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All babies cry.
That’s the message that Connors Center staff are relaying to new parents as part of an initiative to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome, which results from violent shaking of an infant or small child.
“Babies cry because it’s normal, not because of bad parenting,” said Julianne Mazzawi, MS, RN, Quality Program manager for the Connors Center. “We want to teach parents how to comfort a crying baby and not to get stressed and resort to something that could harm a child. No one wants to hurt their baby. Health care professional involvement in prevention is essential to reduce the incidence, morbidity and mortality that results from Shaken Baby Syndrome.”
Massachusetts successfully passed legislation in 2006 mandating education for health professionals who work in hospitals with birthing centers and that education must be provided to all new parents and documented prior to discharge. The Department of Public Health (DPH) recently developed guidelines for education about Shaken Baby Syndrome for health care providers. This legislation mandates education for health professionals who work in hospitals with birthing centers. Education must be provided to all new parents and documented prior to discharge. Partnering with DPH on the education component for staff, Connors Center nurses and many patient care assistants and social workers underwent training during the last month to learn how to most effectively educate parents on preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome, which can cause fatality or brain damage resulting in life-long disability.
“We want to exceed the standards set by the Department of Public Health and do the best job we can to protect babies by educating their parents,” said Sunil Eappen, MD, clinical director for Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, who is a member of the DPH Shaken Baby Prevention Initiative Committee.
Eappen’s connection to the topic is personal. In 1997, his 8-month-old son died after being shaken by his au pair. Eappen wants BWH, as the largest birthing center in New England, to emerge as a leader in preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome. “We should be an example to other hospitals across the state,” he said.
Staff from all disciplines within the Connors Center have embraced this new mandate. Post partum units and the NICU are leading the way to provide new parents at BWH with the information, skills and support needed to cope with challenges and plan for hard times when caring for a new infant.
For more information, contact Julianne Mazzawi at jmazzawi@partners.org
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