5 THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT IF YOUR BABY GOES TO NICU

December 1, 2019 /

When your baby is born premature or sick, you enter a completely foreign world. Sadly, you are not alone; thousands of parents in Australia travel a similar journey every year when bringing their babies into the world.

If your baby is born premature or sick they may need to be admitted into a specialised area of the hospital that is equipped to care for them. The most common specialised medical units are called Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) or Special Care Nurseries (SCN). They can be highly technical environments which may be overwhelming. 

BE PREPARED TO ASK QUESTIONS

When your baby arrives early, it may be a stressful time for you and your family. Asking relevant questions to your baby’s doctor, nurses and other medical professionals will help you understand what is happening and what to expect in the days and weeks ahead. Some questions you may consider asking is: Why was my baby born early? How serious is my baby’s condition? Who is in charge of my baby’s medical care? What types of tests are being given to my baby and what information will they provide? How soon will my baby get better? What outcome should I expect for my baby?

You can also ask to be more involved in your baby’s care. Ask to spend time having cuddles, don’t wait to be offered. Kangaroo care has been shown to help your baby maintain a stable heart and breathing rate, and develop better both physically and mentally.

Be as much of an active participant in your baby’s day as you can.

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEONATAL CARE TEAM AND THE EQUIPMENT

Initially seeing all of the medical equipment used to treat your baby can be very daunting. The noises, beeps, clicks, alarms and flashing lights coming from the machines may seem strange at first, but over time you will become familiar with the equipment and learn how each machine is helping. The staff will be happy to explain any equipment to you. The following is a small list of some of the medical equipment you may see in the unit:

Humidicrib: Also known as an incubator or isolette, this is a clear plastic covered crib that provides a warm, controlled, clean, enclosed environment where the baby can be easily observed. It helps protect the baby from infection and excess handling, and prevents them from using vital energy/calories to keep warm.

Bili lights: Bright blue ultraviolet lights, also known as phototherapy lights. They are used to treat jaundice, which is yellowness of the skin caused by too much bilirubin in the blood. The lights are placed over the baby’s humidicrib or open care bed and the baby usually only wears a nappy and cloth eye shield. The light helps break down your baby’s excess bilirubin which then get filtered through your baby’s liver.

C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure): Many premature babies need help with their breathing. One or two soft prongs are inserted into the baby’s nostrils and oxygen (or air) is given under a small amount of pressure. Delivering oxygen under pressure helps keep the lungs expanded and reduces the amount of effort it takes for your baby to breathe.  

Gastric tube: Most babies do not learn to suck feed until 34 weeks in utero. A gastric tube is a soft tube inserted via the mouth or nose into the stomach which gives your baby expressed breast milk, donor milk, or formula until they can suck feed.

STRICT HYGIENE RULES

Babies born premature or sick have weakened immune systems and are extremely vulnerable to infections. Most illnesses are transmitted to infants by the hands; therefore, regular hand washing is essential as it represents the single best way to avoid the spread of disease. What may be a mild illness in adults can actually be life-threatening in babies.
All visitors including parents must wash their hands on entry into the NICU or SCN, and especially before touching the baby. Be sure to remove all your jewellery, including rings, bracelets and watches from fingertips to elbows before using soap and warm water to wash your hands and arms. Take care to scrub all surfaces, including between your fingers, around your thumbs, the backs of your hands, wrists, arms and under your fingernails.

YOU MAY NEED TO GO HOME WITHOUT YOUR BABY

Parents instinctively want to nurture and protect their baby and being separated while their baby is in NICU can be a painful experience. When a mother is discharged from the hospital without her baby, most describe it as one of the hardest and most emotional days of their entire NICU journey.

Many have envisioned leaving hospital with a healthy baby. Most are completely unprepared for the array of emotions that surface when leaving the hospital with empty arms.

Walking into your house can feel strange and the first night at home can brings lots of tears and sadness. An empty nursery with new clothes and toys is another solemn reminder that your journey has taken an unexpected path. 

Tips for coping with separation from your baby:

  • Acknowledge your baby’s birth by sending out birth announcements or placing an announcement in the paper or online.
  • Take photos and start an album or baby book.
  • Ask your baby’s nurse if you can take something home with your baby’s scent on it.
  • Express breast milk; it can help you to feel close to your baby when you are away from them.
  • Call the hospital at any time of day or night to check on your baby’s progress.
  • Contact Miracle Babies Foundation for support. You can call our NurtureLine on 1300 MBABIES / 1300 622 243 anytime and you can find more resources and family stories on our website www.miraclebabies.org.au

BE KIND TO YOURSELF

Coping with having a premature or sick newborn can be very difficult. It is common for parents to feel a range of complex emotions and each person will handle the crisis in their own way.

At different times you may experience a combination of powerful feelings, including fear, love, guilt, elation, anxiety, joy, isolation, pride, sadness, anger, confusion, numbness and disappointment. It is important to remember that it takes time to adjust to new experiences and new environments, and there is no right or wrong way to cope. 

Be assured that these are all natural responses to what is a very emotional and stressful time in your life. It is normal to grieve the loss of your dream of a normal pregnancy and all the experiences you were anticipating.

Many neonatal units run parent groups where you can meet with other families and share your experiences. You may find it helps you feel less isolated and more supported in your journey. Miracle Babies Foundation have NurtureTime support groups in hospitals around Australia. You can also call the free 24 hour family support NurtureLine on 1300 MBABIES / 1300 622 243.

During this experience, all of your energy can go into worrying and caring for your new baby, but it is important to remember to take good care of yourself too. Eat and drink regular, healthy meals, accept the help of family and friends, and meet with a NICU social worker or counsellor to help develop a self-care plan.

To find out more about Miracle Babies support services visit www.miraclebabies.org.au or call 1300 MBABIES / 1300 622 243