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Preemie Matters – October 2013

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In this issue of Preemie Matters: New Members • Senate Passes PREEMIE Reauthorization Act • Navigating the Journey • Trauma Therapy for Preemie Moms • Centering Healthcare Institue • Transitioning Home From the NICU

New Members

Join us in welcoming the Coalition's newest members:

Learn more about National Premature Infant Health Coalition membership and complete the online application on our website.

U.S. Senate Passes PREEMIE Reauthorization Act

The U.S. Senate passed S. 252, the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, on September 25. This bipartisan legislation - co-sponsored by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) - reauthorizes federal research, education, and intervention activities begun by the original PREEMIE Act, which brought the first-ever national focus to prematurity prevention. The bill now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Navigating the Journey Through Childhood

November 17 in Fairfax, VA, Preemies Today will host a parent and provider conference, "Navigating the Journey Through Childhood," aimed at educating about maternal and child health needs and raising awareness of prematurity. This World Prematurity Day event at the Inova Fair Oaks Physicians Conference Center will include sessions on developmental delays, sensory processing disorders, post-preemie pregnancy, postpartum post-traumatic stress, nutrition, Medicaid waivers, and speech and language tips, among others. Register online at the Preemies Today website.

Trauma Therapy Eases Symptoms for Preemie Moms

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics finds that a short, cost-effective therapy developed to treat military trauma survivors can help ease the emotional distress of preemie moms. The intervention includes six sessions combining elements of the COPE (Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment) NICU program with trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. Mothers in this study who received the intervention had a significant reduction of trauma and depression symptoms, and those who initially reported the most stress showed the most benefit. Finding effective, accessible treatment for this population is key: Up to 40% of mothers of preterm infants experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can have long-term consequences for both mother and child.

Centering Healthcare Institute

Centering Healthcare Institute's mission is to improve maternal-child health by transforming care through Centering groups -- a model of group health care. In this model, health assessment, education, and support are provided to group members by a care provider, changing the way women experience their care. The model, piloted by nurse-midwife Sharon Schindler Rising in the the early 1990s, led to the beginning of professional training workshops in 1998. Its redesign of healthcare delivery helps to promote safety, effectiveness, culturally-appropriate patient-centered care, and more equitable care, among other benefits. Centering Healthcare Institute's Fourth National Conference takes place October 26-29 in Washington, DC, bringing together clinicians, researchers, policy makers, administrators, and students to discuss ideas for transforming healthcare delivery.

Premature & High-Risk Infants: Transitioning Home from the NICU

Register online now for Premature and High-Risk Infants: Transitioning Home from the NICU, scheduled for November 1 in Denver, CO. Sponsored by Special Kids-Special Care of Denver, the conference provides a forum for healthcare professionals to share their expertise in the care of premature and high-risk infants and their families as these babies transition home from the hospital. The goal is to optimize health and developmental outcomes, and to support families by sharing best practices, clinical guidelines, and current research with the healthcare professionals and agency staff who care for them.

Sources:

Information is reported as provided and does not necessarily represent the view of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. A complete copy of HMHB’s disclaimer is available on our website.

Renee Klink