NZNO nurses, healthcare assistants and some midwives plan to strike from 9am on Wednesday 30 July to 9am on Thursday 31 July. Patient safety is our priority and our hospitals will remain open. Continue to attend all appointments unless we have contacted you directly to reschedule.
The neonatal units at North Shore and Waitākere Hospitals care for sick pēpi and premature infants.
While in the Neonatal Units, your baby will be cared for by a team of people who specialise in care of babies, including:
Pēpi who are less than 32 weeks gestation and babies who need a higher level of care because they are very sick will be transferred for care at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) such as at Auckland City Hospital.
We will show you how to handle and care for your pēpi and help you time your visits to be at the same time as feeds and nappy changes.
In order to promote an optimal environment for growth, we support the philosophy of developmental supportive care. This includes low lighting, a quiet bedside area and optimal positioning. We also promote skin to skin cuddles (kangaroo care), pēpi bonding and we strive to be a whānau-centred unit
Nurses are always available to answer your questions. You can speak to a doctor during ward rounds from 9am each day. Talk to your nurse if you want to speak to a doctor outside of these times
As parents, you will be supported by staff to provide care for your pēpi. There are lots of things you can do:
Parents are encouraged to visit at any time, 24 hours a day.
We do encourage quiet time between 12pm and 2pm when the lights are dimmed and noise is kept to a minimum. This is a special bonding time for you and your pēpi.
You can identify a support person who can also visit outside of visiting hours, but any other visitors must be accompanied by you or your partner between the hours of 2pm and 4pm and 6pm to 8pm.
Siblings are welcome on the unit for short periods, but we ask that other tamariki not visit. This is to prevent the spread of infection.
Only 2 visitors per pēpi are allowed.
We encourage you to spend as much time as possible with your pēpi and have the following facilities in place to help.
Meals for mums:
If you will be here for a meal, let your nurse know or write it on the board
Parent kitchen so you can heat up your own food or make yourself a hot drink.
Parking cards for mums so you do not have to pay for parking.
Parents' overnight stay room.
A room to express your breast milk.
Access to social, religious and cultural support.
National Travel Assistance, to help pay for the cost of travel to and from the unit.
When your pēpi is getting close to going home, your nurse will discuss discharge planning with you.
You may be offered the following:
It will be time to go home when your pēpi is maintaining their temperature in a cot, can do all suck feeds for 24 to 48 consecutive hours, and is gaining weight.
Some pēpi may take several nights in the parents' overnight room to achieve this and some may only need 1 night. You may need to be flexible and prepared to take a bit more time if your pēpi is not quite ready.
You will need to be independent and confident with the care of your pēpi.
