What to Do When Your Baby Has to Go to NICU
Having a baby should always be a happy and joyful experience. In most cases, this is the what happens, and most parents are able to go home from the hospital quickly or have a healthy and uneventful birth at home. But sometimes the birth does not go as planned and your baby may end up in the neonatal intensive care unit with complications or for extra monitoring. There are a number of steps that you can take as a parent to prepare yourself for this possibility, and there are also a number of things that you should know about navigating the NICU if this should happen to you.
Stay the Parent
Remember that even though the NICU nurses and doctors are spending a lot of time with your baby and are there to take care of him or her, you still need to do things like touch your baby, talk to your baby, and share your smell. Your baby knows your voice from being in the womb, and the more you talk to him or her while in NICU, the more your baby will be familiar with you when you finally go home together. All NICUs should encourage you to do this, and a representative from a clinical negligence team dealing with hospital standards of care notes that “parents of babies receiving specialist neonatal care can expect to be encouraged and supported to be actively involved in planning and providing care, joint decision-making and to be in regular contact with their healthcare team.”
Get to Know The NICU Staff
Knowing and becoming familiar with the staff who are working with your baby will help you to feel reassured and connected with the situation at hand. If your baby needs to stay in NICU for a long time, having friends in the staff will make a big difference to all the sad and happy moments you will go through.
Keep a routine that includes time for yourself
Sticking to a routine as much as possible can help you to balance your home life, hospital visits, work, and some time for yourself. Having a baby in the NICU can be stressful and exhausting, and without taking alone time you will feel even more stressed and upset. Your baby needs you, but to be there for your baby you need to take care of yourself first.
Take photographs
Even though it may feel difficult to see your baby looking vulnerable, it’s important to take photos to remember their journey. You will value the photos that you have later, when you look back on the time. If your baby is in NICU because he or she is premature, you can place everyday objects next to your baby like rings or watches to show how small your baby is. When he or she is bigger, they will love seeing these photos of themselves.
Connect with other NICU parents
Just like making friends with the staff in NICU, connecting with other NICU parents will make a big difference in your day-to-day life. It can be hard for parents whose babies have not gone to NICU to understand what it is like for you. Others who are in the same situation will be sharing many of your same struggles and triumphs, and you may feel like they understand you and your baby better. Talk to parents who are sharing common rooms with you, and ask the nurses if they know of any support groups or groups online that you can join.
Having a baby in the NICU is a difficult and challenging period of time, during a time in which most people expect you to be happy and bringing your new baby home from the hospital. Taking these steps can help to make it easier on you.
