Advances in Neonatal Care

NICU Parents of Black Preterm Infants: Application of the Kenner Transition Model
Effect of the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention on Sucking Capacity in Preterm Infants in Turkey: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Standardized nCPAP Care Bundle to Decrease Days to Wean Off nCPAP: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Quality Improvement Initiative in the NICU for Improved Practice of Cuff Blood Pressure Measurements
Evaluation and Nonsurgical Treatment of Neonatal Ear Anomalies: A Case Report

From the Editors

From the Editors 2022(6)

Wow! 2022 is about to leave us, and we will soon be in the new year. This last issue of 2022 has a special focus on breastfeeding and human milk. The science of feeding infants in the NICU has really exploded over the past several years. I think about how we used to feed babies and how that has changed so much. For example, we used to add so many supplements to the feedings to make the babies grow faster – some of those we have learned over time may have not been the best additives. And now, donor human milk has become part of the fabric of the NICU. This issue provides reviews of feeding protocols, and standardized nutritional bundles as well as reducing the risk factors for NEC. In addition, there are study findings related neonatal outcomes for mothers’ own milk compared to donor human milk. We also have two studies related to the breastfeeding journey in the NICU and the effect of the first feeding type on breastfeeding outcomes for infants who require surgery in the NICU, as well as long term follow-up of preterm breastfeeding after NICU.

There are also 2 articles on oral gastric feeding tube placement that you might find of interest. Online we have 2 great studies on sound and noise in the NICU among others. Please let us know if there are topics you would like to see in 2023 in Advances in Neonatal Care – we want to know what you are reading and what will support your work in the NICU.

In 2023, we are hoping to include one article in each issue related to diversity equity and inclusion issues. We are actively recruiting these articles so if you have an interest in submitting such an article, please let us know so we can work together with you to get the manuscript under review.

Hot Topics

New from Issue 6! Reducing Risk Factors for Necrotizing Enterocolitis: What Is the Recent Evidence and Biologic Plausibility Supporting Probiotics?

Is the use of probiotics recommended for reducing NEC? This is a great question, and the answers are discussed in the CEU article which is a systematic review in this issue – we hope you will read the pros and cons provided in this interesting article.

New from Issue 6! Differences in Neonatal Outcomes Among Premature Infants Exposed to Mother's Own Milk Versus Donor Human Milk

This review articles provides an overview of the difference in outcomes for preterm infants receiving mother's own milk as opposed to donor human milk and why we should consider more strategies to support the use of mother's own milk. While donor milk provides some things formula cannot it is not the same as mother's milk.

Micro-preemie parents’ perceptions of trauma-informed developmental neuroprotective care and nursing support

The birth of very immature preterm infants is traumatic for both the infants and parents. This manuscript describes parents’ perceptions of the care their micro-preemies received in a dedicated Small Baby Room using trauma-informed developmental neuroprotective care. Parents felt that they received individualized family-centered high-quality nursing care and had significant praise for the compassionate caregiving.

Implementation and Practice Barriers of Family-Centered Care Encountered by Neonatal Nurses

This study reports on the facilitators and barriers to implementation of family centered care from the perspective of NICU nurses. Nurse empowerment was a strong predictor of FCC practice, and compassion fatigue had a small inverse relationship with FCC practice. Strategies to improve nurse empowerment may facilitate implementation of FCC in the NICU.

Using a Bundle Approach to Prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Very Premature Infants

Preventing Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in Very Premature Infants continues to a high priority for this at-risk population of infants. How and when we provide care matters, and we need to work together and continue to improve. This article describes a bundled approach where improvements in outcomes were noted.

Olmsted Syndrome: Case Report of Nursing Management of Premature Twins

The CE article for this issue is about care of the infant with Olmsted Syndrome. While you don’t see these infants often in the NICU, understanding the assessment and care needs is important. Please take the time to read this important article.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Skin-to-Skin Contact on Biomarkers of Stress in Preterm Infants and Parents
This systematic review of the literature summarize the current state of knowledge on changes in biomarkers (ie, oxytocin [OT], cortisol, hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid, and allantoin), associated with Skin to Skin Care in premature infants and parents, that may reflect physiologic responses to stress.

Pulse Oximetry Saturation (SpO2) monitoring in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): The Challenge for Providers: A Systematic Review
This systematic review determined SpO2 target values that would best avoid hypoxemia or hyperoxemia and thus their associated complications.