University Presentation Showcase: Undergraduate Division
Cuddling and the Born-Addicted Infant: Implementation of volunteer-based cuddling programs for babies experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Presenter Hometown
Lawrenceburg, KY
Major
Biomedical Sciences
Department
Biological Sciences
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Dr. Teri Nowak
Mentor Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Thompson, Alexis L., "Cuddling and the Born-Addicted Infant: Implementation of volunteer-based cuddling programs for babies experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit" (2020). University Presentation Showcase Event. 19.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2020/undergraduate/19
Abstract
A system must be developed so that the process of recovery is shortened for substance-exposed babies. Born-addicted infants need to receive human contact and the way to ensure that adequate contact be provided is through a volunteer-based cuddling program. This project consists of literature reviews concerning former/current treatments for born-addicted infants, surveys of several U.S. NICUs to determine the treatment methods that are being applied, and the development of a unique volunteer-based cuddling program implementation plan for NICUs, without cuddling programs, to adopt and practice. In most cases, one or two individuals make news stories of lending a helping hand every so often, but in a country that is only continuing to be overtaken by prenatal, and general, drug use, volunteer baby cuddlers need to be readily accessible in hospitals that contain a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Presentation format
Poster
Cuddling and the Born-Addicted Infant: Implementation of volunteer-based cuddling programs for babies experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
A system must be developed so that the process of recovery is shortened for substance-exposed babies. Born-addicted infants need to receive human contact and the way to ensure that adequate contact be provided is through a volunteer-based cuddling program. This project consists of literature reviews concerning former/current treatments for born-addicted infants, surveys of several U.S. NICUs to determine the treatment methods that are being applied, and the development of a unique volunteer-based cuddling program implementation plan for NICUs, without cuddling programs, to adopt and practice. In most cases, one or two individuals make news stories of lending a helping hand every so often, but in a country that is only continuing to be overtaken by prenatal, and general, drug use, volunteer baby cuddlers need to be readily accessible in hospitals that contain a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
