Resources For Preemie Parents

Unless you've had a preemie or know someone who had one, the NICU is an emotional and overwhelming experience. Seeing your little one hooked up to machines through tubes and wires is scary. The myriad of nurses, doctors and therapists is confusing.

Nobody Expects You To Be An Expert
It's OK to be scared and emotional. This is your child - you are expected to be confused and upset. The nurses and doctors are prepared to support you, the parent, as well as your child.

Take Notes - Lots Of Notes
Seriously, get yourself a notebook and pen and make note of everything. Then later on, review your notes and jot down any questions you have. Not only is the notebook useful for your education, but you'll be able to answer questions your friends and family have about your preemie's health and status.

The NICU Nurse Is Your New BFF
The are the day-to-day caregivers of your child. They know everything there is to know about your preemie's health condition. NICU Nurses are the most amazing people. They have the medical knowledge needed to care for your preemie. They also have the ability to translate information to parents so they understand.

Be An Active Participant
Do as much as possible. Change your baby's diaper. Take it's temperature. Give him/her a bath. Change the bedding. Even learn from the nurse how to replace the leads so you can eventually dress your preemie.

Having been in your position myself, I can assure you that doing as many "normal" things with your child helps you cope.

Remember, this is your child. If you do have a concern or don't under stand something, ASK! Never, ever hesitate to ask questions about your preemie.

Why was my preemie transferred to another hospital?
Sometimes after birth, your child is transferred to another hospital. While this is heart-breaking for parents, it is necessary. The hospital you delivered in may not have the level of care necessary to care for your preemie.

The levels of care are used as a method of designating the care provided by hospitals for newborn infants. It is based according to the complexity of care provided, ranging from basic care or level one to the most complex care.

NICU Parent Support Blog has a good explanation of the different NICU Levels.

Why can't I hold my baby?
This might be the absolute hardest thing for a Mother and Father of a preemie to endure. You will be able to hold your baby eventually - it all depends on the stability of your child. I wasn't able to hold my Little Dude until he was 4 days old.

Another thing to remember is that preemies need to focus all their energy on breathing. Any stimulus may distract them. Even just rubbing his/her back is a distraction. You can touch your baby, just don't rub or pat - be still.

When will my baby come home?
If your baby is feeding orally on demand, they are gaining weight steadily and they can maintain their temperature in a cot, then he/she will be ready to go home. You can expect your baby to stay in the NICU at least until your original due date.

There are always exceptions. If you child has complications, infections, or needs surgery, your stay may be longer. Some preemies stay in the NICU for months. Communication with your child's healthcare providers will help you get an estimate of your release date.

Why type of problems will my preemie have in the NICU?
I understand the complications and problems of a preemie baby, but I'm not a doctor. I recommend you visit the KidsHealth.com section on Common Diagnoses in the NICU. The information has been reviewed by a doctor for accuracy.

What is a corrected or adjusted age?
The corrected age is the age a baby would have been if they had been delivered at term, or the age calculated from your estimated date of delivery. The corrected age is used when monitoring premature babies physical and speech development i.e. sitting, walking and talking.

Although preemie clothing can be expensive because of the size and the fact that babies don't wear items long, I highly recommend you dress your preemie. Again, doing "normal" things with your baby will help you cope.

Another reason to dress your baby is for warmth. Preemies use so much energy to keep up their body temp. Make it easier on your little guy with some clothes.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when purchasing preemie clothing:

Look for items that will be easy to get your preemie in and out of.
Dressing them needs to be a quick process, and vice versa - you don't want any clothing to get in the way of nurses and doctors.

Look for clothes that will work with whatever lines or monitors are attached to your baby.
Avoid anything that pulls over the head. Anything that snaps up the front, all the way down the leg works best.

There are specialty stores that sell NICU approved clothing in smaller sizes - yes, there are outfits for preemies weighing just 2 or 3 pounds. The specialty items are made to accommodate wires, tubes and monitors.

Look for fabrics that are soft without any embellishments.
Your preemie is super sensitive, so the softer the fabric the better. Avoid outfits that are frilly or have scratchy trim or embroidery. Also try to get items without tags as these can become an annoyance for your baby.

Don't forget the accessories.
Hats and booties are a must to keep your preemie warm. Besides, the little items are just so darn cute!

Make Your Own
If you're crafty, there are some patterns available to make your own preemie sized items:
~ Bev's Preemie Patterns
~ ComeUnity's Preemie Clothes Patterns
~ TouchingLittleLives preemie sleeper instructions
~ You can use doll-clothes patterns too!