[Homeschool Mom]

Hi,

My Mom has used this forum to help me out and it really has been a blessing. I have a project coming up. Its not hard but I want it to be great so wondered if any of you might help. I have to present to a mock Mom discharge instructions for her newborn. I know this is all in the text book but was wondering if you knew of any sites that might have a check list( I don't want to forget anything). Also any ideas to make it less boring. There are like 40 of us that have present it, so its going to be pretty boring after awhile. We only have 5 to 7 minutes to present.
Any ideas????

LJ

[LaborNurse1]

Not sure if there will be any direct newborn discharge stuff here, but check out AWHONN's website: http://www.awhonn.org

[Spidey's mom]

How about mentioning the controversial subject of giving out safe co-sleeping rules to new parents? (I give them out).

Dr. William Sears has a great website with info for new parents - there is a place there where he posts the safe co-sleeping rules and addresses the safety of co-sleeping and rebuts the Academy of Pediatrics recommendations regarding SIDS and co-sleeping.

Lots of other good stuff too.

http://www.askdrsears.com/

steph

[Jolie]

Does it have to be in checklist format?

If not, how about doing a Powerpoint presentation with some good graphics to liven things up?

[rn/writer]

Check with some hospitals in your area. Most OB units have pre-printed discharge instruction sheets that include information about follow-up visits, parameters for when to call the doc, information about procedures done during the hospital stay (Hep B, hearing screen, etc.), and various phone numbers for breastfeeding help, well-baby clinics and more.

On my unit, we also give out an 8 X 11 magazine-type information booklet that has about 30 pages of information about the physical changes mom can expect, what's normal for baby, "back to sleep," proper nutrition, postpartum depression warning signs, and all kinds of other good stuff.

If you can get your hands on the kinds of materials that are actually being dispensed, you would have a firm foundation to start from. Also, ask some of the experienced nurses if they have any tricks of the trade for imparting this boatload of information in a way that helps the new moms take it in.

They might also be able to tell you the most common questions the new moms ask or any areas that seem especially confusing.

Let us know how your presentation works out.

[Homeschool Mom]

Thanks....for the help. It does have to be in a check list form using a mock Mom and a doll. Since I have never seen discharge instructions done, I was hoping for a video to watch or a list of something I could use or just some advice on how a nurse here does it here on this forum. Not sure how helpful the hospital around here would be. But its worth a try.

[Snugglibumkins]

You could also check with your local lactation counselor to see what kinds of things should be included from that stand point. Ellen Satler has some great handouts on infant nutrition.

Start to organize your information in an outline form and then hit on that...take into consideration discharge teaching form mom - vaginal or c-section - wt. restrictions, bleeding, etc.

Don't forget to include references to the available help in the community - that will make you stand out from other students. Look for community new mother groups or breastfeeding support groups - know when they meet and where they meet, WIC if mom qualifies, or public health department will give every mom/baby dyad one free home visit complete with weighing the baby, some doctor's offices will allow the mom to bring the baby in for free weight checks to boost confidence with breastfeeding....do the basic educational stuff, but then wow your teacher with the community resources...your teacher will love it and so will your future patients.

[babydoll99_99]

Check out this site. It goes over all the teaching for mom in a concise but good, organized manner. http://www.pwhealth.com/postpartum.html

You might want to touch on this too. http://www.pwhealth.com/depression.html

This is a decent site on infant discharge teaching.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20060301/849.html

You aren't going to get all the info in there in 5 to 7 minutes. My recommendation would be to take some of the info and make "handouts" to give to new mom and instructor. You could get it into the presentation by saying something like this diagram will show you the correct way to ....(whatever handout is explaining) and leave it at that.

Hope this helps.

ETA if you look up "Postpartum Instructions" and/or "Newborn discharge Instructions" on Google you get a bunch of great sites.

[jnrsmommy]

Homeschool Mom, I wish you the best of luck on your project. It's been a loooong time since I've worked post-partum, so I really don't feel comfortable giving you advice. Besides, these other wonderful nurses have given you great advice. Good luck on your project and we'd love to know how you did.

[crissrn27]

I agree that giving out the safe co-sleeping rules would be a good (and original) idea. Also, info about p-p depression should be included, probably not many that will think of that. I only do infant discharges and our check off sheet has
1) cord care

2) bathing info

3) circ care (if app.)

4) breastfeeding info

5) bottle feeding (if app.)

6) no smoking around baby

7) back to sleep info

8) return apt. info


Then we add whatever else needs to be addressed.