Some babies are entirely too eager to come into the world. Their tiny, bony fingers and delicate head seem fragile to the touch. If your little mite is born before 34 weeks, they will go to the NICU or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Preemies must stay there until their bodies are strong enough to survive the harsh outside world.
The mere thought of being away from your baby for an extended period is a recipe for anxiety. Your mind goes on overdrive imagining the worst things, dizzy with guilt, fear, and paranoia. However, solutions exist to make this time more bearable for everyone involved.
Here are some reaffirmations and salient knowledge that can equip you to be a calmer parent until you can bring your darling home from the hospital. (The havoc they unleash in your household afterward is on you!)
It’s Not Your Fault at All
When your waters break abruptly, sending you into labor weeks early, it’s hard to stop the guilt-ridden alarmist inside your brain. What did you eat wrong? Didn’t you take all the supplements or practice prenatal yoga enough?
A 2024 report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a troubling increase in the incidence of preterm births. From 2014 to 2022, this number rose 12%. Surprisingly, the reasons remain unclear.
The researchers note that premature delivery is more common in older women and those who go the IVF route. Environmental factors like particle pollution and unresolved stress can make you vulnerable. Most of these situations aren’t in your control.
Moreover, while NICU babies have a rough start, most catch up to the typical milestones within two years. Having a baby born prematurely is not a reflection on you as a parent, not even remotely, unlike what an extended family member might claim.
Your Baby Will Soon Learn to Feed Orally
The sight of a tiny soul in the NICU bed, feeding through tubes, is distinctly unsettling. It shakes most new parents – will the newborn get enough milk? When will they be strong enough to feed orally?
Take heart from a report published in the Frontiers in Pediatrics in 2024. If you feed your infant in the NICU per their cues, they will likely learn oral feeding at an early gestational age. It entails seeking the signs of satiety, like not sucking or turning away. The cue-based approach also prevents respiratory problems in babies with low birth weight.
While breastfeeding is encouraged, some NICU infants may receive formula. These specially created products fulfill the nutritional requirements of a preterm baby. One pertinent concern here is the safety of formula milk since some manufacturers like Abbott and Similac have come under the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
Parents who filed the Enfamil lawsuit connect NEC or Necrotizing Enterocolitis with cow’s milk formula. The severe gastrointestinal illness can cause tummy pain and infection, progressing to intestinal damage. The fears arise from the cow’s milk proteins that preterm babies can find hard to digest.
TorHoerman Law observes that families affected by this condition may need assistance with managing medical bills and navigating emotional pain. Legal action can seem overwhelming, but it provides much-needed aid to parents and makes treatment or therapy more accessible.
Should You Refuse Cow’s Milk Formula for Your NICU Baby?
Amid media reports of manufacturer negligence, deciding the best feeding option for your infant is daunting. Parents must remember that NEC is considerably rare, affecting 2 to 5% of premature infants. A Seminars in Pediatric Surgery report points out that genetic factors and prenatal stress may also affect the likelihood of the condition.
Moreover, medical professionals choose and administer formulas with utmost care. If the doctor identifies any risks, they recommend an alternate option, like donor milk from a bank. Close observation to track any symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting is also pivotal.
Your Physical Touch Has Magical Powers
The medical community has known the benefits of kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin contact with babies, for a while now. But the depth of its miraculous powers continues to amaze doctors. You can channel this strength from within, even when your newborn is away in the NICU.
In 2023, the Washington Post reported the wondrous results of a study that covered over 15,000 infants globally. It found that kangaroo care in the first 28 days reduced mortality by 32%. It also noted that such babies faced a lower risk of severe infection and re-hospitalization.
Many parents have a mental image of a clinical NICU, their infant separated from them in an incubator. However, more hospitals are exploring open beds when possible. Your birthing team will encourage skin-to-skin contact soon after birth. It can continue whenever you visit to feed or watch over your infant.
In certain situations, physical touch with a parent may not be manageable, like when the baby has too low gestational age. Discuss with your doctor and nurse to arrive at a feasible way to let your infant experience the benefits of touch therapy.
The length of NICU stay will depend on your baby’s age and weight gain. It might be as little as a few weeks before they pack up to go home into the gorgeous nursery you have set up. Until that red-letter day, keep your nerves calm and your spirits up. Your baby sees you as a role model. They may already be laying the groundwork.
