Newborn relocation stress

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Hi there,

I was not sure where to post this. I am looking for information on newborn relocation stress. Specifically I'm looking for information about the stress on the newborn in relation to transfer to the NICU from a hospital that does not have a NICU. Thanks very much.

Kathy

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Not sure...have you tried to post this on the NICU board???

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

I'm not really getting the question you are asking. Most kids that are transferred are pretty sick so they are stressed to start with. The bigger/surgical kids that aren't that sick, really don't seem to care if they are in one place or another, as long as there is someone to meet their needs. They don't become stressed in the helicopter or ambulance, for the most part they are sleeping or we sedate them if they are wild before we leave. The incubator is NTE regulated, we have a nice cushy gel pad and they are strapped in, so they are pretty comfy when we leave. I think it is much more stressful on the parents than the babes.

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I'm not really getting the question you are asking. Most kids that are transferred are pretty sick so they are stressed to start with. The bigger/surgical kids that aren't that sick, really don't seem to care if they are in one place or another, as long as there is someone to meet their needs. They don't become stressed in the helicopter or ambulance, for the most part they are sleeping or we sedate them if they are wild before we leave. The incubator is NTE regulated, we have a nice cushy gel pad and they are strapped in, so they are pretty comfy when we leave. I think it is much more stressful on the parents than the babes.

I am asking about the babies that are just born & are transferred out of one facility without a NICU to another facility's NICU. I was just wondering if they have stress from the transfer, stress from being without their mother, things like that. Thank you for your answer.

Kathy

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Specializes in NICU.

We have found that the little ones coming back to us seem to be worn out that first night. Their feedings are off schedule, as the referring hospital doesn't like to feed them on the road, and maybe the journey is stressful to them. Next day they usually feed better.

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Hi,

First, please forgive my lack of "technical" expertise, I am a nursing student. My daughter was born at 35 weeks and developed RDS and was intubated and transferred about 3 hours after birth to a hospital 35 miles away. I believe she was sedated and not any more stressed than she already was. When I visited her the next day (had to wait for my discharge, lucky for me I had an easy vag delivery) she heard my voice and her eyebrows went up. Best moment of my life.

Btw, she is now a healthy, happy and very active 4-1/2 year old.

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