Neonatal staff rise to the occasion during COVID-19 crisis
Despite being born at the height of the coronavirus pandemic and a world of uncertainty outside their hospital room, the care these babies are receiving is as strong as ever.
HS Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from HS Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
While the outside world shuts its doors, mums, bubs and families inside hospital rooms are opening a new one for the first time.
These babies have been born at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, but despite the uncertainty outside, the care they are receiving is as strong as ever.
Meet some of the little miracles born premature at Victorian hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis — and see how, despite the changes, hospitals are continuing to provide the highest of care.
MONASH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Two-week-old Hendrix Och has had a bumpy start to life, but it hasn’t stopped parents Stacey and Paul Och from enjoying their new bundle of joy.
Arriving four weeks premature, Hendrix was flown from Gippsland to the Monash Children’s Hospital when he was just days old.
Soon after he was diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease — which means the nerves in his bowel have not fully formed — and transferred to Monash’s neonatal intensive care unit for two weeks. He was fed through a feeding tube and cared for around the clock — a time Ms Och says was made even harder as restrictions on visitors meant Mr Och could only visit Hendrix twice a day.
Despite this, Ms Och said it had allowed her more time to bond with Hendrix.
“For me it’s been the best thing as a first-time mum,” she said.
“I would get there first thing, and leave late at night. I could settle him if he cried.
“The blessing is that that was bonus time, but that’s two weeks (while he was in hospital) Paul missed out on. At the end of the day everything that was done was for the safety of Hendrix and us.”
Jacquie Taylor, the director of clinical operations at Monash Newborns, said the biggest internal changes included transporting babies between rooms in enclosed cots and restricting the support person to normal visiting hours.
“(It) was very challenging for our families,” she said.
“You’re caring for babies and families at their most vulnerable and they’ve also got the additional stress of COVID-19. But it’s a very special job.”
MERCY HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN
Small enough to fit in his father’s hands, it is easy to see just how precious baby Forrest Wood is.
Forrest arrived 10 weeks premature and is now a little over two weeks old and first-time parents Abbie Stoyel and Casey Wood have relished watching their baby boy grow by the day.
The youngster is in the safe hands of staff from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Mercy Hospital for Women, who are making sure he is kept safe. “All of our mums coming in are screened prior to admission,” NICU nurse unit manager Amy Farrelly says.
“We have restrictions to visitors in the nursery — so it’s just mums and dads.
“And in the foyer (of the hospital) there’s a big screening process for everyone that walks into the hospital, explaining what’s going on and why.
“Essentially you can’t come up to the (NICU) unit unless you’ve been screened and you’re a parent or staff member.”
Ms Stoyel said the threat of the virus was “definitely on your mind” but the reassurance of staff had made the seemingly uncertain time, easier.
The doting parents, who have since left hospital, visit baby Forrest twice a day for cuddles and will do so for at least the next month.
“We try and get a cuddle every day — and there’s been a lot of photos and videos sent to grandparents,” Ms Stoyel said.
THE ROYAL WOMEN’S HOSPITAL
For Melbourne couple Mollie and Andrew Tregillis, welcoming baby Arthur to the world has been a whirlwind of emotions.
Uncertainty. A little worry. Reassurance. But mostly love.
Ms Tregillis gave birth four weeks ago at The Royal Women’s Hospital and admits she had some initial worries about Arthur arriving during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I was very worried about it beforehand,” Ms Tregillis said. “When it was less clear about the impact on babies … and if I got coronavirus when I was pregnant, what if I got it and then went into labour and how that would work.
“But I think given how well Australia has been coping (I was) a lot calmer the last few weeks.
“I knew that the pandemic didn’t really change the care I was provided (at The Women’s), which was the main thing.”
Sophie Cameron, the birth centre manager at The Women’s, said the hospital had put in place standard safety procedures but most practices remained the same.
“We’re asking that only one person be in the suite — which can be particularly challenging for some women when they plan to give birth in a particular way, and those plans have changed in the pandemic.
“But that’s pretty much the only difference.”
RELATED:
NOMINATE A NURSE FOR A CHANCE AT TO A WEEKEND AWAY