Visit of siblings at CAISM/UNICAMP neonatology unit a humanized care proposal for family

Abstract

A baby's arrival is frequently lived with pronounced intensity in the family, generating a mix of feelings and expectations. Given a high-risk birth, in which the baby needs intensive neonatal care, there is a sudden change on the family routine, with difficult preparation and understanding of the baby's siblings. The program on the visit of siblings to the neonatal unit aims to create a space enabling the feeling expression and a moment of closer contact and approximation of family relations. Therefore, this work&";s purpose is to present the experience being developed at CAISM/UNICAMP neonatology unit. The visit of siblings occur in a weekly basis, on Friday afternoons, in three distinct moments; 1) assessment and attention of siblings by the psychology, previous to their entrance at the unit, with the use of playful materials, such as drawings, paintings, stories and awareness on the hospital environment through photos; 2) assessment carried out by nursing, with questionnaire oriented to parentes on the siblings&"; health condition; 3) return to the psychology unit, for closing and assessment on the experience lived by the child or teenager. From the experience at the unit, it is perceived that the baby&";s admission period is also a critical moment for siblings, and the visits help to provide a doubt clearing space and feeling expression, in a way that anxieties and possible fantasies be mitigated and prepared, in addition to contribute to the construction and strengthenig of affective bonds and family interactions. The visit of siblings to the unit is essential to reduce anxieties and fantasies, both for children and parents, enabling and strengthening the affective bonds.