NovPod - Season 2, Episode 13: The Support Project: Communication during Neonatal Resuscitation
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of neonatal resuscitation, which some listeners may find sensitive or distressing.
In Episode 13 and the season 2 finale, Eoin and Duncan welcome Dr. Esther Godfrey, co-founder of the SuPPORT project, to share her personal experience of neonatal resuscitation with her own daughter Juno, along with the project's origins.
Together, they explore the role of effective communication with patients during neonatal resuscitation and how to compassionately provide support in such critical moments.
References
- European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2015: Section 7. Resuscitation and support of transition of babies at birth
- Understanding psychological traumatic birth experiences: A literature review
- The SuPPORT Project (Website) - Supporting Parents and Professionals through neOnatal Resuscitation in Theatre
- SuPPORT Project abstract - International journal of obstetric anaesthesia
- Quick Reference Handbook for Obstetric Emergencies - Page 9 - Debrief
- RCOA Wellbeing Hub
- BMA Wellbeing Support
Eoin graduated from UCL in 2014 and after completing foundation training in London, one particularly challenging night shift made him realise the impact that he could have on patients by pursuing a career in anaesthetics and critical care. Following this new found ambition, he began ACCS anaesthetics training in Birmingham before starting his registrar training in Thames Valley in 2021. After completing a year as Chief Registrar at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, he is now in his ST6 year at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
Twitter: @DoreEoin
Duncan graduated from UCL in 2014. He started his anaesthetic training in North-West London and is currently an anaesthetic registrar in North Central London.
Throughout his career, Duncan has always taken a keen interest in teaching and training at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, gaining a qualification in medical education in the process.
Dr Esther Godfrey is a Specialty Registrar in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine within Wales. Mum to three children, Esther’s eldest daughter Juno passed away at 2 days old on the neonatal intensive care unit in 2017 after her labour was complicated by maternal and foetal septicaemia.
She is a co-founder of The SuPPORT Project (Supporting Parents and Professionals during Neonatal Resuscitation in Obstetric Theatres), a qualitative research project which hopes to inform national guidance and training into the future.
Esther draws on her unique position as an anaesthetist with professional obstetric experience and as mum with personal experience of neonatal resuscitation within obstetric theatres. She speaks to healthcare workers about her own personal experience and how to deliver high quality and effective communication with families within obstetric theatres when a baby is born poorly.
Her other passions include sustainability, high quality end of life care within ICU and using collaboration to maximise project scale and impact.