Medela Neonatal Perspectives

Who among us has not experienced that shift where more than 1 or 2 nurses called in sick – and no one was available to replace them? When patients were admitted faster than extra nurses could be found? Or one or more patients become sicker during the shift, requiring more of your time than first… Read More about “NICU Nursing Workload and Patient Outcomes”

In Scandinavian countries like Sweden, the breastfeeding rates across their population are enviably one of the best in the Western world (~52% exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months). They also provide their mothers with generous maternity leave (16 months compared to our optional 3 months in the U.S., in Finland it is ~40 months). They have… Read More about “Preemie Breastfeeding: The Holy Grail of NICU”

Each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collects and distributes data surrounding maternal and infant mortality. What is most alarming in the recent report is the critically high rate of maternal mortality in the U.S. The statistics are astounding, revealing that 700 women die each year in the United States because of… Read More about “Maternal and Infant Health Crisis: What You Need to Know”

Air travel can be stressful – I know from personal experience as I travel by air sometimes weekly.  But for new moms, having to find creative ways to feed a baby while traveling is even more difficult. On October 3, 2018, the Senate passed bi-partisan legislation to make air travel safer and easier. One important… Read More about “Senate Passes Legislation for Breastfeeding Moms in Airports”

While most neonatal and infant healthcare providers recognize the benefits of breastfeeding, there is often concern about the transfer of maternal medications into breast milk. That may lead to an inclination to discourage the use of human milk in the presence of at least some medications. We instruct mothers to record medications they may be… Read More about “Medication Transfer Into Breast Milk”

Would it surprise you to know that the number of premature births has been on the rise over the past three years? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age.¹ Globally 15 million babies are born preterm each year, before 37 weeks.… Read More about “Premature Birth is On the Rise: How the PREEMIE Act Can Improve the Odds”

I remember closely following past efforts to create a substitute for the human red blood cell that could be as effective as donated blood. Unfortunately, despite various efforts by researchers and industry, we are still far from this, and depend on altruistic blood donation to support the need for more red cells in medicine. Messy… Read More about “All in the Name of Human Milk Tissue”

Change is never easy. We hear this all the time. But change is often worth the effort in the end. What if knowing and understanding that the needed change would potentially save a life, improve quality of life, keep a family intact, or save a career? Would this change seem important then, even if you… Read More about “Successfully Navigating the Path to ENFit Transition”

Were you aware that on April 1, 2018, Anthem Blue Cross/BlueShield decreased reimbursement rates for breast pumps by 45%, from $169 to $95? Anthem is a large independent licensee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield that insures about one-third of individuals and families in the United States. Alarmed by the impact of not being able to secure… Read More about “Breast Pump Insurance Reimbursement: What’s In It For Mothers”

Last year, I was invited to be part of the International Neonatal Consortium (INC). This group is a non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate the development of safe and effective therapies for neonates. The consortium engages the global neonatal community – families, neonatal nurses, academic scientists, regulators, pharmaceutical investigators, advocacy organizations, and funders –… Read More about “Research in Neonates Survey: For Clinicians and Families”