1. Why is there a need for a Congenital Heart Assessment Tool (CHAT)?
This section will explain why there is a need to assess your baby.
The following questions will be answered:
- Why is this tool called CHAT?
- I know I need to assess my baby. But why?
- Can my family and friends use the CHAT?
Why is this tool called CHAT?
CHAT is short way of saying Congenital Heart Assessment Tool.
Using the word CHAT is a reminder of how this tool allows you to have a useful conversation (a chat) with healthcare professionals. It is important for you to be able to do this whenever you have any concerns or decide your baby needs emergency help.
The design of the CHAT will:
- Give you the knowledge you need to have a useful conversation.
- Help you to communicate confidently.
The word CHAT will be used throughout this learning package.
I know I need to assess my baby. But why?
Parents have told us that caring for a new born baby at home can be a time of anxiety. But as they get to know more about their baby, they start to feel less worried. This is a normal feeling for all parents.
Babies who have a complex heart condition and need surgery following birth will be fragile (delicate). Parents often worry about going home and when they first get home. This is natural for these parents. During the time after first stage of complex heart surgery they have extra things to understand, think about and do.
Parents have said that it is important for them to have the right knowledge so they can understand how to give their baby the best care they can. They want to feel confident and in control.
The period between the first and second stage of surgery is an important time. Many things will be happening after first stage of surgery and medical treatment.
After surgery, your baby’s body will:
- Continue to recover from the surgery.
- Be getting used to the improvements made to the heart, lungs and blood flow around the body.
- Be going through a rapid growth and development stage in the first months after birth. This is natural for all babies.
You will have are many things to do. For example:
- Medication to give.
- Making sure your baby feeds well.
- Encouraging the development of your baby.
- Building a loving and nurturing bond.
And of course, looking forward to the smiles and joy that come with this.
You will need to regularly check your baby’s health and well-being. This is important so that you can:
- Be confident that your baby is doing well.
- Identify any changes to your baby’s health and well-being.
- Decide if something has changed.
- Take action to keep your baby safe.
This assessment tool has been developed to give you the knowledge, understanding and confidence to look after your baby after leaving hospital.
Other parents have been using the CHAT. They have found it has helped them look after their baby safely. This is what some of them have said:
“It has given us the main tools to survive with; if something happens I’ll know what I need to do”
“If we didn’t have it we’d have to be making our own judgement, it could probably not be the right one”
“It’s pretty straightforward with what signs you’ve got to look for and you know what to do if you see the signs so, yeah, it’s pretty helpful”
“… but now it’s made us more confident because we’ve had that chart to start off with and to reassure us if we were doing the right thing or not“
It is hoped that you will make the CHAT part of the everyday things you will be doing for your baby.
When you pack your baby’s bag to go out to see family or friends, always remember to take the CHAT.
Can my family and friends use the CHAT?
Firstly, it is important to say that you are the main person who needs to understand and use this assessment tool. However, sometimes there is a need for parents to:
- Get support from family and friends.
- Leave their baby with family and friends. For example, parents may need to go back to work, go shopping or have some time together.
If you decide this is needed, then you can allow other people who are important to you and your baby to learn about, understand and use the CHAT.
Please discuss this with a cardiac nurse or your baby’s Cardiac Specialist Nurse.
A summary of information.
Click on the cards below:
Why is this tool called CHAT?
CHAT is a short way of saying Congenital Heart Assessment Tool.
The design of the CHAT will:
- Give you the knowledge you need to have a useful conversation.
- Help you to communicate confidently.
I know I need to assess my baby. But why?
The period between the first and second stage of surgery can be a fragile (delicate) time for a baby with a complex heart condition. This is an important time because many things will be happening after first stage of surgery and medical treatment.
Can my family and friends use the CHAT?
Firstly, it is important to say that you are the main person who needs to understand and use this assessment tool.
However, sometimes there is a need for parents to:
- Get support from family and friends.
- Leave their baby with family and friends. For example, parents may need to go back to work, go shopping or want some time together away from their baby.