Keira Sorrells is the mother of triplets born at 25 weeks, 5 days gestation. After starting a non-profit, the Zoe Rose Memorial Foundation in 2008, to offer support services to NICU and bereaved families, she became aware that a collective voice for parents of NICU babies was missing in the Maternal and Infant Health community. In response, she helped launch the Preemie Parent Alliance (PPA) in 2012, where she now serves as President. PPA is a national network of 35 NICU parent support organizations that collaborate to represent the needs and best interests of NICU families in a variety of ways. Ms. Sorrells believes a trusting parent-provider relationship is crucial to build a foundation of empowerment and support on which NICU families thrive well beyond discharge, no matter what the ultimate outcome may be.
It is human nature to "relate" to and take care of those we view as being most like us. However, choosing your patients is not an option. Studies have shown that parents who have an infant in the NICUf are at risk for developing PPD, PTSD, and other mental health concerns that may negatively impact their ability to bond with their babies. Further research tells us that a parent's ability to bond with their infant is critical to that child's overall development. Healthcare providers in the NICU must be equipped to uncover the details of a parent's experience that may not be apparent on first glance. A parent who has fallen victim to PTSD may exhibit many symptoms that can in their behavior as a response to their trauma that can then create many opportunities for misunderstanding, miscommunication, and ultimately an environment of discord. By sharing her experience of having micropreemie triplets in the NICU, Ms. Sorrells will lead the audience on an exploration of the psychosocial needs of NICU parents to uncover common barriers of communication and how to overcome those barriers to improve outcomes.
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