Dr. Patti performs inpatient pediatric palliative care consultations in the Wellstar Health System. She recommends medical and non-medical management of symptoms, works with team members, and supports caregivers engaged in the care of fragile babies and children. As part of pediatric palliative care, she leads conversations when patients are challenged by circumstances that present the need for advance care planning, hospice referral, or end of life support. At all times, she endorses the values of the patient and his or her family to create an experience that is thoughtful and comforting.
Dr. Patti joins members of the Department of Pediatrics to expand pediatric palliative care at Wellstar. Additionally, she teaches Family Medicine residents and Palliative Medicine fellows to enhance their knowledge and skill set. She presented lectures on sibling grief at a Palliative Medicine conference in June 2021 and at the Department of Family Medicine Grand Rounds in October of the same year.
How Does Having a Premature Baby Impact a Family?
Source: Hearts Connected, LLC
Navigating the NICU can be an intense and overwhelming experience for parents. During this time, parents may experience intense emotional distress and it is important to have as much support and guidance as possible surrounding them.
One specific area many parents feel stressed and anxious about, is how to develop a strong parent-child attachment when their premature baby endures a lengthy admission in the NICU. Fostering a secure attachment is vital to infant development and there are many ways to support a healthy attachment while a baby is in the NICU. We have listed many ways to foster and maintain connection with a NICU baby here.
The parent-child attachment can be impacted during a lengthy NICU admission. Here are some ways to support attachment with your baby.
- Kangaroo care (skin-to-skin) when possible
- Sleep with comfort items (bear or blanket) and then leave near baby so they can always smell you. Ask nurse where items can be safely placed near baby.
- Talk and sing to the baby.
- Make a recording of you talking or singing that the nurse can play for the baby when you are not there.
- Participate in feeding whenever possible.
- Meet with Certified Child Life Specialists to explore more bonding activities.
Parents with babies in the NICU can experience:
- Emotional distress
- Attachment insecurity
- Uncertainty of future
- Medical anxiety
- PTSD
- Isolation from family/friends
Parents of a premature baby benefit from family and friends that offer support through specific tasks they do not have time for such as walking the dog, taking other children to and from somewhere, making a home cooked meal, or doing laundry.
Psychosocial Well-Being of Siblings of Pediatric Patients in Palliative Home Care
Source: American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
In this prospective, cross sectional study in German siblings of children receiving home palliative care had greater impairment in physical and psychological well-being and self esteem than healthy children. They also demonstrated higher rates of pro social behavior. Interventions to improve health-related quality of life in siblings are recommended.