Presentation Information

The Power of Being Carried: Babywearing in the Care of Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

• Speaker: Lisa Grisham , PhD, DNP, NNP-BC
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits: 1 CERP, 1 Nursing CEU, 1 CME

Abstract:

Babywearing (BW) is the practice of using a cloth or carrier to secure an infant to the caregiver's torso, keeping the infant close and comfortable while allowing the babywearer to have their hands free. BW has many positive benefits, including reduced crying, decreased repetitive maternal negative thinking, decreased postpartum depression, improved attachment, increased breastfeeding, and increased engagement in caregiving activities for fathers. Physical benefits include a decrease in heart rate, a reduced incidence of hip dysplasia, and a decrease in positional plagiocephaly.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome describes the collection of withdrawal symptoms that a newborn infant may experience after birth, due to in utero exposure to opioids. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Banner Children’s Medical Center – Tucson implemented a BW program as part of a research study for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Through this program, parents and bedside caregivers were trained in BW, capitalizing on the benefits to both the wearer and the infant, without any adverse events. The BW program was expanded to include medically stable infants ≥ 35 weeks’ gestation.
This presentation will review the successful implementation of BW in a hospital setting and provide learners with an outline of bringing BW to their NICU.