#nicu center

[motherhoodhospital]

Best NICU Hospital in Ahmedabad

Motherhood Hospital has the best NICU center in Ahmedabad. Our highly experienced team of pediatricians and neonatologists provides intensive care to sick babies, extremely premature and very low birth weight babies and twin babies. We offer indoor admission facility for the nursing mothers, phototherapy, exchange transfusion, prenatal treatment and ventilator treatment to the new born and premature babies. Contact us today.

[nationwidechildrenshospital]

“My mother is a doctor, so all I ever remember is wanting to be a doctor. I decided to become a neonatologist because I love working with critically ill patients, but also enjoyed the continuity of care and building relationships with families. Many babies remain in the NICU for a long time, so I get to know and support the babies and their families. It is a joy to see them improve and grow over time.”

Ruth Seabrook, Director of Neonatal-Perinatal Care, The Fetal Center 

[tritonhospitals]

Parameters to check while choosing the best maternity hospital in South Delhi

Best Maternity Hospital in South Delhi

Most women can feel a bit anxious when choosing the best hospital for delivery. When the moment comes, several factors will need to be taken into account. In this article, the things to consider while choosing the best maternity hospital will be discussed. Keep on reading for more information.

Things to consider while choosing a maternity hospital

1) Location

It's crucial to select a nearby maternity hospital while you're expecting. If you experience issues while pregnant or giving birth, you can go to the hospital promptly and conveniently. Pick a hospital close to your house because you will need to go for several check-ups and routine testing during the whole pregnancy. You would find it simpler if the distance were less. Additionally, be sure the hospital you select is recognized by the Joint Commission and has a solid reputation.

2) The standard of care

Choose a hospital with a solid reputation for providing high-quality care. Examine internet reviews and get advice from friends and family.

You may always check for more information online by especially looking for reviews from various parents who have given birth there if you have previously expressed interest in a certain hospital and want to learn more.

Some of the best maternity hospitals in South Delhi such as Triton Hospital provide a high standard of care.

3) The hospital’s reputation

You want a medical facility that has a solid reputation for providing high-quality care. When selecting a maternity hospital, one of the most important factors to take into account is the facility's reputation. In order to learn more about a hospital's reputation, try contacting parents who have had children there for recommendations. You might also wish to look up any hospitals that interest you online.

Prior to making a choice, be sure to gather opinions on the physician, the nursing staff, and the hospital as a whole from a variety of sources, including family, friends, online reviews, etc.

4) Obstetricians on Staff

Having obstetricians on staff is one of the most crucial things to take into account when selecting a maternity facility. You may trust that you're in excellent hands since obstetricians have received training in pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care. Additionally, if something goes wrong, you're more likely to receive the treatment you need if there is an obstetrician on staff.

5) Patients treated every year

You should think about how many patients they serve each year while choosing the best maternity hospitals in South Delhi. You do want to make sure they have a lot of experience, after all. You may discover more about their practices and personnel using this information.

6) How you feel about your obstetrician

You will be able to tell in your first few consultations with your obstetrician and gynecologist if they have the time and patience to patiently address your concerns. It goes without saying that you want to be with an obstetrician who can help you feel at ease about your pregnancy, assist you in developing that trust, and offer you the assurance that he or she will be there for you to address any concerns while you are pregnant.

7) Qualification of the obstetrician

It is crucial to pick a facility and a doctor whose philosophy and outlook on childbirth align with your own. If your pregnancy is healthy and you don't have any other conditions like diabetes or being overweight, you have a wider range of hospital alternatives, from budget to luxury. However, regardless of other amenities like AC rooms and other amenities that are optional for expectant mothers who wish to appreciate this time, it is advised to consult an obstetrician who has expertise managing challenging pregnancies if you have any illness. The best maternity hospitals in South Delhi like Triton Hospital has highly-qualified obstetricians.

8) Open-minded attitude

It is crucial that your obstetrician be forthright with you and discusses all phases of your pregnancy with you. Your obstetrician should be able to guide you through the process even in the event of a difficulty and make sure the pregnancy and unborn child receive the finest care possible. This is one of the deciding factors to consider when choosing a maternity hospital.

9) Care during odd hours

It is crucial for a prospective mother to think about emergencies and determine whether there will be enough assistance available at odd hours. In the later stages of pregnancy, ask your doctor how quickly she can get at your side once labor pains start, so you'll know how much time you have before they take over the delivery.

The bottom line

If you are searching for the best maternity hospitals in South Delhi, you may consider choosing Triton Hospital. Triton Hospital is one of the best maternity hospitals, and also has some of the best pediatric surgeons in Delhi.

[lethalchiralium]

Waiting Room | Happiness Series

a/n: yes, i’m posting twice in the same month! crazy lol (always thanking my lovely @as-is-above-so-below for editing)

warnings: mentions of kidnapping, medical stuff, injuries, simon spiraling

The ICU is bare at this time of night. There are no alarms for nurses to attend to, and the lights are dimmed. The doors shut, and meal trays were taken away hours ago. Triangle lights above the doors are filled in with red or green lights. The only sound in the corridor is of boots thumping against the floor.

Calloused hands gripped the nurse’s counter. Your name prattled quickly off his tongue with a question of where you were. A room named off, and he was already out of sight, running and escaping the nurse calling him to come back. When he reached your room, his hand didn’t tremble as it did the whole way to the hospital. He calmly and slowly pushed the door open.

All he saw was no bed, and John Price sitting on the couch below the window, hunched over and murmuring into the phone against his ear. He looked up and ended the call, standing quickly to walk towards him.

“Simon-”

“Where is she?”

“Still in surgery.”

“What the fuck happened?”

Price stiffened slightly, and the air between them suddenly stifled. Simon’s dry eyes stared him down, and Price could feel his failure crushing him. He promised to keep them safe and sound, yet here they were, barely thirty minutes into emergency surgery before your husband arrived.

“According to Laswell, she made them take Winnie to the park–her and Roach. She was home with Mel and König when they were ambushed.hey shot him, and took the girls.” He looked down at his phone, then pulled up the pictures of the damage to his front entrance–showing them to Simon. “…Your father took them to a cabin in the Lakes District witht he intention of selling her and Melody to traffickers, in a bid to exploit you for money.”

His heart began to race, hard, like a hammer against museum glass. Shattering it into his ribcage, the thumps of his lungs against his liver and spine like an out-of-control wave.

“She escaped with Melody, and uh… well.” Price swiped, and Simon was met with a caved-in face. But, he picked out the silvery scars on his father’s forehead from when he beat him himself, many years ago. “She beat the shit out of him.”

“Is he dead?”

“He is.”

Pride would be the word he was looking for, if not for how intense the injuries were to his father’s face. Your hands must be mush. “Good.”

“She was found in a valley. She tucked Melody in a dense fir tree; she has some scrapes and bruises, and was freezing to the touch, but we found her. She was calling for your wife.” Price slid the phone into his pocket, settling back on his heels. “Only reason we found them was because she was crying. She’s upstairs in the NICU; Laswell and Roach are there with Winnie, whenever you’re ready to see them.”

“Okay.”

Yet, he made no hurry to move from his spot, hovering in the center of the near-empty ICU room, the space left for your bed, the machines that would be attached to you, and the fear that would radiate off of you and permeate the silence like no other sound. Could he leave this spot to check on his children? Could he escape the betrayal he indirectly caused when he failed to protect you? Would he be able to pretend that he isn’t full of rage for his superiors, barring him from keeping his promise? But, should he be able to stay upset with Price, his closest friend, in finding and saving his wife and child?

Could, would, should. All words with no meaning without action.

Simon’s eyes met John’s, and a brief silence fell upon them.

“Go see the girls, Simon.”

There wasn’t even a moment of hesitation, “I can’t.”

John didn’t even breathe before speaking again, “Then stay. I will go sit with them.” He quickly ushered Simon into the chair he had occupied only moments before. Simon practically collapsed into it. His head in his hands, heart torn into shreds of silken fabric, drowning in a sea of despair. The thin plastic chair would do nothing to soothe his aching bones, his body a fresh arrival from London to base an hour ago. Never did he imagine he would have to rush home, in the midst of a panic attack over losing you the way he lost Grace, losing another unborn baby, and his infant. He didn’t dare pretend like he could hold this weight, the fear, the panic, the imagination of the sound of your screams.

There, in the white chair after thirty-six hours of being awake, he watched John leave him alone. And there, leaned over his knees, he let out whimpers that sounded much like the ones that escaped him as a child.

He didn’t wake again until he heard a collection of clicking. His arms tightened across his chest as he heard footsteps fade away. He rolled his head up before opening his eyes - all he saw was the hospital bed, and your figure covered by thick blankets, nodes pressed onto your forehead like thorns on a rose, a breathing tube taped to your chapped lips, and a level of calm on your face that he’d seen only a few times. The sound of the chair screeching across the floor, closer to the bed, closer to the iodine smell that permeated the room from you. His hand slipped under the warming blankets, lifting it to seek out your arm, gazing at the wrapping on your hand before he settled his own on the undamaged skin of your forearm. Covering you again, he silently thanked the nurse for keeping the bed rail tucked away. He leaned forward and settled his head against his arm - listening to the soft wheeze of the breathing machine.

His mind was void of words, but his tongue spoke from the root of his pain, just a gentle, “I failed you.”

In the dim light from above the bed, Simon’s thumb traced warm circles on your lukewarm skin, and he closed his eyes. He couldn’t remember before he left for the hospital, couldn’t remember the mission, only…emptiness. An overwhelming urge to vomit ichor into his lap as he sped through red lights. A softened part inside his stone-cold heart rotted, black like tar, gooey and burning every inch of his injured rib cage.

His lungs filling with warm breaths, fighting to ignore the iodine stench only found him asleep again, body hunched over as if to find some solace in protecting you now - when the void of his betrayal burned harsher than the dance of bourbon on his tongue.

Simon doesn’t greet your brother, and doesn’t dare move his temple from the blanket tucked beside his head, eyes glued to the TV in the dusty corner of the room. Below it hung a whiteboard detailing your name, age, gender, and nurses. Following that was a rotation with the times they would be by for checks, medication, replacing the cold blankets with warm ones, and moving you so bed sores don’t grow on your already fragile skin. The BBC show wasn’t anything interesting, not his favorite but something to do that wasn’t throwing up what little breakfast he had into the trash can.

He’d been visiting Mellie the morning before, brought in by Price after she was discharged. Her one-day hospital stay was officially over, and he had finally seen her - but guilt nestled in his esophagus as he pressed his nose into her scalp, her little body curled as far as it could into his chest. He would have been a better father to tend to her first, but the thought of losing you was more apocalyptic than he ever imagined. He couldn’t leave this room, could barely piss in the bathroom without the door open to keep an eye on you, and barely spoke to anyone who came in; whether it be a nurse or the task force, they were all given silence in exchange for their pleas for him to go home, take a shower, get a fresh set of clothes.

“You smell like shit, dude.”

Jake, your older brother, moved a chair beside Simon on his right, his hand gently patting your ankle as he sat. Your husband may have snapped at him if he wasn't absent from his mind. Simon was nestled in a deep corner of his consciousness, only pretending to be human for his friends and children as he rotted beside you.

He didn’t answer his brother-in-law, eyes flickering from character to character on the screen, as if that was a good-enough distraction from his painful thoughts.

“That Soap guy said you haven’t showered in four days. You smell like it, go take a shower.”

Simon huffed out a humorless chuckle. “Not leavin’ her.”

Jake paused for a moment, pensive for just a millisecond. “The bathroom is right there. Yes, she’s protected at all times with you here, but she’s safe when I���m here too. So go. I’m sure she wouldn’t want to smell your ass when she wakes up.”

“Fuck off, Jake.”

“You have to at least wipe down if I’m going to sit next to you. You reek.”

“Then don’t.”

“Not a chance, bud.”

A gentle but firm hand settled on Simon’s shoulder, and he barely reacted, only a rumble of disapproval from his throat. He wanted to wretch his shoulder backwards, get Jake’s hand off, scream at him, ask him what makes him think he’s right. Ask what made him think he truly knew the answer to Simon’s mistake, miscalculation, the broken promise that lay like glass at his feet. What makes him think that Simon could accept his help at all?

He would’ve fought his brother-in-law off if there was any point, but he had been sitting at your bedside for two days straight and you hadn’t woken up yet - even when they shined lights in your pupils, checked your wounded hand, adjusted nodes on your forehead, checked the back of your head. So Simon found himself standing, Jake’s hands ushering him to the bathroom, but he slammed his hand against the door when Jake tried to close it.

“Leave it open. Wanna see her.”

Jake didn’t make a sound, just gave an understanding nod. “Try to use the curtain. I’d like to avoid seeing your dick, and I’m sure the nurses would appreciate it.”

Simon doesn’t even remember keeping the curtain open, getting under the hot spray, and just… standing there. The water hit the crown of his head, spilling down and over his face, his chest, his stomach - his body ached from the lowest muscles in his calves to the tenderness nestled in the nape of his neck, yet he could feel nothing in between. No tremor of his lungs, no twitch in his bad knee, no rumble of his heartbeat. Even as the scalding water cascaded over his lips, eyes, and cheeks, he felt nothing. No prick in his eye to cry, as if he had already cried everything out and had nothing left to give.

There was nothing in this hospital room shower, just a shell of a man who wanted nothing more than to switch places with you.

“Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Mess with her hair.”

The wrapping around your head was changed this morning, leaving more of your hair visible, and Jake was combing it with the shitty brush he bought down at the gift shop. “She always had a thing for her hair to be untangled. It bothered her a lot as a kid.” He set the brush down by your side, his fingers quickly remembering the braiding motion as he continued to speak softly, “Learned how to braid on her dolls so I could braid her hair for her. She didn’t like Mom or Dad doing it, only me.”

Simon rested his head on his arm again, watching the morning news. “Looks like shit.”

“I’m out of practice. Like you could do any better.”

“I have two daughters. I can do better.”

Jake could only half chuckle, almost lifeless. For a few moments, the only sounds were the breathing machine, the rustle of your hair, and footsteps approaching the door. Simon raised his head, watching over you like a hawk as the door creaked open; his hackles relaxed instantly as Winnie bounded in, followed by Price, who held Mellie. Simon was quick to sit back, allow his child to climb into his lap, and bury her face in his neck - he cradled Winnie close, kissing her hair and reclining back.

Her hair was in a messy ponytail, curls unruly and Simon felt acidic bile creep up his throat when she started crying.

She couldn’t say a word; neither could he, when he truly needed to. He needed to comfort his daughters, tell them that everything would be okay, that the doctors are taking care of Mama. He should be taking accountability with his children for failing to uphold his promises, yet, he kept his lips pressed to his eldest’s hair. His hand rubbed light circles on her shoulder blade, his eyes flickering to his brother-in-law and then his brother-in-arms. His infant was curled identically into Price’s chest, her little fists grabbing at the worn Metallica shirt, curls finger-brushed, onesie covered by a thick coat. Simon’s eyes fell back to you, the braid settled against your shoulder as Jake moved to the side, gently rubbing your bicep for a moment.

“You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to take care of her hair,” Jake mumbled. Simon didn’t miss the tears that rimmed the man’s eyes.

Simon didn’t make a sound, listening to his daughter’s sniffling as Price spoke, “She’s been taking care of everyone but herself, and we will keep taking care of her.”

Winnie whimpered; Simon kissed her hair again, keeping her close for as long as she’d let him.

12:39 am. Simon could barely make the time out from across the room. The heel of his hand rubbed into his eye, and he flipped up his phone, squinting to see the date. Four days. Four days since you were rushed here, four days since he hasn’t left you alone. A sigh settled deep in his bones as he let his phone fall, his tingling hand gently rubbing your forearm before he leaned up, wiping his face. He flicked the crust from his eye away, turning to look at you before laying his head down again.

His eyes fluttered closed, his stomach churning just a little before he settled again. His chest weighed like a bell, his heart laying limp in the comfort of his cushioning lungs, his mind wandering, pondering whether he would ever see your eyes again-

He sat up instantly; your eyes were staring at him, wide, almost painful. The look made his stomach roar, his hackles raised, eyebrow furrowed, eyes full of tears and concern.

“Sweetheart, it’s me, it’s okay-”

An alarm blared from your heart monitor, and the call button you rapidly pressed with your less injured hand. Simon’s heart clenched as your tears mirrored his, and the sound of you choking on the breathing tube made his stomach acid toss like salad dressing. He stood, and you flinched; he knew what was happening. He scrambled away, found the switch for the blinding overhead light, and flipped it before he moved to you again. The flood of tears in his eyes made it hard to see you recognize him, but you did. You reached for him as the door burst open - making you jerk again, a whine-like cry escaping your throat.

You thought he was Lloyd.

Simon couldn’t blame you. He spent years breaking mirrors because he looked like his father, his abuser.

He stumbled back, his wrist to his nose as nurses flooded your bedside, his eyes never leaving you. The nurse closest to him helped remove the breathing tube while the other injected something into your IV, and the last furiously typed on the computer. Simon could only keep himself a few steps away, listening to the sound of your whimpers and watching your weak attempts to move away from the help. His nails met his teeth, the quick already bloodied as he had chewed them down two nights ago. The emptiness in his chest had surged as if it was a flood, knocking his respiratory system around like a ping-pong ball against his ribcage. He couldn’t breathe, his heart felt as if it was beating so fast that it would catch fire, the tears leaking into his mouth were like acid.

Of course, you would think he’s Lloyd, the man humorlessly chuckling in his clouded head. Simon looked so much like him that they could be considered brothers, not father and son.

A deep part of him knew this would happen. The one thing Simon fought the hardest to protect was an easy domino to fall, the most direct way to get Simon’s attention, hit him where it could and would hurt the most. He’s kneeling and bleeding, his heart pouring blood as he has to watch his wife cry out when a nurse even grazes her skin.

Simon would be lying if he said he could handle this.

He doesn’t get frustrated with you when you turn your face a little to the left when he brings the spoon to your lips. He put it back into the ceramic bowl as he softly sighed to himself. You’ve barely eaten all morning since they took out the breathing tube, visiting hours are almost starting and Jake would be here, asking a million questions that Simon would need to answer. If the best you could do was five half spoonfuls of broth, it would have to do. He pushed the rolling table away, moving the blankets farther up on your abdomen and tucking it close to your body. Your gaze felt like knives on him, he was barely strong enough to look at your face when the profound sense of guilt only seemed to take his words. He refused to be upset with you when your hand touched his, even though he felt like he needed to rip his skin off.

Your thumb brushed over his bruised knuckles as he kept his hand settled on your hip, staring at the minute gesture that meant so much before, but now… felt bitter. Simon would have thrown up again, recognizing the way your comfort now felt painful.

“You gotta eat more later.” He mumbled, hunched over your bed, wanting to rip his hand from yours but also needing it to stay there. “You need to sleep too, you have to be tired- Ow!”

He looked up at your face, ignoring the dark bruise on your throat, to see just a little smirk. You had pinched his hand, and he furrowed his brows, confused.

“Was that funny?”

A tiny movement like a nod, and he huffed out a flat laugh. His free hand raised a little, in your vision, before slowly moving to settle on your face. He hovered his thumb along the bruise on your cheekbone, his fingers cradled your jaw like porcelain. Your head only moved into him, eyes never moving from him. He wasn’t sure you’d ever be able to look at him like Simon again, after your reaction a couple hours ago. He wouldn’t blame you at all if you couldn’t. He wouldn’t blame you if you left him after this, take the girls and move far, far away from him and everything that came with him - enemies, lies, pain. He wasn’t even sure how safe you were now and that killed him, destroyed his sense of safety and replaced it with so much fear.

“Mel…ody.”

Simon snapped back into reality where your eyes were narrowed slightly staring at him, and he instantly answered. “She’s safe. Just some bruising, she’s home with Jake and Price and Soap.”

Relief washed over your face, your head settled back on the pillow as your gaze finally moved to the ceiling. It’s at times like this where he wished he struggled to know what you’re feeling, what you’re thinking. But, he could read you like an open book.

“You did good,” He spoke, your name escaping like the prayer he needed days ago, “Our baby is safe. Mellie’s okay.”

You pinched him again before you looked back at him, and he let his thumb lightly graze your bruise, you didn’t even flinch.

“New one’s okay too.”

A whine escaped your throat, tears instantly falling from your face as relief washed over it. He patted your hip.

“You did good, Mama. Did really fuckin’ good.”

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week

1. ‘It was an accident’: the scientists who have turned humid air into renewable power

Greetings, readers! Welcome to our weekly dose of positivity and good vibes. In this edition, I've gathered a collection of uplifting stories that will surely bring a smile to your face. From scientific breakthroughs to environmental initiatives and heartwarming achievements, I've got it all covered.

In May, a team at the University of Massachusetts Amherst published a paper declaring they had successfully generated a small but continuous electric current from humidity in the air. They’ve come a long way since then. The result is a thin grey disc measuring 4cm across.

One of these devices can generate a relatively modest 1.5 volts and 10 milliamps. However, 20,000 of them stacked, could generate 10 kilowatt hours of energy a day – roughly the consumption of an average UK household. Even more impressive: they plan to have a prototype ready for demonstration in 2024.

2. Empty Office Buildings Are Being Turned Into Vertical Farms

Empty office buildings are being repurposed into vertical farms, such as Area 2 Farms in Arlington, Virginia. With the decline in office usage due to the Covid-19 pandemic, municipalities are seeking ways to fill vacant spaces.

Vertical farming systems like Silo and AgriPlay's modular growth systems offer efficient and adaptable solutions for converting office buildings into agricultural spaces. These initiatives not only address food insecurity but also provide economic opportunities, green jobs, and fresh produce to local communities, transforming urban centers in the process.

3. Biden-Harris Administration to Provide 804,000 Borrowers with $39 Billion in Automatic Loan Forgiveness as a Result of Fixes to Income Driven Repayment Plans

The Department of Education in the United States has announced that over 804,000 borrowers will have $39 billion in Federal student loans automatically discharged. This is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to fix historical failures in the administration of the student loan program and ensure accurate counting of monthly payments towards loan forgiveness.

The Department aims to correct the system and provide borrowers with the forgiveness they deserve, leveling the playing field in higher education. This announcement adds to the Administration's efforts, which have already approved over $116.6 billion in student loan forgiveness for more than 3.4 million borrowers.

4. F.D.A. Approves First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill

The move could significantly expand access to contraception. The pill is expected to be available in early 2024.

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a birth control pill to be sold without a prescription for the first time in the United States, a milestone that could significantly expand access to contraception. The medication, called Opill, will become the most effective birth control method available over the counter

5. AIDS can be ended by 2030 with investments in prevention and treatment, UN says

It is possible to end AIDS by 2030 if countries demonstrate the political will to invest in prevention and treatment and adopt non-discriminatory laws, the United Nations said on Thursday.

In 2022, an estimated 39 million people around the world were living with HIV, according to UNAIDS, the United Nations AIDS program. HIV can progress to AIDS if left untreated.

6. Conjoined twins released from Texas Children’s Hospital after successfully separated in complex surgery

Conjoined twins are finally going home after the pair was safely separated during a complex surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital in June.

Ella Grace and Eliza Faith Fuller were in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for over four months after their birth on March 1. A large team of healthcare workers took six hours to complete the surgery on June 14. Seven surgeons, four anesthesiologists, four surgical nurses and two surgical technicians assisted with the procedure.

7. From villains to valued: Canadians show overwhelming support for wolves

Despite their record in popular culture, according to a recent survey, seven in 10 Canadians say they have a “very positive” view of the iconic predators. 

Here's a fascinating video about how wolves changed Yellowstone nat'l park:

----

That's it for this week :)

This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation:

Support this newsletter ❤️

Also don’t forget to reblog.

[sizzlingsandwichperfection-blog]

You may wonder what this whole Awesome Coffee Club thing is all about. Today I was reminded what it’s all about:

In 2019, the unpaid intern who runs this tumblr account visited Sierra Leone’s Kono District. Kono is the among the most impoverished communities in the world due to a long history of enslavement, colonialism, and civil war. A decade ago, Kono’s healthcare system was in a state of collapse--clinics had no running water or electricity or paid staff, and inconsistent supplies of medications and other necessities.

As a result, Kono was the epicenter of the global maternal mortality crisis: One out of every seventeen women could expect to die in childbirth. Over 10% of children died before the age of five. 

Beginning in 2014, Partners in Health began working with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health to bring change. This started with the basics at the region’s hospital, Koidu Government Hospital: running water, 24-hour electricity, and hiring nurses, community healthworkers, cooks, facilities management staff, and so much more. 

At the time, KGH’s maternity ward had a dirt floor. Many people were dying for want of an emergency C-section or a blood transfusion. By 2019, this was getting better--two functioning operating rooms were able to perform C-sections, and a blood bank could address postpartum hemorrhaging. But it was still inadequate, and maternal and child mortality were horrifyingly routine.

To address the crisis, PIH Sierra Leone directors Jon Lascher and Dr. Baillor Barrie wanted to build a world-class maternal and child health center that could save thousands of lives yearly while also serving as a teaching hospital to train the next generation of Sierra Leonean healthcare workers. They told us they needed $25,000,000 to break ground, and would probably eventually need another $25,000,000 to support the hospital’s operation over its first few years.

I am, as unpaid interns go, doing quite well, but not THAT well. So our family committed what we could and asked others to join us, and within two years, we passed that $25,000,000 goal. Together, we’ve now raised close to $40,000,000. 

Today, I visited the site of the Maternal Center of Excellence, the first wards of which will hopefully open next year. Nearly all of the construction team are from Kono, and 65% of them are women--they work as welders, engineers, planners, laborers, and so much more. You see three of them above. I had the privilege of talking with them about this project. The young woman to the right, Success, told me that her dream is to work for the hospital her whole life, helping to maintain and support it. One of the other women told me, “We are passionate about this work because it is the future of our country. And we know that we and our friends will someday give birth here.” I am so proud that our projects support their training and livelihood, and so grateful to have them as colleagues in this work.

The hospital--which will include over 100 maternal beds, a NICU, and enough operating suites to perform over 10 emergency C-sections per day, will also require ongoing funding for staff, stuff, systems, maintenance, and more. Our hope is that open-ended projects like the Awesome Coffee Club and Awesome Socks Club can help provide that funding, although the most efficient way to support this project is to donate directly! 

So that’s why this tumblr, and the awesome coffee club, exists. World-class maternal and infant healthcare is coming to Kono, a wonderful and  too long impoverished by colonialism and extractive capitalism. It is only a first step. There is so long to go. But what a first step.

[isissimss]

yesterday's pregnancy update | "I am not ready to share my birth story yet. But Both of my girls are really tiny! I was barely in my third trimester when a big kick caused my water to break. I was rushed to the hospital and the doctors had to act fast. Both babies were distressed, and I was rushed in for an epidural and then rushed back for a C-section. Both girls were born but were quickly taken to the NICU. We have a long road ahead of us. Thankfully, my birthing center allows us to stay as long as we want right now. Gianna is bigger, and Ellie is extremely small. We aren't sure what the next steps are, but we are taking it one day at a time.

today's update | Both babies have improved overnight. Last night was the hardest night of our lives, Gage's and mine. We sat in the room hoping for good news. It's so scary seeing our sweet girls wrapped in all those cords and fussing because they're uncomfortable and possibly just wanting me. I can't do anything! Gage was able to go to the NICU and bond with the girls for a little while this morning. Yesterday, we were unable to hold, touch, or feed our newborn girls. I keep asking the doctors for updates, but there hasn't been much change. We're unexpectedly being sent home today, and I'm dreading it. I just wish someone could pinch me and tell me that our girls are 9 lbs. and thriving. This isn't how I envisioned my first birth. I'm feeling frustrated and joyful all at once.

home | being home without my bump without my girls without everything I thought I would have feels empty also my postpartum body feels so different and I have to learn to deeply embrace it

[astoldbychae]

He's got the whole world in his hands 💙

"Little Bear, just know you are so loved." 🧸

As we get a little sneaky peaky into Carmelo's camera roll, you'll notice quite a bit has changed. Monet's no longer pregnant and there is a new bundle of joy in the Giordano-Hollingsworth family. 🥺

Due to unforeseen circumstances their plans of a baby shower and baby moon were cut short. . .

Monet spent several weeks in the hospital leading up to babygirl's arrival and of course her big cuddle bear was there with her every step of the way.

Alleia Marsai (Uh-Lay-Yuh • Mar-Sigh) Hollingsworth aka Leia Bear aka Little Bear was born prematurely (27 weeks) at Terra Amorosa County Medical Center in Tartosa.

Shortly after giving birth Monet had a few postpartum complications which prevented her from visiting babygirl in the NICU for the first couple of weeks. Those weeks months were stressful nonetheless but He managed to stay by both his girl's sides until it was time for him to bring his babies home. 🥺

Fast forward to present day...and they've been inseparable...

He's an Early Bird (morning sim) and Leia LOVES wake up time. While Monet gets a few extra minutes hours of sleep, Papa makes sure little bear is fed, clean, and happy before heading off to work (or the gym, if it's his off day). Daddy sings to her all the time, just like he used to when she was in her mama's belly. Although he's got a bit of a deep raspy voice, it's calming enough to relax you and put you to sleep.

If he's not singing, he's definitely playing R&B or Soul. Somehow he managed to get "Blue" to play on Leia's crib mobile...and she's finally started sleeping through the night. Such a spoiled little stinker!

📌 The real story of why there was no celebratory baby moments: In a non-theatric series of events there was no baby shower or baby moon because I sorta-kinda-maybe forgot that I unpaused her pregnancy while I was playing with Penny's household. Came back in my game and boop, Melo was holding a newborn baby. After punching the air for several minutes, I decided to age lil miss up and test out some infant CC (because this was a "back up save")...Long story short, I sorta-kinda-most definitely fell in love with little bear and couldn't turn back the hands of time. Especially after seeing Mel autonomously care for her. Like He's literally such a W Dad, for real. 🥺

And after all that...girl now this man has THIS whim and I-

😩 Mama better watch out! It's officially Spring in game...so we're prepping for Love Day AND Mother's Day...I hope sis is back on birth control.

[campgender]

from A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings (2024)

There was a new course at church recommended by Dr. John F. MacArthur, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and friend to Dr. Vines. Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo attended MacArthur’s church and wrote Preparation for Parenting and Growing Kids God’s Way. Signing up to attend the course seemed as natural and innocuous as registering at Toys “R” Us for a crib.

Anne Marie was a NICU nurse and her experience informed the medical advice. She wore a puritanical black dress with an oversized lace-trimmed collar. She giggled and deferred to Gary, and I struggled to imagine how she handled herself in a neonatal nursery. I recognized her Fascinating Womanhood hallmarks with mixed feelings. How could I take a woman who coos seriously?

The Ezzos started with sin. Infants are born with a sinful nature, one of the base elements of the depravity of man. While newborns don’t make cognitive decisions about moral rights and wrongs, they’re biologically affected by sin at birth. Left to their own with weak mothers, they’ll break the marriage and ruin the family.

I read the chapters carefully. As a nanny, I wasn’t worried about newborn care. But I feared sleepless nights. A tired Allan was an unhappy Allan. I needed to fix that before it happened.

The Ezzos said our happiness came down to how I fed the baby. The secular world encouraged feeding a baby “on demand” with attachment parenting.

“Mothers are told to endlessly carry their babies, sleep with them, breastfeed them day and night without any regard to routine. They exalt the child as the center of the family universe.” The Ezzos said husbands had to watch out for this evil.

Parent-directed feeding was his solution. Feed the baby when they wake up, interact a little, and then lay it down for a nap. This predictable pattern was neither a schedule nor chaos, and it stabilized the hunger/sleep cycles for proper infant management—essential for keeping the peace.

I studied and highlighted the pages. If I got it wrong this time, I wouldn’t be the only one who paid for it now.

excerpt 2:

Gary Ezzo was fired from Grace Community Church and he and Anne Marie were dropped by their publisher after babies parented with their program suffered malnutrition and failure to thrive.

[riverofjazzsims]

RAMSES ABEBE for @yooniesim AMARI'S LOVE SHOT; A BACHELORETTE CHALLENGE

QUICK STATS 

RAMSES ABEBE

BORN IN CIARO EGYPT

42

6'1

STRAIGHT

WIDOWED 

OCCUPATION: NICU FLIGHT NURSE 

TRAITS: ANIMAL ENTHUSIAST * DARK EMOTIONS*LOGICAL*FAMILY ORIENTED * HEALTH NUT 

Ramses was adopted from Egypt when he was 3 by a couple there doing mission work  and was brought back to the states, He unfortunately was placed into foster care when  the adoptive parents were blessed with triplets 1 - 1/2  years later.  Ramses spent his childhood in and out of foster care/ group homes until he aged out of the system at 18. Although incredibly bright, as a youth,  he got into trouble dealing with some of the street thugs in San Myshuno. (still has a few scars to show for it ) 

His saving grace was Mrs. Carter a retired social worker  who ran a youth program at the local Community Center. She  took him under her wings and it was with her influence, time and love Ramses went on to get his GED and attended Britechester  where his focus was Biology and later got a Bachelors degree in Nursing. 

Britechester is where he met his first love and thought finally his life was smooth sailing. They both became nurses, she was a Labor & delivery Nurse and He worked in the ICU in the Bay area. They were married for 5 years when his wife beat the odds and became pregnant but due to complications and becoming eclamptic she went into early labor and died from an amniotic embolism right after her emergency c-section. Their daughter, Seraphina,  subsequently suffered from seizures leading to a lot of health issues. Seraphina lived to be 4 but passed away from complications  after having a grand mal seizure. 

Ramses moved back to San My and started working in the NICU, passionate and wanting to advocate for the smallest and  most vulnerable patient populations. In the last few years he started  taking assignments as a travel Flight Nurse and has been working all over Simerica ever since. About 1 year ago Ramses  wife and daughter visited him in a dream telling him to let them go and live, that he is worthy of love and deserves a chance  again at happiness. 

Though he  has dated off and on, there has been nothing serious and  he wants to open his heart  up and find love again and to belong in a family again.

In between travel assignments he has a small brownstone in San My (he owns the connecting brownstones but his neighbors don't know.. shh)  that he lives in along with his traveling partner and companion Kota, the dog.  

Fun Facts

Loves working on older/vintage cars

volunteers at the SanMy animal shelter when in town 

Motivational Speaker at grade and highschools for at risk youth

loves spicy food but it doesn't love him

Secretly loves Murder mystery podcast or Mukbangs

Has no rhythm but loves to dance - badly!!

 Ramses Likes / Dislikes (have been selected in game) 

**PRIVATE DOWNLOAD**

Kota is curtesy of @pugownedplaysthesims-blog aka pugowned on the gallery

[motherhoodhospital]

Things to know about Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a specially designed medical facility where intensive nursing care and close monitoring are provided to children. At most of the finest hospitals, the doctors provide pre & post-operative care for the kids in the best pediatric intensive care unit in Ahmedabad. Read more to get a better understanding of PICU.

[mysteryofvampires]

Headcanons about Hotn characters:

Part (2/?)

Inger af Dracas:

1. She's a lesbian and I don't take any critism on this

2. She loves flowers and making flower crowns since she can remember

3. Her favourite smell is a mix of wildflowers, rain and soil (Ivy smells like this and it drives her crazy)

4. She's afraid of snakes

5. She only feels 100% safe when Ivy is near her

6. She becomes good friends with Nicu after the events of the series, because both of them often feel like they aren't as strong and brave as the others

7. She doesn't like to be the center of attention and is happy when she can hide behind Fanny

8. But around the other girls (Ivy, Alisa, Joanne, Fanny) she comes out of her shell and is the funniest person you could imagine

Fanny af Dracas:

1. She's really confident about herself and loves to see human and vampire boys desire her

2. She becomes good friends with Alisa after the events of the show and they become the most badass duo the vampire world has ever seen (literally nobody dares to mess with them)

3. She loves giving advice (hairstyles, dressed, jewelery...) to the other girls

4. She's a huge fan of murder misteries and always thinks that if she would be the murderer she would get away with it and how dumb the criminals in these books are (she totally would get away with it!!)

5. Even though she likes beeing admired for her looks, she wants someone who sees the strong, smart and loyal girl behind the fasade

6. Loyal as fuck and tries to support Lars as the young leader as much as she can

7. She's really good at fighting and loves to have non serious battles with Malcolm and Seamour

Malcolm of Vyrad:

1. He's an amazing dancer!

2. He writes so much poetry one of his bookshelves only contains notebooks full of his poems

3. He likes the smell of coffee

4. Even though the Vyrad and him take their british heritage very seriously he totally hates tea (he drinks it anyway to make his father proud)

5. His mother is alive and he takes a walk through London with her every sunday

6. He always wanted to live at the coast and travel the world

7. He's fascinated by werewolves (as a child he sneaked out at full moon, hoping he would meet one)

8. He speaks latin and ancient greek and after her begging him for a long time he agreed to teach Alisa (now they practice every Friday at midnight)

[brandwhorestarscream]

tfa bulkhead x tfa prowl

Ohhh Bulkhead is over the moon when he finds out! He's been feeling sick lately, struggling with energon intake and being really lethargic and sore. He finally caves and goes to Ratchet and a single scan later reveals the shocking truth: a tiny little spark nestled close to his. Now, Bulkhead comes from waaay out in the commonwealth. He knows what sparklings are. He's seen old pictures but never actually met one himself.

And he is so excited. Runs out of the medbay--with Ratchet yelling behind him to, "Be careful, slag it! Don't overexert yourself!"--to find Prowl and tell him the good news. Dents his much smaller partner considerably with one of his huge full body best hugs: Prowl's pedes are dangling above the floor and he's being swung back and forth as Bulkhead eagerly tells him they're going to have a sparkling. A real sparkling, can he believe it?! There's a tiny baby bot growing inside him! He's all sunshine and rainbows and walking on cloud nine, he's so excited to be a carrier!

Prowl is really shocked cuz he didn't think such a thing was possible, but ultimately he's happy. He does everything he can to be supportive and help Bulkhead be comfortable, quietly going to Ratchet to discuss all the necessary action he should take as a sire. They're light years away from an actual hospital, and while he has complete faith in Ratchet's skills, a lot of things could go wrong. If the sparkling comes early and needs a NICU, if Bulkhead develops any kind of complication or deficiency, etc, etc. They even consider returning to Cybertron, just in case, but ultimately decide against it. Hospitals there aren't trained to care for newborns anyway, and Bulkhead really, really wants his newspark to experience the joys of earth.

He makes an entire nursery for the bitty, with plenty of help from Bumblebee and Sari, painting the walls with pastel cybertronian myths and star systems, making a mobile and cradle and little toys for them. Prowl pots several flowering plants to bring color and fresh air to the room, never mind the fact that they don't need oxygen 🤭 Ratchet's got some old parenting prep programs on his drives that he's glad to hand over, and Bulkhead watches them religiously.

He also gets hooked on cute human baby compilation videos, especially of them laughing and meeting family members for the first time. He can't wait to do all these things with his bitty! He can't wait to hear them laugh for the first time, can't wait for their first steps, can't wait for every single wonderful experience they're going to have and that he gets to witness. He's so in love with the little spark growing inside him, always holding both servos over his chassis and humming to them. He talks to them every night, telling them about all the great things he can't wait to show them. Prowl talks to them too, carefully draped over his belly and murmuring how proud and excited he is. He adores observing the cycles of life on earth, and now he's taking part in creating life from scratch? It's the greatest honor he's ever been given.

The bitty is born on a cold, frosty day in winter, when the skies are gray and the snow is falling in big cotton flakes outside. It's an uncomplicated emergence, thankfully, though Bulkhead spends several painful hours in labor pacing around the delivery room. Prowl is an absolute champion of a supporting sire, fetching warm towels and glasses of coolant left right and center, immediately there with hands to hold or with soothing words. Even Ratchet is impressed, most first time sires are a mess. Internally Prowl is a nervous wreck but he's doing everything in his power to be calm and supportive, and Bulkhead really appreciates it.

After nearly 9 hours, their precious little baby is born. An incredibly round, black-as-night little marshmallow, with their carrier's alt mode and a pair of sleepy blue optics peeking out of the void. Like one of those all-black kittens that just disappear on a dark rug. That's their bitty. Just the roundest softest little shadow. Bulkhead is sobbing, tears of joy streaming down his face when he holds them for the first time. He's never felt such an intense, choking sensation of love before, he didn't know it was possible to love something this much. It's pure euphoria and he feels like he's floating, spark singing in his chassis when he takes them in his arms and gets to look at them for the first time. He kisses their helm a dozen times, blubbering incoherently and welcoming them to the world. They're perfect, so, so perfect, and he's the happiest he's ever been. Prowl comes up beside the bed and his knees wobble before nearly giving out: it hits him all at once that he's a dad now and he almost collapses. He was composed throughout the entire birth but now that they're here? He's losing his cool. His mouth is hanging open and his optics are shining so bright you can see them behind his visor; he leans down to wrap shaking arms around both of them. The baby peeps in surprise and peers up at him in wonder, and he smiles so widely his face nearly breaks.

He greats them in a mystified, trembling voice, saying hello, hi there, I'm your sire, welcome to earth-

He has no idea what he's saying, he's running completely on autopilot, but one thing's for sure: this is the happiest he's ever been in a long, long time.

[incoramsanctissimo]

Starting to think that third trimesters just draw disasters. My first ended up being born THE VERY DAY our lease ended, and since she was in the NICU for five weeks and we were moving almost two hours away, we were somewhat homeless for the duration (thank God for the Ronald McDonald House—if you want to donate to a good charity, that is one.) Also my husband wasn't getting pto and was making $16 an hour.

My second was much less dramatic, but my mom refused to come out and my mother-in-law had a knee injury and had to have surgery, so I was left with just an easily-overwhelmed younger sister as help. Also I didn't know enough about advocating for myself and the actual birth was kinda traumatic.

My third returned to drama—I was expecting 2 weeks pto for my husband, I had everything beautifully planned, and he got laid off three weeks before the birth. The same week, I got risked out of my birth center, our bathroom subfloor flooded, and I lost my wedding ring, permanently. My husband wasn't able to find a new job until the week I gave birth and had to start three days after. Covering that month's expenses was truly providential.

I'm 32 weeks with the fourth and both our cars broke down. We're trying to get them fixed, but it's always a process and will take the extra we had saved for the baby (no pto again!). I'm teaching an online class in a week that I haven't finished preparing at all (put it off too long, prenatal mental health made it hard and I wasn't disciplined) and I have appointments twice a week that I will not be able to get to at least for this week, while once again having to change providers and be induced because I'm just doomed to ""high risk"" apparently. And my dumb brother in law is still coming in a couple weeks. I get a lil bitter when I see Instagram posts about how important it is to prepare for postpartum and limit stress in the third trimester, when I'm stretched to the max in mine due to circumstances beyond my control

[sizzlingsandwichperfection-blog]

greetings awesome coffee club, and welcome (back)! How do you suggest someone who can’t have caffeine support your mission?

Why buy coffee when you could buy nothing and directly support a stronger healthcare system in Sierra Leone?

Although the healthcare system in SL has improved a lot in the last decade, there are still many primary healthcare centers that lack consistent electricity and running water. Giving birth remains a life threatening emergency for many people--around 5% of Sierra Leonean women can expect to die due to pregnancy or childbirth, a staggering injustice that is the result of long-term structural injustices including colonialism, enslavement, and racism.

Until recently, there was only one psychiatrist in the entire country, and only one cardiologist. It was impossible for Sierra Leonean doctors and nurses to pursue most specialties within the country. But that's starting to change.

The Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital under the leadership of Dr. Abdul Jalloh has recently been accredited as a teaching hospital, so now nurses and physicians can specialize in mental health within Sierra Leone. And an expansion of Koidu Government Hospital will soon mean the hospital has a NICU, a blood bank, 24-hour electricity, over 100 maternity beds, and operating rooms. This maternity center will also serve as a teaching hospital so that midwives, traditional birth attendants, nurses, community healthworkers, and physicians can all train in eastern Sierra Leone without having to leave the country or travel to the capital of Freetown.

Long-term, systemic problems demand long-term, systemic solutions. In our experience, the most important way this happens is not through donations but through political activism--those of us who live in rich countries can pressure our governments to spend more to address the global crises of needless maternal and child mortality. Like, our community has raised around $35,000,000 to strengthen Sierra Leone's healthcare system, which is a lot of money, but also it amounts to about what the U.S. government spends on its military every four hours.

That noted, we think direct support from individuals and institutions also has a role to play, which is why we started the awesome coffee company. But if you don't drink coffee and do have a few extra dollars (or more!), you can join over 4,000 monthly donors to this project here.

[omegaverse-seeker]

Headcanon for parents w sick pups. They end up in the NICU when they are born? Please and thank you

Ooooh, this is interesting.

So just for a quick background on where my headcanons are coming from, I'll explain my thoughts on Omegas having pups. I often have it that Omegas give birth at home and have a minimal amount of healthcare workers in their birthing room. Also if they give birth in the hospital, their rooms are much like what they would look like at a birthing center. Again, they have a minimal amount of healthcare workers. In my AU, essentially, scent and skin-to-skin are very important for pups and parents. So if there are fewer people/a neutral environment then there are fewer scents.

On to headcanons for NICU babies:

The NICU isn't a big room where a buncha of pups are. There are small rooms big enough for individual families. They do vary in size depending on how many pups are unfortunately sick.

Say if there was a litter of three pups, and two are sick/aren't doing good in comparison to their siblings, the healthy pup would be in their own bed but still with their littermates. They need the closeness of their siblings no matter what. It also actually helps them get better quicker.

Pups need their parent's scent just as much as they would need their siblings. So visiting hours are very open and they are only allowed for parents.

Parents could stay in their baby's room if they want. Most often times they stress that they should stay in their room.

Another possibility is that if this is right after birth, the pups wouldn't even leave the room unless they need surgery. Essentially, the pups never leave their birthing parent's side.

There would be only like one or two healthcare workers that are assigned to the pups. This helps reduce scent confusion which is detrimental to severely sick pups and newborns.

I feel like security would be heavy here. Parents are very protective over their pups and I feel like they could/would get in a healthcare worker's face if they told them something that bothers them. Or maybe get upset if they approach their pup's room to quickly.

If there are older pups, they would able to come to see their siblings after some time. Even though their scents would be familial, it could still be pretty jarring so they have to be conscientious of the pup's health timeline.

This is all I have. I feel like in general if a pup gets sick a parent just gets worried. I do think that work/school would be way more understanding and let the parent take time off to care for the babe.