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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Adopts Book Program
The program, called Books for Babies, was created by neonatologist and former Health Sciences Center fellow Colleen Rose, MD. Books for Babies provides parents with free storybooks to read to their hospitalized infants. 
"This is a program helps parents bond with their babies and helps them focus on something else besides drugs, monitors and ventilators," says Judy Bildner, NICU case manager and a coordinator of the Books for Babies Program at Children's Hospital. "We encourage anything that makes them feel like a parent because that's all they can be right now," says Mary Lammers, RN, the programs other coordinator. In addition to comforting parents, the reading program has a positive effect on their babies. Participating parents, ever watchful of the monitors attached to their infants, have observed their babies' heartbeats become more regular and their oxygen intake improves when they are being read to. "I tell parents 'The baby will recognize your voice,'" Dr. Rose says. "It also increases the baby's development potential. It's been shown that when parents read to babies, it lays down certain tracks in the brain that will always be there. And these can be cultivated later on." All parents at Children's Hospital are presented with books shortly after admission to the intensive-care nursery. The books come with a nameplate that is stamped with the baby's footprint. Nurses encourage parents to read the books, which remain at the infant's bedside, each time they visit. Babies are given a new book each month that they are in the NICU. Elizabeth James, MD, chief of neonatology at the Health Sciences Center, has high praise for the program. "It involves parents in doing something for their children that is helpful," says Dr. James, Dr. Rose's friend and former teacher. "And we know from the literature that kids who are read to develop better." All NICU nurses instruct the parents regarding the program . A library in the NICU allows parents to read other books to their babies as well as books for siblings.
The Books for Babies program at Children's Hospital is being sponsored by Creative Books of Jefferson City, which graciously donated 600 books to the unit, and co-sponsored by the Children's Miracle Network. Hickman High School's Family Community & Career Leaders of America club donated 100 books to Children's Hospital's Books for Babies program. Hickman is University Hospital's Partner in Education. Kristina Nichols, left, reads one to her newborn twin siblings, Cassie and Jordan. |
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It takes thousands of dollars worth of ventilators, pulse oximeters and other sophisticated equipment to give premature and critically ill babies a chance at life. But thanks to a new program, it only takes a $3 book to help their parents give them the love they need to thrive and grow. Individuals as well as groups from around Missouri have pitched in. 
And, as the high rate of illiteracy among parents has inspired Dr. Rose to establish a literacy program for parents who have trouble reading, NICU staff at Children's Hospital will be assessing the need for a similar outreach program as Books for Babies develops.
