Jay and Tiffany Carney have spent every day since Nov. 19 in the Special Care Nursery at University Hospital reading to their son through the March of Dimes Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Bedside Reading Program.

"We wanted to bond with our son. We can't hold him and we can't feed him," Mr. Carney said. "This allows us to be a parent to our son."

Choosing from hundreds of books provided in the nursery, the Carneys take turns reading to their 61/2-week-old in efforts to bond with him.

"I like to read two books a day and just talk to him. Let him hear my voice. Let him know that I'm here," Ms. Carney said.

Reading also lets them know that they can do something for their child in spite of the situation.

"I read to him and I'm able to provide something to him as a parent and use the opportunity to talk to my son. Share something from this world with him," Mr. Carney said.

The Carneys are among many area parents who have taken advantage of the program at University Hospital and the Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center, which are two of 30 hospitals in the state that have received the program.

"The purpose of the program is to help make bonding a lot easier for parents with newborns in the nursery. It makes them feel like they are able to do something. Makes them feel helpful," said Sherri Gwaltney, the assistant nurse manager at University Hospital.

The program also helps ease some of the worry that parents have when their baby is in the intensive care unit, said Marnita Wade, the unit's nurse manager.

"A lot of times, the babies come in here because they are too early or some type of defect. Sometimes, the parents are at a loss and wonder, 'What can I do for my baby?' " she said. "This lets the parents know that there are things they can do for their baby. This pulls them into their care, even if it's not something hands-on initially."

Each of the hospitals received 350 books along with a cart and family tip sheets from the March of Dimes. The program allows parents and family members to choose books from the diverse selection to read to the baby.

"The parents really enjoy the fact that the books are readily available to them. A lot of the parents have a lot of favorites on the shelves, so when they choose books, they usually choose those," Ms. Wade said.

Mr. Carney said that the program has been one of comfort for them and other parents.

"It's very comforting," agreed Mrs. Carney. "It's definitely something we need."

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.