NICU Awareness Day

Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month concludes on Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) Awareness Day (September 30th), a day dedicated to honouring all infants and their families spending time in NICU. To celebrate this day, we wanted to highlight the role of Family Integrated Care on the neonatal Unit.

What is Family Integrated Care?

When a baby is born prematurely or with health complications, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) becomes their temporary home—a place where specialized medical teams provide around-the-clock care. However, being in the NICU can be an overwhelming and emotional experience for parents, who may feel uncertain about how to bond with or care for their newborn in such a clinical setting.

That’s where Family Integrated Care (FICare) comes in—a model of care that recognizes the vital role families play in their baby’s health and development. Instead of parents being passive visitors, FICare encourages them to become active participants in their baby’s NICU journey. It’s a philosophy of care that not only benefits the infant but also strengthens the bond between parents and their little ones.

Family Integrated Care (FICare) is an approach in the NICU that involves parents in the day-to-day care of their newborns. While trained healthcare professionals are there to manage medical needs, parents are empowered to take part in the hands-on care of their baby, learning essential skills and building confidence along the way.

FICare is based on the belief that parents are the best advocates for their baby’s well-being, and their involvement can lead to better health outcomes, earlier bonding, and a more positive NICU experience¹. It shifts the focus from just medical care to a more holistic approach that considers the emotional, psychological, and developmental needs of both the baby and the family.

What FICare Means for Parents and their babies:

1. Building a Stronger Bond Early On

In traditional NICU settings, parents often feel disconnected, as they can’t always be with their baby as much as they’d like. With FICare, parents have the opportunity to spend more time with their newborn, engaging in meaningful activities like skin-to-skin contact, feeding, and changing nappies. These everyday actions help create a strong emotional connection between parent and baby, even in a medical environment.

2. Learning and Confidence

FICare provides parents with the tools and knowledge they need to care for their baby in the NICU and beyond. Under the guidance of the healthcare team, parents learn how to manage tasks like tube feeding, administering medications, and monitoring vital signs. This hands-on experience not only builds confidence but also prepares families for the transition home, ensuring they feel more capable of caring for their baby once discharged.

3. Reduced Stress and Anxiety

The NICU can be an incredibly stressful environment, with constant beeping monitors and medical interventions. However, being actively involved in your baby’s care through FICare can help reduce feelings of helplessness and anxiety. Knowing that you’re contributing to your baby’s recovery fosters a sense of empowerment and control in an otherwise overwhelming situation.

4. Improved Outcomes for Your Baby

Research shows that FICare can have a positive impact on your baby’s health. Studies have found that babies whose parents are actively involved in their care tend to gain weight faster, have shorter hospital stays, and exhibit stronger developmental progress¹. The emotional closeness and reassuring touch that parents provide are essential for their baby’s growth and well-being.

5. Emotional and Peer Support

One of the key components of FICare is creating a sense of community among NICU families. Many hospitals offer family education sessions, support groups, and peer-to-peer mentoring, giving parents the opportunity to connect with others going through similar experiences. These support networks can be a lifeline, offering both practical advice and emotional encouragement during a difficult time.

SurePulse

SurePulse recognises the importance of baby and family centric care. Our vision is a world where baby-centric innovations transform neonatal outcomes. The SurePulse VS is SurePulse’s first device, approved in the US, UK and EU for clinical use, and comprises a thermo-protective single-use cap that provides clinical teams with wireless, continuous and accurate heart rate information. Use of the SurePulse VS has the potential to assist safe and effective newborn monitoring whilst allowing families greater autonomy during first cuddles with their babies in the delivery room, and during skin-to-skin/kangaroo care in the NICU².

References

1. Waddington C, van Veenendaal NR, O’Brien K, Patel N; International Steering Committee for Family Integrated Care. Family integrated care: Supporting parents as primary caregivers in the neonatal intensive care unit. Pediatr Investig. 2021 Jun 18;5(2):148-154. doi: 10.1002/ped4.12277. PMID: 34179713; PMCID: PMC8212757.
2. J Myhill, L Pocock, P Clarke. Feasibility and acceptability of a novel forehead-mounted wireless heart rate monitoring device in preterm babies. Presentation at jENS 2023.