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Nurturing Your NICU Infant
Comfort for Both Mom and Baby
By Amy E. Tracy
Your breast milk is uniquely designed with nutrients to help your premature baby grow and antibodies that fight infection. Smaller preemies often can't eat until their health improves, but you can pump and store your milk in a freezer for later feedings. This is something only a mother can do for her baby.
Make a "Home Away From Home"
For the first few weeks that Daniel was in the NICU, I didn't feel like he was mine. After all, the nurses and doctors seemed to know more about him than I did. But as my husband and I began decorating Daniel's bedside with family photographs, a stuffed lobster my parents sent during a trip to Maine and a tiny Buffalo Bills shirt (my husband's favorite football team), the nursery seemed more "homey," and we began to feel more like a family. Nurses say decorating your baby's bedside also helps the hospital staff get to know your family better. Let Your Baby Know You're Not Far Away
When Kathy Witowski of Chicago, Ill., returned to work a few weeks after her son, Jack, was born at 25 weeks, she left baby washcloths she'd slept with in his bed for a familiar scent. Jack also listened to audiocassette tapes of his mom reading Curious George books. Cotton balls with breast milk can also be comforting. Keep in Close Contact
Theresa Kledzik, a neonatal nurse at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo., encourages parents to call, day or night, with specific questions about their baby. "Don't just ask how he's doing," she says. "Ask what position he's in, if he's using a pacifier and how long he's been sleeping. This will make you feel more in touch with your baby." Want to see more?
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