Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Video: Sharp Mary Birch

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Transcript

Jennifer Fisher: Joe and I both fully believe that without this hospital we wouldn’t have these three babies — especially Dawson. Dawson was brought into this world and he had his fair share of ups and downs and these doctors performed miracles. I mean, they saved his life on a number of occasions.

We found out we were pregnant with triplets pretty early on. We had a natural conception, no fertility involved so we were quite shocked. About week 24, I came here to Sharp Mary Birch where I spent a night in the hospital where they gave me steroid shots to help their lungs develop faster. They also gave us a tour of the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit] and we got to meet one of the neonatologists to get familiarized with what we had in store after they were born.

Dr. Paul Wozniak: As a neonatologist, we take care of sick babies. A lot of them are preterm, but some are full term. Kids with infection, heart disease, malformations, lung disease, the whole gamut. From kids less than a pound to kids that are 12 to 15 pounds. We have over 60 beds, which is the nursery largest in the county. And here we treat over 1,700 babies a year, over 1,700 a year. Since it is an intensive care unit we have a lot of equipment involved. We have everything sort of miniaturized for the very small baby. We have special types of ultrasound machines and special types of IVs and nutrition. But, with the high-intensity care, you have to mix the compassionate care and the touch and the feel. It is truly a mixture of both that makes the baby succeed.

Kim Failla, RN: Because of the fact that our babies are with us for so long, our nurses have a unique opportunity to build relationships with the families and it’s at a time in the families’ lives where they really need those relationships with the touch, with the caring and our nurses are so good at that.

Jennifer: One of his night nurses, Susie, called us because they get weighed at night and she called us and told us that, “Guess what? Dawson is three pounds!” I mean, she called us to tell us, and the next day — I could cry — and there was a sign that said, “Hip, hip, hooray, Dawson is three pounds.” (Husband says off-camera — “Three pounds today.”) Yeah, it’s just things like that. It just means so much that they care as much about your kids as you do.

Kim: Probably the most rewarding part of my job, as far as the patients go, are the outcomes. We have amazing outcomes even though we get the babies so tiny and so premature. It is so rewarding to see them grow and to be healthy and to be discharged home to their families.

Dr. Wozniak: We’re very proud that, when we compare ourselves to over 600 units across the nation, for several years now we have had the lowest infection rate in the country, which is critical for the outcomes of these babies. And, we have also had the lowest chronic lung disease in the country.

Kim: We offer to moms who don’t have their own breast milk a milk depot where we are able to supply donated breast milk. And, we promote breast milk for 100 percent of our infants. It is so important and it has so many nutrients that it is so important that every single baby in the NICU get breast milk.

Jennifer: The NICU doctors and nurses became our extended family. We were there every day. We had a Christmas party just for them. They truly were our backbone and support system through it all. It was a remarkable experience and I truly believe that is why we are here in San Diego because of this experience we had here.