Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
The following resources have been designed to support providers in implementing trauma and resilience informed care with families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
10 Questions to Ask When Navigating the NICU
Open communication with your healthcare team is essential. Don't hesitate to seek clarification whenever you have concerns or need more information. The NICU staff is there to provide care and support for both you and your baby.
Addressing Microaggressions in the NICU
Microaggressions may seem subtle and harmless, but they can profoundly impact the emotional wellbeing and trust of families in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This handout educates about microaggressions, and provides microintervention strategies to help address microaggressions and enhance the quality of care for diverse communities in the NICU.
Being Responsive to Birth Trauma
Medical providers are in a unique position to reduce the risk for trauma during pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care. This handout will provide some things to consider when interacting with birthing patients.
Cultivating Self-Awareness to Address Disparities in Healthcare Settings
Increasing self-awareness can help us better understand our own explicit and implicit biases. Subsequently, we can enhance our understanding of how these biases impact patient care and perpetuate inequitable systems.
Feeding Newborns: Inclusive Strategies to Build Empathy and Equity With Families
Feeding is a caregiving act that can bring up a wide range of emotions, including joy, contentment, guilt, worry, and frustration. Providers and clinical staff can help families practice self-compassion throughout their feeding journey by understanding the history and contexts that inform how families approach infant feeding.
LA County Department of Children and Family Services’ Newborn Risk Assessment For Substance-Affected Newborns
California state regulations are clear that a positive toxicology screen in and of itself, either prenatally or at the time of birth, does not indicate the need for a report to child protective services. Healthcare providers in Los Angeles County should complete this Newborn Risk Assessment (NRA) for substance-affected newborns developed by the LA County Department of Children and Family Services. Completing the NRA will help healthcare providers assess for additional risk factors posed by the infant/family, and determine if there is a need to ...
Los Angeles County Plan of Safe Care Process Map (Draft)
Los Angeles County has developed this draft workflow to support hospital and healthcare providers in initiating the Plan of Safe Care process in their respective healthcare/hospital settings. Reference this draft process map to see a model of how hospital teams can work together to initiate and implement Plans of Safe Care, and when to notify or make a report to the Child Protection Hotline. Visit supportingfamilies.lacounty.gov/plans-of-safe-care for more information and updates on Plans of Safe Care processes in LA County.
Providing Support for Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum anxiety is intense worrying after the birth of a child that interferes with daily life. It is a common and treatable condition. Here are some tips for providing empathic, effective support.
Recognizing Birth Trauma
This handout explains that giving birth can be tough not just physically, but emotionally, too. While in some, but not all, cases, birth trauma can lead to the development of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Â
Recognizing Postpartum Anxiety
This handout helps you recognize the signs of postpartum anxiety. It explains what it is, what the signs are, and how common it is.