baby-little-com-17.html
Spring 2018
18 / 48
seven ?iceless tips for
nicu
parents by sarah lyons p arents do many things to prepare for the arrival of a new baby?decorating the nursery, buying a car seat and stroller, and even selecting a name, just for starters. no matter how much preparation you do, the unexpected can happen. due to a variety of reasons, you could find yourself in the neonatal intensive care unit (
nicu
) sitting by your newborn baby. when i found out i was expecting triplets, i was told it was highly likely they would spend time in the
nicu
due to premature birth. i had absolutely no idea how to prepare; the information was overwhelming, and the uncertainty was frightening. i have found that the true experts are parents who have been through the experience. the information they share gives you a glimpse into what you can really expect during the
nicu
experience. here are some very valuable tips. 1. get involved. when you visit your
child
in the
nicu
for the first time, it can be very intimidating. your baby will be covered with wires and may look tiny and fragile. it is normal to feel nervous about caring for your
child
. ask the
nicu
nurses how you can get involved in your
child
?s care. they are usually more than willing to teach you how to work around their medical equipment. ?once i began taking my son?s temps, changing diapers, and assisting with bathing, i felt so much more comfortable and less intimidated by the experience,?
says
rachel watts. 2. babies progress at their own pace. ?don?t put a timeframe on how long you expect them to be there,?
says
nikki rhyme, mother of triplets. the rule of thumb is that babies born prematurely will typically go home around their due date; however, this is not always the case. jessica craine, mom of twins
says
, ?anytime i was frustrated, i had to sit back and realize that my boys have learned to breathe, suck, and swallow all before most kids are born.? 3. take care of yourself. when your
child
is in the
nicu
, it is easy to be focused on their health above all else. amidst all the struggles, we must not forget mom just gave birth, o?en by emergency c-section and sometimes a?er weeks of bedrest. take care of yourself during this time. eat healthy meals, drink water, take breaks, spend time with your significant other and older
child
ren, and ask for help. ?tell your friends and family you?re struggling when you need support,?
says
watts. many times they want to help, 18 p i n k ? b l u e | s p r i n g 2 018
nicu-things-child-19.html