Our Guide For Preemie Parents
Premature babies, known as preemies, come into the world earlier than full-term babies. Preemies have many special needs that make their care different from that of full-term babies, which is why they often begin their lives after birth in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU is designed to be a place that limits stress to the baby and meets basic needs of warmth, nutrition and protection to ensure proper growth and development.
Family-Centered Care
We believe that the best health results occur when the baby’s family members play an active part in providing emotional, social and developmental care. You are the only constant in your baby’s life. Help us to help you provide care for and bond with your baby.
Be involved in your baby’s care as much as possible. Having a baby in the NICU can be difficult, and it can feel like everything is out of your control. You are the voice of your baby. Remember, you are the parent and an important member of your baby’s care team, not a visitor. Ask questions and be proactive in your baby’s care and needs.
Our commitment to you:
- We will be caring partners in your family’s care.
- We will provide your family with the best health care.
- We will always welcome you as a valuable part of the NICU family.
Developmental Care
Developmental care is a way to help reduce the amount of stress and pain that a preemie is exposed to in the NICU. Since NICU units can be loud, bright places where alarms and blood draws make it hard for babies to rest, grow and get better, developmental care helps NICUs be more "baby friendly."
Using developmental care may help babies grow and get well faster and promote brain development. Developmental care helps make the transition from womb to world a little bit easier for preemies. It is something that you can learn to do to help your baby.
Developmental care techniques include:
- Positioning babies in comfortable, curled up (flexed) positions
- Clustering nursing care (and doing vital checks all at once) to provide longer periods of sleep
- Turning down lights and providing a quiet, dark environment
- Encouraging parent visitation and skin-to-skin care
Below are some parenting resources: