Los Angeles, California - August 19, 2011
Bringing home a newborn is challenging enough but imagine taking home a baby who has spent days, weeks or months in the neonatal intensive care unit. A new program aims to calm parent's fears as they leave the hospital with their baby.
Roman Washington spent almost five months in the neonatal intensive care unit or NICU at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Mom, Ramona, was only 28 weeks into what should have been a 40 week pregnancy when her blood pressure sky-rocketed and Roman had to be delivered. "When he was born he was only one pound, ten ounces," Washington said.
The once fragile preemie is ready to go home but the tubes and machines will need to go too, so Washington is staying in a transitional suite at the medical center.
"If they absolutely need us they call us but we don't come in and bother them, just check in with them -- it's as if they are home," said Judy Esquida, a neonatal nurse in the unit.
About 12-percent of babies in the U.S. are born premature -- that's before 36 weeks gestation.
"The earlier the gestational period, the more the technological needs and the support needs for the family. The border of viability these days is between 23 and 26 weeks," said the medical center's Dr. Charles Simmons.
Roman's lungs are still developing.
"It's very scary," Washington said.
But less scary now that Washington has had this hospital dress rehearsal before she heads home.
Sandra Hughes - CBS News
