Great! I will read it, Debbie, thanks :) Jackie
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Debbie Slater Sent: Tuesday, 10 June 2003 7:08 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] KEMH (baby under the light) As you say, Maggie, parents are often given information which they do not - indeed cannot - take in because of the stresses of the situation. From my experience of working with parents in SCBU - parents often need this information to be reiterated several times - once is often not enough. Unfortunately - the stresses of working in neonatal units/ shift patterns and so on - often mean that it is very difficult to do this. This is where supporters/ advocates who have experience of this situation can be of great help. One common communication problem is the issue of feeding and when babies can go home. Many mothers receive mixed messages/ perceive information about establishing feeding, and when their babies can go home that they get terribly anxious and can cause all sorts of misunderstandings - through no fault of anyone in particular - just the dynamics of the situation. There is a wonderful book - "Crucial Decisions at the Beginning of Life" by Hazel McHaffie. It makes harrowing reading at times, and although it is about the impact of making decisions for treatment withdrawal from young babies, many of the issues it raises, and suggestions it makes, are relevent for babies in neonatal units - whether or not they are very ill. Communication is one issue that is particularly highlighted. This book won the Medical Book of the Year for 2002 from the British Medical Association. It is available from ACE Graphics/ Birthinternational - and there is a review (done by me :-))on the web site http://www.acegraphics.com.au/product/book/bk697-review.html Debbie Slater Perth, WA -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
