How to Care for a Premature Baby

Approximately 30 percent of all newborns spend some time in the neonatal intensive care unit at the hospital. Some babies have trouble breathing at first, some have illnesses that were contracted at birth, and still others have diseases or severe illnesses that developed during pregnancy. The most common reason that babies visit the neonatal intensive care unit is prematurity. This means that they are not quite big enough or their lungs are not developed enough to breathe on their own. If your baby has to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit due to prematurity, you can still help take care of her. The following steps will help guide you on how to care for your premature baby.

Instructions

    • 1

      Try to spend as much time with your baby as possible. This may seem impossible because of all the nurses and other staff constantly around, but your baby needs you. No one else has your voice, your smell or your touch. Premature babies need as much or more attention and love from their parents as full-term babies. Talk to the nurses and express your desire to be there as often as possible.

    • 2

      Touch your baby when you can. Premature babies are sometimes kept in an incubator for various reasons and cannot be taken out or overstimulated. If this is the situation, ask if you can slip your arms inside and touch your baby. Positive touch has great benefits for your baby. If you cannot touch your baby, you can always talk to him and send him positive thoughts and energy.

    • 3

      Some premature babies cannot breastfeed due to a weak suck or overstimulation concerns. However, it is wise to express your breastmilk for her to drink. It is loaded with all of the growing nutrients that she needs and will be of good benefit to her. It will also help you establish your milk supply for when she is strong enough to breastfeed.

    • 4

      Get involved in your baby's care plans. Ask the nurses what you can do to assist them. Perhaps you can feed him or rock him. If there is any special care that he requires, have the nurses explain to you what they are doing.

    • 5

      Express your feelings to the nursing staff. Let them know your concerns or fears regarding the care of your baby. Have them explain everything that is going on so that you can feel more prepared when she comes home. If there are certain things that you will have to continue after she leaves the hospital, make sure that you know how to do them correctly, for example, operating a feeding tube or heart monitor.

    • 6

      Take a CPR course before he comes home. Knowing CPR will help you feel more confident and prepared in case something happens at home. Many hospitals now make CPR a requirement for families with premature babies.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Baby Games
      Playing games with your baby helps him or her to develop and grow. Just talking to a baby even while in your womb encourages mental development. As soon as your baby can focus her eyes (after about six weeks), you can start playing a variety of games
    • What is the Baby Boom?
      The Baby Boom refers to the period of significantly increased birth rates in the United States, and to a lesser extent other developed countries, following World War II. This period is generally considered to span from 1946 to 1964. Heres a breakdown
    • An Overview of Newborn Babies
      Whether you have just welcomed a baby into your family or have started the process of pregnancy or adoption, you may have a few questions about life with a newborn. From feeding and diapering to safety and wondering if you will ever sleep again, h