BIO

Hi! My name is Rebecca Valentin and I am a second-year student majoring in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences: Clinical Professions. I aspire to become an Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB/GYN), so I knew I would like to do research with mother and baby. I was lucky enough to be able to find and be accepted into Dr. Jessica Ridgway-Clayton's research on apparel for NICU moms. When I am not doing research, I am proud members of the National Society of Black Women in Medicine and the Caribbean Student Association.

Exploring Apparel Options for Working NICU Mothers: Development of a Breastfeeding Garment

Abstract

In a mother’s postpartum journey with her newborn, kangaroo care and breastfeeding are influential factors for both their physical and mental health. Kangaroo care is skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant. Especially in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), this form of care is crucial as the NICU babies require additional medical support to become healthy. There are several barriers that mothers encounter in the NICU that make it difficult to perform kangaroo care and breastfeeding. For instance, there are very few garments that are available to mothers in the NICU that help them facilitate kangaroo care and breastfeeding. Since the majority of the infants in the NICU are low birth weight, they do not fit into the garments provided. In addition, the garments are uncomfortable for the mothers to wear after surgery or do not accommodate for the several wires attached to the infant. In order to find a garment that would best aid the mother and infant, mothers who have had their babies in the NICU, neonatal nurses, and lactation consultants were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and coded to determine what the overlapping themes and desires of mothers were. It was discovered that many mothers wanted something that looked normal, breathable, and easy to remove. By understanding what mothers want, a breastfeeding garment that will provide comfort and support can be made.

Keywords: NICU, breastfeeding, baby