Author: Kathy Papac and Kathryn (Kat) Campos

The first modern infant incubators in Europe were created in the mid to late 1800’s. Dr. Martin Couney, a pioneer of Neonatology, operated exhibits of premature infants in different parts of the world in the late 1800’s into the following century. In an effort to fund patient care and progress his research Dr. Couney charged the curious Coney Inland New York Public 25 cents per participant to view the infants/incubators. Please note the Baby Incubator Exhibit at the  1909 Seattle World’s Fair pictured below:

A newer transportable incubator has been invented by a group of students engaged in a class project at Stanford University. Embrace was founded at Stanford University’s Institute of Design in 2007-08. The Embrace Warmer costs a fraction ( 1% ) of the cost of a standard incubator. Best of all, the incubator is effective, safe, simple, portable, hygienic, reusable, and creates the opportunity for kangaroo time with loved ones. It is used widely in India, and also used in Asia, Africa and Latin America. A video is better than a thousand words, right? Check this out!

Neonatal Womb Warriors! The process leading to the development of the Embrace Warmer is so inspiring! This video documents the Power we all have to create change and solutions through group consciousness and collective creativity.

Sending a shout out to the past and future NICU innovators (are you one?) Gift idea, friends! Spread the Warmth with Embrace!https://secure3.convio.net/cfcol/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app362b?df_id=1601&1601.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=7BBBDE31EEA42BB9AB0140AF026D208E

Excellent Bruddahs!

Research related to the long term effects of preterm birth is itself in the early stages of development. I have often heard that preemies have a higher incidence of conditions such as dyslexia and other learning disorders, ADD/ADHD, and autism. I am dyslexic but then so are all of the non-preemie women in my immediate family!

The Center of Disease Control (2016) reports 1 in 9 babies in the USA are born preterm (before 37 weeks gestation). 1% of these preemies are micro-preemies (born 27 weeks gestation or earlier). One quarter of all preterm infants experience severe disability such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, autism, blindness, or deafness according to Iris Lesser, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the School-age Unit (SAU) at Einstein’s Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation. Iris Lesser reports that another 1/3 of preterm babies will develop less severe neurodevelopmental and/or neurobehavioral disorders including learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, and other conditions that also occur in full term infants.

Current research supports the fact that the development of learning disabilities, autism, and ADD/ADHD, etc. is multifactorial. Many theories exist, and research progresses in numerous directions. From a neurolinguistic perspective one might question whether some people are learning “disabled” or are we, as a society, teaching “disabled”? Even so, there are beneficial aspects of so called learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Many famously intelligent people throughout history such as Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Richard Branson, Winston Churchill, John Kennedy, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, Steven Hawkings, and Steven Spielberg are/were reported to be dyslexic.

Similarly, numerous famous people diagnosed with ADD/ADHD have demonstrated the positive aspects associated with ADHD. Consider the accomplishments of David Blaine, Richard Branson, Ryan Gosling, Adam Levine, and Channing Tatum. An article entitled “Benefits (Yes Benefits!) of Having ADD/ADHD” published by Hallowell New York City states “People with ADD tend to have many creative talents (usually underdeveloped until the diagnosis is made) and a highly original, out-of-the-box way of thinking. As highly intuitive people with a special “feel” for life, they can possess an almost “sixth sense” that lets them see straight to the heart of a matter instead of having to think it through methodically. Since impulsivity is one of the core symptoms of ADD, it stands to reason that people with ADD are more creative than their non-ADD counterparts”.

And lastly, a current Science Daily (03/22/16) article entitled “Noise disrupts the tactile skills of premature babies” presents research related to the effects of noise, light and other stimuli of the NICU environment on the underdeveloped brain of the NICU preemie. If this subject interests you, check this out:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160322082048.htm

Warriors: Regarding the long term effects of preterm birth, do you, like me, have more questions than answers? The Empty Bowl, the space inviting pure presence: perhaps therein lies the path of knowing…

WORKS CITED:

–http://www.einstein.yu.edu/features/stories/944/the-ongoing-challenges-of-prematurity-tackling-learning-and-developmental-disabilities/. 14 Oct. 2013. Web. <http://www.einstein.yu.edu/features/stories/944/the-ongoing-challenges-of-prematurity-tackling-learning-and-developmental-disabilities/&gt;.

-Benefits Yes Benefits of Having ADD/ADHD.” 2013. Web. <http://www.hallowellnyc.com/HallowellNYC/LivingwithADD/BenefitsYesBenefitsofHavingADDA/index.cfm&gt;

Unable to attend a group yoga class tonight due to a little case of the flu I picked up at work, I decided to explore YouTube videos and settled on a “Yoga for Healing and Meditation 30 Day” option which provided me with a Vinyasa experience. The description of Vinyasa per Wikipedia is “Sequential movement that interlinks postures to form a continuous flow. It creates a movement meditation that reveals all forms as being impermanent and for this reason are not held on to”. Since I am in the process of letting go and creating space within, this Yoga option appealed to me. I was challenged by some movements, and actually a little relieved no one was watching! The instructor focused the participant’s attention on deep breathing to relieve anxiety, and I did experience my mood transitioning from anxious to calm. My favorite part of the session was the closing meditation (so relaxing!). I still have the flu, but feel better about it……

Warriors! You are the sky. Everything else is the weather….like the flu….

What’s the weather like in your “neck of the woods”? How do you “weather” life’s storms?

All is well. Peace, brothers and sisters. Kat

This weekend I attended the Citizen’s University, a conference to explore community-building and to teach leadership in civic life. Hosted in my home City of Seattle, I joined the conference as a representative of the University of Washington Husky Leadership Initiative. At the conference catalysts and activists from around the US gathered to listen, learn, share, and grow. Diverse professional leaders and social activists shared the podium to express their passions and calls for action for a variety of social causes. Closing the conference was a panel that included Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the new executive director of Detroit Department of Health & Wellness Promotion. On stage Dr. El-Sayed reported a mortality rate in Detroit of 15 per 1,000 infants who do not make it to their 1^st birthday; a far worse mortality rate than the US National average of 4 infant deaths per 1,000 by age one. An innovative Public Health Administrator, Dr. El-Sayed acknowledges the issue of infant mortality as a top priority in his community and he is working to understand why marginalized populations suffer worse health than their counterparts, especially in relation to preterm birth and infant mortality. As you may see in the picture, it was my pleasure to meet Dr. El-Sayed, a compelling preterm birth advocate and NICU community partner.

Sending a shout out to Dr. El-Sayed! Thank you for your efforts to serve the NICU community.

Neonatal Womb Warriors – who impacted your NICU journey?

Please consider taking the time to thank them whether it be in your heart, through a note, an email or a social media message!We are powerful and grateful warriors!

What are your passions and “calls for action”?

We are #NICUStrong!

In the spirit of empowerment and self-healing I participated in a Hatha yoga class last night. The room was packed with eclectic community members of LA Fitness most of whom attend the class on a regular basis. The instructor was engaging, funny, kind, and motivating.  As a fitness instructor myself with some experience engaging in yoga, I felt comfortable yet challenged attempting the various yoga poses during the class. I cherished each moment during class when a muscle would reach out and say “here I am!” My relationship with deep breathing is a mixed one; often resulting in feelings of significant anxiety. However, during the yoga class I noticed though I was breathing deeply I was not experiencing anxiety. It seems that for me the combination of deep breathing with movement was comforting. I find that quite intriguing. As I explore healing modalities and build a safe internal haven for my soul, I will be exploring a few different types of yoga over the next few weeks and sharing my experiences with you.

Please share with yourself and perhaps with your kindred Neonatal Womb Warriors your secrets for bringing a full and integrated soul along for the ride!

Growing up I was aware of the medical history of my NICU journey.  I am curious as to what impact my NICU experience as a patient has had on my life today. I recently came across an article from the Journal of Perinatology titled “Recognizing the Potential Effect of Stress and Trauma on Premature Infants in the NICU: How are outcomes affected?”

The study suggest that researchers are developing an increased understanding of the risk premature infants have related to developing psychological, emotional, and behavioral disturbances as a result of the trauma they endure as patients. The article abstract states, “Extensive research of the long term outcomes of premature infants has shown significant risk for emotional, behavioral, and psychological problems.”

Researchers Barker and Rutter discovered that during the average Neonatal ICU(NICU) stay an infant may undergo an average of 60 procedures many which may be painful and/or invasive. In addition it is noted that the persistent stress and/or traumatic events in the NICU during brain development is occurring at a profound rate, a factor researchers are taking seriously into account related to PTSD present within the NICU Infant/NICU Grad population. In the article Dr.Perry states that “It is important for us to abandon the myth that infants and children can get over it because they didn’t even know what was happening”.

As a NICU Grad I am grateful for the visibility researchers like Dr.Perry are shining onto this important matter. In my personal experience as an adult volunteering and serving in the  NICU I have often been questioned by the “myth” that I couldn’t possibly be aware of the trauma that I faced as a patient.

Personally upon returning to the NICU I have become increasingly aware of my own subconscious understanding and cellular knowledge of the trauma I survived as well as the self-healing journey I am currently on.I believe increasing the dialogue surrounding this topic holds great value for our current NICU community and future generations to come.

Sending a big thank you to all the researchers,health-care providers  and NICU Community members advocating for this topic!

As a NICU survivor have you ever been curious about the trauma you experienced as a NICU patient and/or NICU related PTSD?

Works Cited:

Maroney, D. (2003). Recognizing the Potential Effect of Stress and Trauma on Premature Infants in the NICU: How are Outcomes Affected? Recognizing the Potential Effect of Stress and Trauma on Premature Infants in the NICU: How Are Outcomes Affected?, EISSN: 1476-5543, 679-683. Retrieved February 15, 2016, from http://www.nature.com/jp/journal/v23/n8/full/7211010a.html

“Ahem!” I said to my ego. We need to talk! It has come to my attention that your very loud obnoxious voice continues to isolate me from the realities and deep personal human connections available in the human dimension. No doubt your protection was urgently required in my early years when I was separated from my deceased twin and isolated from other humans in general in order to sustain my life.  I learned to keep my breath shallow and one foot in/one out in this human dimension.  You enabled me to vastly progress my spiritual expansiveness and experience a dynamic rich and rewarding existence in other realities.

Time to expand and heal, my friend!  Let’s redirect your energies to support my journey toward deepening personal relationships in the human realm!  Now, for a strategy……..

Neonatal Womb Warriors! It is all about the JOURNEY.  Please share yours………

Sending a “shout out” to NICU survivors! We know who we are; warriors surfing life’s challenges from the moment we arrived. Please join me in creating an active, engaged, progressive community of NICU “Neonatal Womb” warriors.

I am the founder of The Neonatal Womb Foundation, a 24 week gestation surviving twin, and an open heart surgery recipient. I, like you, am engaged in a healing journey. I recognize that due to our early arrivals an assumption has been made that we have no memory of our early traumas. Nothing could be further from the truth….

Thru this blog connection “The Neonatal Womb Warriors” we will explore, acknowledge and legitimatize opportunities to heal our early birth related traumas. On this journey I will share my healing experiences with you as I engage in diverse healing modalities. Together we will share our collective recollections, feelings, needs, and life empowering experiences.

Please join me on this wild, vibrant and exciting journey!

Surf’s up!!!

-Kat Campos