Innovative NICU technique lets parents hold their preemies skin-to-skin sooner

Parents of preemies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are now able to experience skin-to-skin bonding earlier than ever, thanks to an innovative technique pioneered by the director of Neonatology at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Hospital in California.

Dr. Rangasamy Ramanathan, MD, MBBS created the technique of nasal high frequency jet ventilation, which uses a nose tube called a RAM Cannula. The ventilation technique allows parents to hold their babies who are on ventilators — a feat that was previously nearly impossible due to the standard ventilator tubes and cords.

“It is a three- to four-person job, and because the baby is so fragile, once the infant is moved, they remain in their parent’s arms for about two hours,” said clinical nurse specialist Amanda Williams, MSN, of Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s.

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Numerous studies have revealed wide-ranging benefits of skin-to-skin contact in preemies —and all newborns — and their mothers, including decreased stress, an increase in bonding, stabilizing baby’s body temperature, heartbeat, breathing, and blood oxygen level, and an increase in breastmilk supply for moms.

“We know how important skin-to-skin is for the babies and the parents, both emotionally and physically,” explained Williams. “It’s so good for the baby. When they are skin-to-skin, we see their vital signs improving, including their respiratory and heart rates. It also helps mom with producing breast milk, and for both moms and dads, the bonding opportunity is key.”

Dr. Ramanathan reiterated the benefits.

“There is so much benefit for the baby and the parents with skin-to-skin care that our approach is to make it possible with the use of jet ventilators as soon as possible in babies with breathing problems,” he said.

Cedars-Sinai is sharing personal testimony from parents who have benefited from this new approach.

“It’s so special,” new mother Emma Beckett said. “The day that they told us we could start doing skin-to-skin, it was a surprise for us, and I just started crying immediately because I thought we were going to have to wait a long time—and to be able to do this now, it’s just amazing. Like we feel so much more connected to him.”

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