Care rounds, food and discharge in the CICU

Developmental care round

The Developmental Care Round aims to support a baby’s development and reduce their stress whilst in CICU. 

  • Every Wednesday our team of occupational therapists, speech pathologists, nurses and physiotherapists hold bedside Developmental Care Rounds.
  • The team works with babies under four months old to help assist parents and carers, promote bonding, and discuss the developmental practices and strategies to support care for the baby.
  • Green dots are used at the bedside to communicate your baby’s developmental recommendations, and to promote consistency in care giving.

We strongly encourage parent and carer presence and participation in these rounds.

Nutrition and meals

Please alert us if your child has any allergies and check with your nurse prior to giving your child anything to eat or drink. 

When your child is well enough to eat, we will provide them with meals and snacks, although you are welcome to bring in your child’s preferred foods.

Breastfeeding, expressing, and formula feeding

We support breastfeeding and will assist you in breastfeeding or expressing and storing breastmilk if required. 

Formula can be provided if required, however if you prefer a brand of formula that is not supplied by the Hospital, parents will need to provide sealed tins in good condition for our formula room to prepare. 

Discharge

When your child is well enough they will be discharged from CICU to a ward within the hospital or a paediatric ward closer to your home if suitable. 

Once your child has left CICU medical and nursing care will change. Nursing care on the general paediatric wards is less intensive usually one nurse will be responsible for two to four patients.

This can be unsettling for many parents, but this should be recognised as a sign that your child’s condition is improving. The CICU doctors will hand over care to the ward medical staff updating them on your child’s progress in CICU. 

Your CICU nurse will hand over to the nurses on the receiving ward and all allied health needs will be handed over as required.

Discharge satisfaction survey

Upon discharge we would appreciate if you completed our discharge satisfaction survey to give us feedback on your experience.