Welcome to NeoBrainParents.org

Are you the parents of a baby treated with hypothermia or cooling after birth?

After discussing this experience with many parents, we (the medical team) realized that you might have lots of important questions and want more information. Unfortunately, we may not be able to answer all your questions right now, since we need to continue to evaluate your baby’s progresses over time to know more. However, we still want to help. We would like to let you know what to expect over the few next days and to direct you to some useful information that you can read over the next days/weeks/months about what you (as the parents) should know and can do to help your baby.

This is why we have created this website to provide you with useful information.

Following is a story from parents after their baby was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for hypothermia treatment:

“This was the most devastating moment ever; having little or no information made the situation even worse and more terrifying.

Before the ambulance departed from the hospital were the baby was born to go to the NICU, I had requested to join my baby in the ambulance, but the ambulance driver said that it was better for me to drive to the hospital separately, and I was provided with the NICU address.

I was really frightened, scared, and completely in a state of panic when I arrived at the NICU.

I had hundreds of questions in my mind, the first ones being: Is my daughter here? Is she all right? Is she going to be okay? Is anyone with her right now? Can I see her right now? Can I speak to the doctor in charge of her?

That morning, I was introduced to the doctor in charge of the NICU who was taking care of my baby.

Immediately after seeing my baby hooked up to several machines, I became even more concerned, more overwhelmed, and I could not wait to start asking more questions.

The doctor explained to me what they had done so far and what they intended to do next. I felt so relieved listening to the doctor’s account of the situation. She explained that the baby arrived on time and was immediately transferred to NICU. She gave me hope when she explained what the “cooling was,” when it was introduced, and how it can help.

Although I was speaking to an experienced and professional doctor, I was still concerned about the baby getting hypothermia. As much as the doctor reassured me that they were doing everything possible to prevent further brain damage, I wanted to know more. I was desperately in need of a computer with internet access to research what I had learned so far about birth asphyxia. I wanted to know if there would there be any expected short- or long-term impact on my child’s lifestyle. What should we expect? Is there a way to help her through other therapies? Will she be able to function well in society like every other child? Has any other child gone through this procedure before? What was their outcome? How are they doing today?

The entire team did an amazing job. We were more relieved after the baby was transferred to a regular ward for recovery.

Today, our baby is 4.5 months, growing up just like any other child.”

– Jasmine’s Mom and Dad