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that premature births have decreased nationwide by 4% from 2006-2008!  This is the first time our country has seen a decline in 30 years.[2] 
That means we are making progress in the fight toward healthy pregnancies and deliveries, but we still have a long way to go.  Check out the latest statistics and information on premature babies here on our NICU Helpful Links page and for Moms-to-be, check out the Prenatal Care page.If you have questions, comments, or a story to share, please email me by clicking on my name below.   

Have you seen our Success Stories page?  We just added a new story written by one of our NICU graduate moms.  Be sure to see his adorable “before-and-after” photos too!  Stories like Lil Bill’s are what make our job in the NICU so great.  We love what we do and we form a special bond with the families that come through our doors.

We are planning to update the Success Stories page with more photos and stories soon, but we could always use more.  If you are one of our graduate families, we would love to include your NICU story on our website!  Please email me your story and photos by clicking on my name below.   

Julie Hudson, BSN, RN
NCBH NICU   

I am writing this while sitting in the SA Airport waiting for a flight to the International Interdisciplinary Expo of Health-Related Research in El Paso, Texas.  I am presenting a poster on discharge teaching tools in the NICU.  Probably doesn’t sound fun to you, but it is one of many attempts to make our NICU better!  Conferences and presentations are a way that the NICU staff, hospital administrators, and Neonatologists stay on top of the latest research related to “best practices” or “evidence-based practices”.…it is also an opportunity for us to show the great things that we do at NCBH.

You can have confidence that we are committed to ensuring that our NICU is always providing the best possible care for you and your family!

If you have a great NICU story or experience to share, please email me (by clicking on my name below).  I would like to hear from you.

Julie Hudson, BSN, RN
NCBH NICU  

We had so much fun this past weekend at the 2^nd Annual NICU Reunion!  There was a great turnout and we loved having the chance to catch-up with all the families and graduates.  All of the kids looked great and it was so much fun to watch them walking, running, and playing!

Our Memory Box was full and I am super-excited to see what notes and pictures were left there for us!  Thank you to all of you who left a special note to the staff…it makes our day to know that we were able to touch your lives in a special way.

For those of you who did not receive your invitation this year, please be sure to update your contact information with us…..we got a lot of returned invitations.  We hope to see everyone next year!  Check out the Baptist Moms and Kids website homepage for a link to the pictures taken at the event and check our Success Stories page for updates soon.

If you have a great NICU story or experience to share, please email me (by clicking on my name below).  I would like to hear from you.

Julie Hudson, BSN, RN
NCBH NICU  

I have been getting lots of phone calls and emails about the upcoming NCBH NICU Reunion.  We are all so excited that so many of our graduates are coming back for a visit.  For those of you who have not yet received your invitation, here is the information:

2^ND ANNUAL

NICU

REUNION

Saturday, April 24, 2010

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

North Central Baptist Hospital

Atrium Lobby

520 Madison Oak Drive

Clown, Face Painting,

Cookie Decorating, Fun & Games

FREE Gift for NICU Graduate!!!

RSVP 210.297.7005

Group Photos:
9:30 am..........Class of ‘03 ‘04 ‘05
10:00 am..........Class of ‘06 ‘07
10:30 am..........Class of ‘08
11:00 am..........Class of ‘09 ‘10

Bring a photo of your graduate then and now and share your success story!!!We are planning for a really fun day!  Hope to see you next Saturday, so please be sure to RSVP!

Julie Hudson, BSN, RN
NCBH NICU  

Who do you talk to the most in the NICU? 

There was a study published a few years ago in the Journal of Perinatology on how information is communicated in the NICU.  The researchers found that most NICU parents (96%) felt that they were given all of the medical information they needed during their stay and that the neonatologists did a good job of keeping them informed (91%)*.  Even with those high percentages, parents still said that the NICU nurse was: “the person who spent the most time explaining the baby’s condition, the best source of information, and the person who told them about important changes in their baby’s condition”.  As a practicing NICU nurse, I think this is really cool!

Your baby’s nurse spends the most time at his or her bedside on a given day and is probably the one who notices when you bring in a new onesie or makes sure that you know that your baby graduated to a bigger diaper size.  As bedside staff, we know that sometimes it is the little things that mean the most to you.  Your baby’s nurse can answer your questions and teach you cues to your baby’s behaviors.  If we do not know the answer, we will find it for you (ask a Neo or NNP  :^) ).  I encourage you to get to know all of your baby’s nurses…..we love getting to know you!

Do you have a great story about your NICU nurses?  Please email me (by clicking on my name below).  I would love to read your stories and comments.

See you around the NICU!
Julie Hudson, BSN, RN
NCBH NICU  

*Kowalski, W.J., Leef, K.H., Mackley, A., Spear, M.L., and Paul, D.A. (2006). Communicating with parents of premature infants: who is the informant? Journal of Perinatology, 26, 44-48.