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Nurturing Your NICU Baby
Special Care for Preemies
By Amy E. Tracy
Nurture yourself. An early delivery is incredibly stressful, to say the least. You worry about your baby's health, the medical bills, other family members and what the future might hold. But to take care of your baby, you need to take care of yourself. Eat well, take vitamins, get rest, exercise and take breaks.
Be your baby's voice. "One of the most important things a mother can provide for her child is a voice," Kledzik says. If you notice your baby becomes agitated by the sound of the nurse's radio, ask that it be turned off. If you have concerns about caregiving, express them. If you have questions, ask them. You can even post notes about your baby's likes and dislikes (noise volume, positioning, lighting, handling) near the bedside.
Get to know your baby. "With the support of the staff, you can learn about your baby – what consoles him, how he feeds, his facial expressions – and you'll feel much closer to your baby," Kledzik says. Skin-to-skin contact, or kangaroo care, is another way to foster your parent-child relationship. Place your diaper-clad infant on your bare chest with a blanket lightly covering you both. Also, ask the nurses about infant massage.
Though nurturing in the NICU isn't easy, it is time well-spent getting to know one another. And when that day you've been waiting for arrives – your baby's homecoming – you'll be ready.
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