The neonatal intensive care unit at the Cedars Sinai Maxine Dunitz Children’s Center has been home to baby Roman for the last four and a half months.
When he was born he weighed just over one pound, but under the careful watch of doctors and nurses, he has grown stronger and is ready to go home with mom.
However, he still has special needs, so for a few days, Roman is being moved to a special suite next to the NICU, where he will spend several days with his mother, Ramona Washington.
In the specially equipped NICU family suite, Ramona spends the night in a bed right next to Roman, and takes care of him as though they were at home, getting hands on experience using the equipment that he needs.
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“Last night was my first night, being in the suite with him, just me and him alone, I had assistance from the nurses if I needed it, but it was really me doing it by myself so… it was interesting. It was different. I didn’t get much sleep but that’s what comes with the territory,” Washington said.
Charles Simmons, chairman of Pediatrics at Cedars Sinai, says the neonatal family suite allows families to have a dress rehearsal of what home will be like.
“ Imagine that transition home when you’re going from an environment in which nursing and technology has been co-managing your child, but now all that responsibility falls on one shoulders.”
The nurse is nearby to provide training and give pointers. Roman was a preemie and he has weak lungs and pulmonary hypertension.
“ He is on oxygen and he is on a G-tube so he gets fed things through a tube. So they’ve allowed me to do that last night… that was my first time really handling all of his feeds unassisted. That was interesting. I’m glad I was able to do it now and here with the support, and I think I’ll be a lot more comfortable, once I get home,” Washington said.
By the time she leaves, she will have learned how to handle everything she needs to take care of Roman at home. It’s a program for all NICU families to help babies go home with their parents sooner.
With plenty of practice under her belt, Ramona feels she will be up to the task, when it’s time to go home.
“I have everything and more that I can need. All that’s missing is the baby,” she said.
