8 Courses
Parents in the NICU
Neonatal Developmental Care
Our Developmental Care Program is designed to support premature infants and their parents. The program involves parents from day one in caring for the baby by helping them to learn infants’ cues, handling them carefully, positioning them with support, and feeding them. Our program promotes and supports premature babies' adaptability to external environmental events and improves bonding between the infant and their parents.
Parents in the NICU
Coping with emotional stress in the NICU
Having a baby in the NICU can be a shock for many parents. Few parents expect complications of pregnancy or their baby to be sick or premature. It is quite natural to have many different emotions as you try to cope with the difficulties of a sick baby.
Parents in the NICU
Can I breastfeed my premature baby?
Providing breast milk for a premature or seriously ill newborn may be a challenge, but it is usually possible, and it is certainly an effective way to enhance your baby's health, growth, and development. Even if your baby is unable to breastfeed at first, you can begin expressing your milk immediately after giving birth.
Parents in the NICU
Maintaining breast milk supply during your stay in NICU
If your newborn is too small or ill to breastfeed at first, or if a birth condition prevents them from breastfeeding directly, a hospital-grade electric breast pump is an effective option to express milk and establish and maintain an adequate milk supply.
Parents in the NICU
My premature baby vomits after feeding
Most babies spit up or throw up now and then. But some do so more often than usual. This is called reflux. Reflux is short for gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD.
Reflux is common among premature babies. Most babies outgrow it after a few months. Only 1 percent of babies are still spitting up after their first birthday.
Parents in the NICU
What is apnea of prematurity?
In premature babies, the part of the brain and spinal cord that controls breathing is not yet mature enough to allow nonstop breathing. The more premature the baby, the greater the chances that apnea will occur.
Parents in the NICU
Infection and premature babies
Babies born premature are more likely to get infections that can lead to sepsis. This is because they have a weaker immune system, and their skin and gut is more fragile than in babies born at term. Babies born premature are also more likely to develop infections that lead to late-onset sepsis (sepsis that happens over 72 hours after birth).
Parents in the NICU
Is Jaundice common in premature babies?
Jaundice
in premature babies is very common. In fact, it's common among all newborns,
just especially so in preemies.