Staff, patients and families of the Clarke Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital took part in a friendly competition between NICUs to see who could read to their patients the most during the month of September.
Babies with Books is a student-led early literacy organization that creates and supports NICU reading programs. The NICU reading program was first launched at Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Last year, more than 192 NICUs participated, and there were a total of 51,575 reading sessions over the 11-day period.
According to neonatal specialists at Moore Regional, reading to premature babies provides many benefits for patients and families alike.
“NICU reading promotes infant brain development, fosters family bonding, and decreases infant and parental stress related to intensive care hospitalization,” said Laura Valleni, M.D., neonatologist at Moore Regional. “We’re thrilled to participate in this program again and further support our NICU babies and their families.”
The read-a-thon took place Sept. 9-19 in conjunction with NICU Awareness Month and National Literacy Month. As part of the program, each baby in the NICU will receive a book to keep that will accompany information on the importance of reading. The number of reading sessions and average daily census during the read-a-thon will be tallied and submitted to Babies with Books.
Since launching Babies with Books in 2022, Moore Regional has established a reading nook with a NICU book library so that books are always available to be read to the babies and help with their development. NICU babies at Moore Regional also receive two books to take home. Additionally, parents are encouraged to sign up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. As part of this program, The Moore County Partners for Children and Families generously provides preschoolers in our community with their own Imagination Library and one new book every month until their fifth birthday.
“We’re thankful for the generosity of our community partners to support early literacy,” added Dr. Valleni. “Encouraging early literacy promotes early brain development, family integrated care and bonding while babies are in the NICU. Together, we are creating a positive experience for our families that will have a lasting impact on our youngest patients.”
Feature photo: Parents Jessica and Dillon McKenzie hold new twin boys Carter and Wyatt in the Clarke NICU at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. In the photo left to right: Dillon McKenzie (dad), Taylor Raines, R.N., Nicholas Lynn, M.D., Cynthia Whitaker, BSN, Katie Garges, BSN, Jessica McKenzie (mom) and Hunter Rosser, BSN.
Contributed article and photo.
