Baby in NICU? Here’s some handy advice

She’s worked in neonatal healthcare for about 25 years as a nurse, nurse manager and educator. Now, Seona Emanuelli is also the managing director of Bidibots, a company providing quality paediatric and neonatal products to hospitals to help care for our most vulnerable babies, and sits on the board of the not-for-profit Life’s Little Treasures Foundation.

We asked her about her work and for advice for parents with new premmies.

What’s a typical day like for you?

There’s nothing typical about working in nurseries – it’s different every day. Sometimes I can be bedside, clinically supporting nurses who are caring for critically ill babies; other times I’ll be assisting graduate nurses enter the new world of neonatal nursing. I can be teaching parents how to change their baby’s nappy for the first time or guiding them during their first skin-to-skin contact. My team is multidisciplinary and we deliver education to medical practitioners and parents to help babies overcome all the different conditions they face after being born premature.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

The best reward is when a baby goes home with their family. I also love seeing new nurses find their passion in this field of speciality, and it’s fantastic being able to assist them pave their way and become a compassionate, competent nurse. Although it still brings a tear to my eye when parents experience the touch of their skin to their infant’s skin for the first time. 

What’s your best advice for parents with a new baby in NICU?

No doubt it is a journey you didn’t think you would be on. Ask the nurses to allow you to do nappy changes, feeding and skin-to-skin each day. This assists with bonding, despite the challenges your new baby is facing. Ask questions of the NICU team and, if they use any medical terms or language you don’t understand, keep asking for clarification. When you are away from the nursery, having clothes and blankets with your baby’s smell on them can also help you with closeness. Keeping a journal can also prove helpful.

How are technological advancements helping improve the lives of sick and premature babies?

Neonatal technologies are always changing to benefit the outcomes of our sickest and most premature babies. Doctors and scientists are forever researching the best way to care for all aspects of their developmental care. Now we are caring for younger and smaller babies than we were 20 years ago, and I have been witness to the innovation and evolution of devices and ventilation that has helped us with that.