Your journey as a caring parent reaches a milestone as your baby comes home after their NICU stay. Before you embark on this new chapter, it's crucial to gather insights from the care team to confidently navigate home life.
Here's a comprehensive guide to ensuring your baby's well-being and safety during the upcoming weeks:
Medical Checkups: A Priority for New Beginnings 👨⚕️👩⚕️
Your baby's health journey continues with a visit to the pediatrician within 2–4 days of discharge (unless your pediatrician was involved during the hospital stay). Your hospital care team will guide you on scheduling visits.
Ensure tests like blood, hearing, and vision assessments are conducted, and plan accordingly if not done.
For specialized care or home nursing, schedule appointments as needed. Many preemies continue seeing specialists such as early-intervention experts, neurologists, and physical therapists to monitor development. Continual follow-ups ensure optimal care for your little one.
Feeding Your Preemie: Nurturing Growth 🍼🌱
A custom feeding plan awaits your baby's discharge, with extra calories often necessary for catch-up growth. Premature babies require additional nourishment to match full-term growth.
While some preemies can breastfeed or bottle-feed, others may need support due to feeding coordination issues.
Methods include feeding through an NG tube (passed through the nose to the stomach) or a G-tube (surgically inserted into the stomach). In certain cases, preemies unable to stomach these options may receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN) through an IV catheter. Collaborate with your care team to decide what's best.
Sleeping Soundly: Safety in Slumber 😴🛏️
Your preemie's sleep patterns might differ from full-term babies, with shorter yet frequent sleep periods. Back sleeping is crucial to mitigate the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Prioritize this position for your baby's safety.
Infection Protection: Safeguarding Health
As their immune systems develop, preemies are susceptible to infections. Here's how to maintain their safety:
Limit outings to medical visits in the initial weeks, particularly during colder months.
Minimize public places and visitors, especially those unwell or exposed to smoke. Handwashing is essential for all visitors.
Stay current with vaccinations and ensure household members are up-to-date on pertussis and flu vaccines.
Consider RSV preventive medicine, especially for certain preemies.
Respiratory Concerns: Addressing Breathing Issues
Apnea, or brief breathing pauses, is common in preemies but typically resolves before discharge. Babies with lingering lung conditions like bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) might need extra care, including oxygen and medication. If an apnea monitor is required, ensure caregivers are trained.
Coping and Support: Nurturing the Journey 🤗❤️
The initial months can evoke an array of emotions. Seek support, manage your health, and consider professional help if needed. Cherish skin-to-skin contact during quiet moments, embracing kangaroo care for a deeper connection.
Embrace this transformative phase, ensuring your baby's safety and comfort. Armed with knowledge, you can foster an environment of growth and well-being, fostering a strong and secure bond.
K
Kayla
11 Oct 2023
After a week in the hospital with preterm labor starting at 33 weeks, contractions 1 minute apart, now off procardia and home being 5cm dilated and 90% thinned out.
Wondering when this baby is going to make her grand entrance 🤔
The stress these babies cause us 😐
much better. Just stressed being so dilated and living so far from the hospital. Have been checked twice since all this, no change so far. Thanks so much for asking ♡
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