www.newbornsinneed.org

NEWBORNS IN NEED
Mesa Arizona Chapter
December 2007         Volume 7 Issue 11

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Thank You to our Wonderful NIN Volunteers

Steven Schnall, Vice President of Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation, thanked us on behalf of the babies and families whose lives are forever impacted in the NICU at PCH…”we would like to express our deepest gratitude to you for Newborns in Need’s generous gift of 40 incubator blankets, 14 quilts, 10 memory cards, 25 burial layettes, and many newborn outfits. Through the support provided by gifts like yours, Phoenix Children’s offers crucial hope, healing and the very best care to critically ill newborns, giving them every chance for survival and a healthy life. Your generous investment is, literally, the gift of a lifetime for thousands of children and families. Each time you hear a baby laugh or even cry, we hope it will be a joyful reminder of the life-and-death difference your contribution is making in the life of other newborns, at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.” 

Diane Bishop, Executive Director at Maricopa Health Center, acknowledged our donation and support, too. She listed the items in our donation and said, “Thank you for your kind and generous support of the infants at Maricopa Medical Center.”

Vivian Giumette made seven preemie hospital shirts and four bibs from some of the fabric we received from Cathy Lancaster in November. Aren’t they cute?

Chapter Meeting

Our next monthly meeting will be at JoAnn Fabrics, 965 S. Gilbert Road, Mesa, AZ from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, January 4. We will tie ribbon on sets of diapers, soap, and washcloths for newborn kits. 

Report of December Chapter Meeting

 We were happy to have Becky Bell come from Maricopa Medical Center to be our guest speaker for our December 2007 chapter meeting. She brought pictures showing how they use the items we donate with the precious babies. Approximately one-fourth of the babies in their NICU are 500 grams (24 weeks). The nurses swaddle babies until they are about 8 pounds. This helps to organize brain cells. Lots of blankets are needed to make sure each baby can be nested and swaddled.

 Becky said they use beanie snakes until the baby is about 1¼#. She said we could fill the beanie snakes with rice instead of polypellets. If there is an infection the beanie snakes have to be thrown away since viruses aren’t eradicated with their cleaning procedures. She let us know that Maricopa Medical Center is also currently having a Beanie Baby collection drive. Ty-brand Beanie Babies are used to position premature babies for proper muscle development and coordination.

 We were surprised to learn that the NICU is most crowded in the summer because dehydration can cause early delivery. Currently Maricopa Medical Center NICU has 55 babies; in the summer it can swell to 70-90 babies. There are also 48 babies in the newborn nursery now.

 Becky told us that small afghans and blankets could be used in car seats. Fleece blankets are great in the NICU and to go home. The NICU at Maricopa Medical Center is currently in need of clothes for 4-5 pound babies to go home with. Receiving blankets that stretch are needed for kangaroo care therapy.

 Becky shared the story of one family who came expecting to have a baby boy. At delivery, they were surprised to also have a baby girl! Mom had dressed her son in the outfit she brought from home and wrapped her daughter in the blanket she brought with her. Becky was able to get one of the newborn kits we provided so each baby was dressed and swaddled to go home.

 We learned of a mom who was in the hospital from 22 weeks gestation until delivery. She also received a newborn kit since she was unable to be preparing things at home. 

 Parents never expect to have their babies prematurely or to have need of burial items. Becky shared with us how much these items mean to the families.

 After our wonderful guest speaker, we enjoyed a delicious potluck brunch. Two requested recipes are included on page 3 of this newsletter.