Limiting the consequences of premature birth: NIDCAP program

Famille de Patrick Boulé et Kira Zoellner

Patrick Boulé, Kira Zoellner et leurs enfants, dont le petit Alexandre.

In 2016, Patrick and Kira‘s son, Alexandre, was born premature. He was hospitalized for three months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (HMR). 

Fortunately, they received the best possible care. As a token of their appreciation, they have pledged to support the Neonatal Department and several pieces of equipment have already been funded thanks to their involvement and the support of their loyal donors.

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For the next three years, they would like to help the department achieve NIDCAP * certification, an individualized neonatal assessment and developmental care program that, when implemented early, makes a dramatic difference in the lives of premature infants, their families and the community!

What are the consequences of a premature birth?

Our world is scary place for a premature baby. The baby, who weighs only a few hundred grams at birth, often suffers from illnesses such as:

  • Respiratory distress
  • Heart, lung and bowel complications
  • Cerebral haemorrhage
  • Nosocomial infection
  • Retinopathy that can lead to blindness
  • Brain damage

These diseases can lead to after-effects and even death. A team from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is therefore always on hand to look after the baby.

The newborn, who has been taken out of the silence, warmth and weightlessness of the amniotic fluid sac, is suddenly exposed to intense lights, aggressive sounds, a multitude of tubes and machines, and almost constant pain.

Read Giving premature babies a chance

NIDCAP Program: Early Developmental Care Program

NIDCAP, an individualized neonatal developmental assessment and care program, should be implemented early in the newborn’s hospitalization. 

The treatment protocol aims to stimulate all spheres of development based on many variables: nervous system, motor development, sleep-wake cycle, attention, interactions, self-regulatory capacity.

Positive effects:

  • Reduction of hospitalization time and bronchopulmonary Dysplasias.
  • Disappearance of certain long-term complications (cerebral palsy and hearing and visual deficits).
  • Significant decrease in moderate mental retardation at 18 months.
  • Positive effect on brain function and long-term school functioning.

With your support, we want to raise $ 156,000 to implement this program at HMR. 

Premature babies deserve every opportunity to grow up healthy.

* Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program