New nursery to allow more private bonding
If he knew nothing about the new nursery, Bryan Blanchard said the old nursery would have met his expectations and even surpassed them. "The nurses and doctors are the most caring, loving, compassionate people in the world, as far as I am concerned. Thank goodness for them," Blanchard said.
His 3-day-old baby, Brendan, is in the old nursery recovering from pneumothorax, a condition caused by a tear in the baby's fragile lung. While their baby is recovering, the parents must bond with their newborn in the same room as the rest of the babies needing extra care.
Despite the lack of privacy, Blanchard said, "As a parent, your first concern is their care."
LDS Hospital Manager Auri Wann described the old nursery's lack of privacy as "parenting under fire," where new parents are watched by other parents and visitors with no hope of private bonding time.
But, in just a few weeks, babies in similar conditions as little Brendan Blanchard will be able to spend time with their new family, in private rooms. Parents will even be able to spend the night next door to their baby in an overnight room with a private bathroom.
LDS Hospital administrator and CEO Mikelle Moore said the new special-care nursery will incorporate the "great clinical expertise" currently available into "a better environment."
"I think what matters most is the care the baby receives, but being able to bond with the baby privately makes it a much better experience."
As the first area of the hospital to be renovated, the special-care nursery "is the beginning of a new LDS Hospital," Moore said.
E-mail: cmadsen@desnews.com
Recent comments
It's about time these needs are addressed. While square footage...
Newborn supporter | July 3, 2008 at 9:22 a.m.
Who is the designer for the re-design? Also, what do the new rooms...
green mormon architect | July 2, 2008 at 1:47 p.m.
