PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In keeping with Rotary’s focus of the month in April ‘Maternal and Child Health’ the Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle invited two nurses from the Obstetrics/Gynecology ward to speak to them.
Nurse Sherryl Carty-Fleming. OBCRN. LN Supervisor OBGYN/Daycare at the SMMC spoke to them about Neonatal Jaundice. Neonatal jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and other tissues of a newborn infant. An estimated 50pct of term and 80pct of preterm infants develop jaundice, typically 2-4 days after birth. Jaundice is detected by the skin, eyes, through sleepiness and brain damage. The causes are non-Hemolytic causes (physiological, breastfeeding failure jaundice and breast milk jaundice. The clinical preventative nursing medical assessment is parental information, increased breastfeeding and supplemental feeding, sunlight or a biliblanket. A Biliblanket is a portable phototherapy device for the treatment of neonatal jaundice. Phototherapy for jaundice involves a blue/white light of varying intensity placed close to the skin or touching it through a special, light-permeable fabric. An increase level of bilrubin can be life-threatening to a newborn but can be prevented with the effective use of a biliblanket while maintaining maternal and child bonding.
Nurse Charmaine Wilson Assistant Supervisor for Obstetrics/Gynecology Ward spoke to us about Cardiotocography. Fetal heart rate monitoring measures the heart rate and rhythm of the fetus. This lets the healthcare providers see how the fetus is doing. There are two methods of monitoring the fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal stethoscope (Pinard) and hand-held Doppler (sonicaid) and cardiotocograph (CTG). Cardiotocography is a technical means of recording the fetal heartbeat and the uterine contractions during pregnancy, typically in the third trimester.
Mid Isle will be actively fundraising to help provide a biliblanket and cardiograph for the Obstretic/Gynecology ward.
Mid Isle are presently working with the Obstetric/Gynecology ward with their pilot project of Welcome Baby Bags with the basic needs for the new mother and baby, these bags are being distributed at the discretion of the nurses. These bags are sponsored by the Rotarians of Mid Isle, Domino’s, Divico – Huggies Distributors, Babe ‘n’ Kids and Prime Distributors.
The Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle meets Tuesday at 7pm at Mary’s Boone in Simpson Bay. For more information please contact rotarysxm.mi@gmail.com or visit our face book page Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle
