Family visits helping premature babies after sibling ban lifted
The lifting of an age-old ban at a Perth hospital has opened new worlds for families eager to embrace their newest and most fragile members.
Neonatal wards were previously reserved only for premature babies and their parents.
Siblings were once ordered to stay away for the safety of the babies during their stay, which could be up to 10 weeks.
Neonatal wards are being opened to the whole family, and doctors say it is helping infants. 9News
But Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth has now opened its neonatal unit to siblings after new research revealed there was no worldwide correlation between visits and infection rates.
Doctors say the visits are proving beneficial for the whole family, with positive improvements in feeding and weight gain for the babies, sometimes leading to an earlier discharge.
New research has shown no correlation between family visits and infection rates in babies. 9News
"They're really happy, they're not frightened, they understand what's going on," clinical nurse specialist Danielle Green told 9News.
"The parents are saying they're coping better at home by being able to come in and see their baby as well."
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