For parents, the idea of being separated from their newborn receiving care at the Casey Special Care Nursery can leave them feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
As featured in The Herald Sun, a festive fundraising appeal is changing that: enabling the purchase of more recliner beds, so parents can stay cot-side with their babies overnight.
“It improves the physical and emotional connection between baby and mum,” Nurse Manager Melissa West told the media outlet.
“Prolonged and repeated separation between babies and their parents can alter brain development and it can impair the bonding and attachment.”
It would “mean the world” to staff if they could offer more parents the opportunity to stay overnight with their babies, Ms West said.
The 20-cot nursery currently has three recliner beds.
To learn more about the appeal, please visit Monash Health Foundation’s website.