"Golden has a highly active Obstetrical Program serving our community. We are continually striving as a team to provide the safest and most evidence-based care to our expectant families. The team, which includes nurses, physicians, and a midwife, all must be certified in NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation). This course, which I and one of our nurses, Krista Hakeman, teach every few months, ensures all obstetrical care givers are current in the latest guidelines and management for the newborn who may require resuscitation or additional support after birth."
Dr Virginia Clark states
"Before or after birth, newborns who need assistance usually have a problem with respiration (breathing) leading to inadequate oxygen exchange. The obstetrical team must recognize when newborns do not make the transition from fetal (inside Mom) to newborn (outside Mom) circulation and take the necessary steps to ensure the newborn gets the resuscitation steps required."
In the 7th Edition of the Neonatal Resuscitation Manual published in 2016, it was recommended that when a newborn does not make the normal transition to breathing room air at one minute and needs assistance, a monitor be applied to assess the baby’s oxygenation, a cardiac monitor to monitor the heart rate be attached and the baby be given Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)
Dr Clark continues "This
last step involves applying an oxygen mask to the baby’s face and assisting the
baby to breathe. We do not have the cardiac monitor that has been recommended as the standard of care for newborns.
We continue to try to assess the baby’s heart rate by listening with a
stethoscope, which can be very difficult in a noisy room with
much going on, and may prolong interruptions in chest compressions (
fortunately a rare situation) and give inaccurate results. This heart
rate monitor provides a rapid and reliable method to constantly monitor the
infant’s heart rate."
Fifty-seven (57) babies were born in the Golden hospital in 2019 and a similar number are expected in 2020. Two deliveries were very preterm infants - one at 27 weeks and another at 32 weeks. Fortunately, both infants have done well thanks to superb teamwork by those involved but a Neonatal Cardiac Monitor would make the resuscitation easier and less stressful for all involved.
"We try to ensure the women delivering their babies in Golden are healthy and low risk, but in obstetrics, the unpredictable can happen and often without much warning, so staff need to be prepared. Having the correct equipment to perform resuscitation when needed can only benefit our community's families."
Please help Dr Clark and her team of dedicated professionals give the best possible care to Golden's newborns.
Keith W Hern
Friend Golden & District Hospital
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