UIC nurse’s research helps moms bond with preemies

Above: Rosemary White-Traut, a University of Illinois at Chicago nurse, noticed that premature babies often missed out on needed human interaction because their mothers were afraid to disturb their tiny and fragile newborns. | Provided photo

It was years ago that Rosemary White-Traut, a University of Illinois at Chicago nurse, first noticed the mothers of premature babies who, afraid to disturb their tiny and fragile newborns to feed them, would just watch them sleep in their incubator.

But by letting them sleep, the also were letting the babies — born early and without the strength of a normal newborn — miss out on needed human interaction and feedings.

Getting the mothers to overcome worries about their premature babies and learn how to give them the care they need became the focus of White-Traut’s research.

Read more.