By Cindy Abole
Public Relations

It can be stressful becoming a new parent. Add the presence of premature triplets and that stress level is tripled.
Just ask Folly Beach's Amy and Joey Foxhall, who became the proud parents of triplets born May 18 at MUSC.

Fortunately, they took advantage of MUSC's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine's new discharge program that arms parents with the latest information to give their babies the healthiest start in life, particularly families such as the Foxhalls. Foxhall's pregnancy was considered very high-risk as her babies, Luke, Laney and Jennings, were born about 10 weeks premature.

Six-week-old Luke Foxhall with his mom, Amy.

Since the birth of their babies, the Foxhalls have spent every day with their newborns, first for several weeks at the neonatal intensive care unit and later in the university hospital's fifth floor level 2. Throughout this time, the couple has had much to learn about the delicate care of their premature newborns from understanding preemie infant behavior and feeding to the stages of infant development. As they prepare to take their babies home, the Foxhalls attended the June 26 discharge class along with other caregivers.

"I found the class to be especially helpful to new parents," said Foxhall. "The doctors and staff have been wonderful throughout this entire experience."

Neonatologist Sarah Taylor, M.D., is one of many specialists who supports this hour-long educational program in MUSC's Division of Neonatology taught by a team of specialized nurses and caregivers. According to Taylor, about 80 percent of discharge instructions were given to families 48 hours prior to discharge. Neonatology studies have shown that families retain about 10 percent of information given during this time period. Other studies indicate that a mother's degree of stress during the week of a preterm infant's hospital discharge is equal to the stress at the time the infant was born.

Cecilia McMillan shows the class how to measure water with the baby formula.

"The discharge class allows us to give information to parents and caregivers weeks prior to hospital discharge," Taylor said.

The class provides a formal setting for parents to get tips and understand basic skills about the general care of newborns. Parents learn about infant nutrition, how to check the baby's temperature, give medications, keep a growth chart, use a bulb syringe, safely use car seats and other topics. At the conclusion of class, parents are asked to complete an anonymous evaluation to provide feedback and improvements.

New mom Susan Watford attended the June 22 discharge class in preparation for bringing home newborn son, Bay.
"As a first-time mom, I found it so nice to get information to help me prepare myself for taking care of my baby, especially since he was born premature."

New mom Susan Watford, center, practices with a bulb syringe to remove mucous and spit from a baby mannequin.

The class was originally developed by neonatal nurse Christina Nelson, who along with other nurses, taught the nursery discharge preparation class for parents. Earlier this year, Nelson, who manages the hospital's Infant Home Monitoring Program, approached pediatric dietitian Cecilia McMillan about combining it into a nutrition and preemie baby care teaching class to help educate parents prior to their baby's discharge. According to Nelson, the class is offered during the week and on weekends to accommodate working and out-of-town parents and caregivers. The class also helps in the overall patient discharge process.

"We want well-informed, comfortable parents, and this class gives parents an opportunity to also hear other caregivers' questions that they may not have thought about," Nelson said.

Classes began in May led by Nelson, McMillan and other nurses—Mary Bates, Kathy Brady, Beth Micalizzi, Lila Dodson, Maryann Kovacs, Laura Beason, Sandy Ballard and Jo' Dee Herbert—who volunteer to help and teach.

Taylor said she's excited MUSC is offering this new program. "The discharge class is an incredible example of MUSC staff not only recognizing a problem, but also taking extra steps needed to develop a solution to a problem," Taylor said. "The work these staff members take will have a far-reaching effect in improving the confidence of our parents and the safety of our patients."