If you are reading this then you are already taking part in COCOON education. Keep reading to learn more about caring for yourself and your baby!
Internet or app education
All of the content on this webpage (www.rch.org.au/cocoon) and the Butterfly Ward Guide on the My RCH app (available for android and apple devices) is designed to provide all families with resources to support and teach them while their babies are staying in Butterfly Ward.
Bedside teaching
As well as the online and in-app resources, you will also receive teaching at the bedside from your baby’s bedside nurse, COCOON care coordinator (CCC) and many other members of our team, such as the Pharmacist, Dietician, Physio/Occupational/Music and Speech & Language therapists.
Group education sessions
The COCOON Parent Program is a group education session for families on the ward. It runs almost every weekday from 1-1:30pm in the open area outside the butterfly entrance. Sessions cover topics including postnatal care, feeding, resuscitation, preparing for discharge and lots of other useful things. These sessions are run by the CCC and other allied health professionals such as the midwife, occupational therapist, speech therapist, pharmacist, physiotherapist, infant mental health team etc. Its also a great opportunity for you to ask these specialist any questions you may have and meet other families going through a similar experience.
The COCOON Huddle
The Huddle is a special 30-minute session that is offered to families whose babies have to stay in Butterfly for more than a few weeks. It is usually held on a Tuesday or Friday at times that suit families. It is led by our CCC, who will be joined by other team members with a special interest in teaching you about your baby’s development and ways to interact with them that are appropriate for them at that time. Our CCC will invite you to participate in a Huddle once you have settled into Butterfly.
There is a separate Infant Mental Health Team Ward Round that occurs around lunchtime on Thursdays which focuses on supporting parent-infant attachment and engagement. If you would like to participate in this, please ask your baby’s bedside nurse to make a referral to the IMH Team.