Supporting Parents of a Newborn Baby

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/supporting-parents-newborn-baby

Introduction

### Course Review: Supporting Parents of a Newborn Baby on Coursera **Introduction** The arrival of a newborn is a momentous occasion filled with joy, anticipation, and sometimes overwhelming challenges for new parents. To navigate this journey, Coursera offers an insightful course titled **“Supporting Parents of a Newborn Baby.”** This course provides essential knowledge and skills for professionals and caregivers who wish to better support parents as they adjust to life with a newborn. **Course Overview** The **Supporting Parents of a Newborn Baby** course is designed to equip learners with a comprehensive understanding of the developmental, emotional, and practical aspects of newborn care and support. Covering critical topics such as post-partum depression, the importance of early bonding, and practical skills for newborn assessment, this course takes a holistic approach in addressing the needs of new families. ### Syllabus Breakdown #### Module 1: Post-Partum Depression The course begins with an examination of post-partum mental health concerns, which can significantly affect both mothers and fathers after the birth of a child. This module offers insights into the spectrum of mood disturbances, ranging from the common “baby blues” to serious pregnancy-related depression and anxiety. It also provides preventive strategies and effective intervention techniques that can be employed by caregivers and health professionals to support new parents facing such challenges. #### Module 2: Care Providing, Family Support, and Fatherhood Understanding the varied dynamics within families is vital, and this module delves into the unique challenges faced by same-sex couples parenting a newborn. Emphasizing the importance of mutual support, it also addresses how healthcare providers can best assist these families, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all parenting configurations. #### Module 3: Early Bonding, Relationship Bonding, and Kangarooing The significance of early relationships cannot be overstated. This engaging module discusses the critical nature of bonding and attachment in a newborn's early days. It dives into the implications of adverse experiences on brain development and the well-being of infants and young children. Practical strategies for enhancing caregiver relationships through methods such as kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) are also highlighted, making this module both informative and applicable. #### Module 4: Final Skills Video: Newborn Assessment In the concluding module, learners will have the opportunity to observe a practical demonstration of newborn assessment through a skills video. Experienced nurse Anne Behring guides viewers through the essential techniques for measuring weight, length, and head circumference of newborns, crucial indicators of their health. The module also reinforces the importance of understanding gestational age for accurate assessments and includes a demonstration of the Ballard Exam. ### Why You Should Take This Course - **Comprehensive Knowledge**: The course covers essential aspects of newborn care, ensuring that learners walk away with a holistic understanding of the physical and emotional needs of both infants and their parents. - **Real-World Application**: The course content is designed to be applicable in various caregiving settings, empowering learners to implement best practices in their roles. - **Expert Instruction**: With experienced professionals leading these modules, you can trust that the information is both credible and rooted in current best practices in neonatal care. - **Inclusivity**: It recognizes the spectrum of family structures, enhancing understanding and support strategies that cater to diverse parenting scenarios. ### Conclusion Overall, **“Supporting Parents of a Newborn Baby”** is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the care or support of new families. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a caregiver, or even a parent looking to deepen your understanding, this course will provide you with practical skills and vital knowledge. By taking this course, you will be better equipped to support not just the newborn, but also the entire family as they embark on this beautiful journey of parenthood. I highly recommend enrolling in this course on Coursera. It not only amplifies your understanding but also enhances your capability to make a positive difference in the lives of new parents and their babies. With the right knowledge and support, every transition to parenthood can be a little smoother.

Syllabus

POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION

In this module we will learn about maternal and paternal mood concerns that can occur after the birth of a baby. The module will review a continuum of concerns ranging from very typical mood disruptions in the first few weeks after birth, called baby blues, to more serious issues such as pregnancy-related depression and anxiety. The learner will receive an introduction into preventative techniques new parents can use to protect their mood as well as common interventions that can be effective in treating pregnancy-related mood concerns.

In this module, we will learn unique challenges same-sex coupled partners face in parenting a newborn and the ways they support each other. We will also learn some ways that providers can support same-sex parents.

This module presents critical information about establishing relationships with newborns. This module will teach you about the significance of early relationships on lifelong health and development. We will learn about bonding and attachment and the impact of adverse experiences and environments on brain development and newborn and young child well-being. We will also identify what parents and caregivers can do to enhance relationships and support newborn well-being, including kangarooing or skin-to-skin care.

In this final module, we observe and participate in a Skills Video which demonstrates an actual in-hospital examination of our guest star newborn. The first portion features Anne Behring weighing and measuring the newborn baby. Growth parameters, the measurements of babies weight, length and head circumference, are important indicators of their well-being. In this module, Anne Behring, a nurse with decades of experience in the care of newborns will demonstrate the techniques necessary for accurate measurement. In order to evaluate if the measurements are appropriate for the newborn, one must be certain about the gestational age. Ms. Behring will also demonstrate the Ballard Exam for assessment of gestational age.