Parent 2 Parent: Keri

How many kids to do you have? I have 2 boys, ages 8 and 3.

How many kids do you have with a NICU jo­­urney? My younger son, Caden, was born at 23 weeks. My older son was full term.

How long was the stay within in the NICU­­? 121 days

Where did you draw strength from while i­­n the NICU? My biggest strength came from my husband, who despite everything going on, he was rock solid for me.

Who ­within your personal network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­? ­Parents, Partner, Friends, NICU staf­f? ­ The NICU doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, lactation specialists, my husband, my older son, my mother and father-in-law

 

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In what way did you feel like you ­were s­upported by them? The NICU doctors included me in rounds, were transparent and honest, didn’t give me false hope, and really took time to explain, talk, and help me understand how I could best advocate and support my son. The NICU nurses became like family – they treated Caden as if he was their own… they hugged me when I cried, encouraged me to keep pumping even when I felt discouraged, and taught me how to care for my teeny tiny son. My husband was strong, solid, and supportive when I felt hopeless, when I couldn’t stop crying, and when I needed to spend 18 hours at the NICU he made sure our older son wasn’t left out and neglected.

Who­ ­within your internet network provided support while you were in the NICU­? ­was there a ­Facebook, twitter, goo­gle plus community or communities? ­Onl­ine forum in what way did you feel li­ke­ you were supported by them? I created a private Facebook group where I’d post daily updates for anyone who was interested. After Caden was discharged, I printed out each and every entry and photograph and created a book to document his NICU journey.

What are some of your favorite tools, resources or gadgets that made your NICU journey easier? Do you have any you would recommend to current parents who are in the NICU now? The number one thing that helped us through the NICU journey was the Angel Eyes camera. We had a live stream camera at Caden’s bedside the entire time we were in the NICU. It was comforting to be able to see him any time we wanted when we couldn’t be there with him. Also, very important to me was my notebook. Nothing special about it, but it held my questions, fears, and triumphs of the early days which were the hardest. I’d use it to take notes during rounds or jot questions down to ask the doctors and nurses.

Can you share with us a good NICU day fo­­r your ­child (a triumph)? ­ What was­ the day were you need extras support a­nd stre­ngth? One of my and Caden’s good days was when he first nursed. There were many days where I needed extra support, but one that stands out was after many infections, many antibiotics, Caden was still very sick and one of the doctors said “I’m not sure what else we can do.” I was crushed by that statement.

If you could share one tidbit with other­­ NICU parents what would it be?ADVOCATE! ADVOCATE! ADVOCATE! The doctor’s know the medical stuff, but you know your child. Ask questions, stay involved, advocate for what you think your child needs most.

 

Is there anything else you would like to share? Everyone’s NICU journey is different, whether you spend 5 days or 121 days like we did. The NICU is a place where the most fragile, but also the strongest little fighters heal and grow. I take pride in how strong Caden was, and is today. He never gave up. But there’s something that sticks with you after you’ve been through a NICU journey. Sometimes when I hear something that sounds like a heart monitor or smell something that reminds me of that NICU smell, or most recently when Caden met a big milestone and started school, really difficult feelings surface and are hard to deal with. Ask for help. Ask for support. Ask for a hug. This is a real traumatic experience that can have lasting effects. Don’t try to do it alone.

 

 


Now that we are Aware, It is time to Act.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.  – Reinhold Niebuhr

 

Today is the day after World Prematurity Awareness Day & exactly one week from my angel preemie’s birthday. I am in deep contemplation, I am angry, and I hurt in places that they do not make bandages and Neosporin for. I hurt for the loss of the children that I patiently waited and prayed for. I hurt for the dreams, hopes and future that will never come to fruition.

Serenity— I have learned to live my life to the fullest though I have experienced loss. When I have this discussion with others, most are shocked that I have had a lost. To them, I do not act like a person who has experience loss. This week is a hard week, as I should have been planning my sons 6th birthday party.  We should have been explaining that since his birthday fell after Thanksgiving, instead of on the actual day, that we were going to be free to party it up!  That is not the reality I wake up to so it hurts, but I am ok.  In a couple of hours, I am going to finish shopping for our Thanksgiving dinner and finalize plans to meet with friends this week. Even though I do not attend funerals, I am emotionally at a place where I can go to baby showers and celebrate the family.  I can hold and play with others little ones, change diapers, and give children super cool toys. I enjoyed giving my girlfriends rainbow baby a huge stuffed triceratops & BFF dino necklaces. That put me in competition with the uncle that granted her wish of being a mermaid princess with her very own pink castle tent!

We still try to live below our means. If I want to take a trip and it is in the budget, then I do. At one point I wanted to go back to school, so in 2013 I did. I needed to take classes during the day time, and the company I was with would not negotiate my time so that I could still work full time and finish my degree. So, in 2016 I quit my job and took a part time job doing remote work to finish my degree. Side Note: I took substantiation pay cut, and our family accountant, cringed when he did our taxes earlier this year. I am dreaming big and putting actions to those dreams.  All of that came when I accepted the loss, and chose to live in spite of the loss.

Courage— As a mom who has experienced NICU loss, I have encountered many people who do not want to talk about it in fear of making me feel “uncomfortable”. In reality, I have experienced that it was often done so that they would not feel uncomfortable. Though it hurts dearly and deeply, I have come to accept loss as part of life. For me it is the reality check of cutting away superficial relationships, keeping up with the Jones, or attempting to be “important”.   Losing both of my children in my early 30’s made me aware of how short and precious our time is here on this beautiful planet. It helps me pull close to the people who value me. I removed myself from environments where I am not valued, which freed me up to look for environments where people wanted my contributions and what I bring to the table. I am striving to be significant not important. It has also allowed me to move past my fears and insecurities and try new things (I have a great life partner who supports me, so it makes much of this easier).

What I find very interesting is that the level of uncomfortableness that I am experiencing with the subject of child loss, is similar to when it is time to have the magical discussion surrounding race, inclusion and equity.  Personally, I am comfortable having the hard conversations around race, inclusion, policy, access and equity. I do have an unfair advantage in remaining unoffended when having an open and honest dialogue in these areas. I believe that part of this is because of my childhood experiences, life experiences, and the college major and minor that I choose. I was encouraged to look at the facts, and not simply my interpretation that makes me feel comfortable. I had to research, analyze and establish conclusions around the facts–the good, the bad, and the ugly–and all that we want to keep in the closet.

I am a military brat, as both of my parents are Veterans who served in the U.S. Army. I lived overseas for over a third of my childhood. I have a degree in Sociology with an emphasis on Social Work, with a minor in African and African American History. In the world of Sociology, we study, learn and understand what the effects of one’s environment have on them. In the biosphere of history, it is all about discovering what really happened, what are the effects of what happened and then understanding the ripple effects in society now.  When I look at current events and policy, whether it is the effects on premature births, unarmed black men being shot, or immigration, how I view the world at large is through this unique set of lens.

The wisdom to know the differenceAfrican American women are 48% more likely to have premature births than all of the other ethnicities combined.  The continent of African has 60% of the world’s population of premature births.  Premature birth is a problem across the board for families. However we must take a look at health disparities to understand, and transform the disproportionate rate that they are effecting this population. When do we move beyond awareness and when do we move into action?  I am appalled that the preemie birth rate is as high as it was 6 years ago when I had my son.  I am disgusted that the rate is higher than 3 years ago when I lost my daughter.  There needs to be research conducted, however, there are many areas that we need the “courage to know the difference” of access and equity to nutrition, education, housing, healthcare, socio-economics, unconscious bias, and race.  Yesterday on Prematurity Awareness Day, the FCC scaled back internet subsidies for low income homes.  If these families are not connected to the internet, how can they access their electronic records or telehealth?

I had the privilege taking a class on slavery this year at Clemson University. My professor was a lawyer who held a Juris Doctorate and a PhD in history. During the very last class of the semester we had a discussion pertaining to the transition after the Civil War.  She made a comment that has remained with me when she stated that “life after the civil war and into this modern era as one where we rewrite our memories.”  What she meant was that it is the place where history and memories butt heads.  Essentially, when there is a history that we are uncomfortable with, we choose to remember that account through our perspective.

At times, that may leave us refusing to learn, credit, or accept the facts, figures and even the people that make us uncomfortable. By not acknowledging the facts, this leads to unconscious and conscious bias that effects population health.  These are changes that we can make if we can accept, discuss, collaborate and then implement. Everyone has a seat at the table, so we should leave our hero complexes at home so that we can function as a team. What if we started Preemie Action Month—a month dedicated to the search for solutions by the acknowledgement of the facts? Let’s move forward with the courage to change the future that is within our control.

 

 

 


Parent2Parent: Marcia

How many kids to do you have? 2

How many kids do you have with a NICU jo­­urney? 1

How long was the stay within in the NICU­­? 11 days

Where did you draw strength from while i­­n the NICU? My faith, family and friends 

Was it a song,­ ­A Scriptu­re,­ ­A quote ? Can you share it with us­? ­ the Lord’s Prayer

 Who ­ ­within your personal network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­ ? ­Parents, Partner, Friends, NICU staf­f? Parents, friends

In what way did you feel like you ­were s­upported by them? Through there words of encouragement, our endless conversations, prayers, phone calls. 

 Who ­ ­within your internet network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­ ? ­was there a­ ­Facebook, twitter, goo­gle plus community­ or communities? ­Onl­ine forum In what way did you feel li­ke­ you were supported by them? During my NICU EXPERIENCE I was not on any social media sites. My experience took place in 2006. 

 What are some of your favorite tools, resources or gadgets that made your NICU journey easier? Talking with families who were going through the same trial like myself. 

Can you share with us a good NICU day fo­­r your ­child (a triumph)? ­ ­What was­ the day were you need support a­nd stre­ngth?  The day he opened his eyes and smiled.

If you could share one tidbit with other­­ NICU parents what would it be?! That  ALLbabies come out fighting and NICU BABIES FIGHT HARDER THAN OTHERS. EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT. 

 Is there anything else you would like to share? IF YOU HAVE NEVER HAD A NICU EXPERIENCE TALK TO OTHERS TO SEE WHO AROUND  YOU HAS. NICU BABIES ARE MORE COMMON THEN ONE THINKS




Parent2Parent: Ron

 

How many kids to do you have?

We have one son named English

How many kids do you have with a NICU journey?

One (English)

How long was the stay within in the NICU­­?

3 months

Where did you draw strength from while i­­n the NICU?

Our faith, our family & friends, the NICU staff & other parents in the NICU

­Was it a song,­ ­A Scripture,­ ­A quote ? Can you share it with us­?­

I Believe (Heanonmusic)

Who ­ ­within your personal network provided support while you were in the NICU­? ­Parents, Partner, Friends, NICU staff? ­

All of the above

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­In what way did you feel like you ­were supported by them?

English’s grandparents would come and sit with him along others everyday so that he always had someone with him.  Our family & friends also brought lunch and dinner for us when they knew we were at the NICU and also prayed for us and our son

Who ­ ­within your internet network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­? ­was there a ­Facebook, twitter, google plus community or communities? ­Onl­ine forum In what way did you feel li­ke­ you were supported by them?

We were not a part of any specific online communities but when we posted about our journey, our Facebook friends & family all came together and prayed for a healthy journey

Happy Birthday English: The Journey [VIDEO]

Happy Birthday to our son who turns 2 today! We have been on an incredible journey over these past 2 years. After 5 years of wanting a child, God blessed us with a son. Little did we know he would come 3 months prior to his due date! Born at 1.12 oz, English Lamir Hearst was born. We wanted to invite you all to celebrate with us and we pray that this video encourages you in your journey as well. #BelieveSong: "I Believe" HeanonMusicWritten by: Shaun Dash, Heanon TateVocals: LaRon Hearst, Angel Hearst, Sarene Tate, Heanon TateHospital: Palmetto Health Richland NICU

Posted by LaRon&Angel on Friday, August 4, 2017

What are some of your favorite  tools, resources  or gadgets  that made your NICU  journey  easier?

We did not have any that we can remember

Can you share with us a good NICU day fo­­r your ­child (a triumph) ? What was­ the day were you need support and strength?

Good NICU Day – Each time he moved up in a room but specifically the day we found out he was in his last room and he would be coming home

Support NICU Day – When the staff would inform us that they were monitoring him through the night because they didn’t know if he was going to make it and that he had taken a turn for the worse.

If you could share one tidbit with other­­ NICU parents what would it be?!

Take it one day at a time and stay positive


Parent2Parent: Mariann

How many kids to do you have? 1

How many kids do you have with a NICU jo­­urney? 1

How long was the stay within in the NICU­­? 1 month 2 weeks

Where did you draw strength from while i­­n the NICU? I prayed- a lot! I literally had conversations with God.  My leaned on my family for support, strength, and help as well.

Was it a song,­ ­A Scriptu­re,­ ­A quote ? Can you share it with us­? ­ I was told my son would be in the NICU for the rest of that year and to prepare for a long road. So, I created a schedule and everything I did in that schedule, I made sure to do it with a positive mindset and atmosphere. I played worship music, got rest when I needed it, watched funny movies, read the Bible, and just leaned on my family (until they went back home). I tried to make sure everything was “up-beat” and “up lifting.” One of my favorite songs and scripture was “I’ll never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13: 5 And the song “My Promise” By Andre Crouch.

Who ­ ­within your personal network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­ ? ­Parents, Partner, Friends, NICU staf­f?  ­My mother, my godmother, and the NICU staff. Once my mother and godmother went back to our home town, my best friends flew in to help me as well.

In what way did you feel like you ­were s­upported by them? Waking up every morning and hearing my mother and godmother in the other room, brought me comfort. Their cooking, cleaning, shopping, and being there gave me strength when I wanted to sob. The NICU staff loved on me! They talked to me, laughed, gave me advice, encouragement, and most of all – cared for my son as if he was theirs. Knowing you have people who are dedicated to taking care of your baby like that gives you a different kind of peace.  A peace that no one (in addition to God) can give you.

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Who ­ ­within your internet network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­ ? ­was there a­ ­Facebook, twitter, goo­gle plus community­ or communities? ­Onl­ine forum In what way did you feel li­ke­ you were supported by them? No one online (I didn’t know or had the mind to look up any NICU groups). There wasn’t a site or network that gripped my attention. But at the same time, I didn’t know or think to look up a network. I didn’t post anything on social media because he was so tiny and fragile.  I wasn’t ready to share with the world that side of my son.

What are some of your favorite tools, resources or gadgets that made your NICU journey easier? My Bible, discovering crafts (JoAnn’s Fabrics & Michaels), my mother and godmother.

Can you share with us a good NICU day fo­­r your ­child (a triumph)? ­ ­What was­ the day were you need support and strength?  Our triumph was coming off of room air.  The hospital gave me steroid shots when I was admitted in hopes to help make his lungs better, since I was going to deliver early.  So, when he was born, he didn’t need oxygen, but just room air. He would go up and down with it; sometimes hold his breathe and completely forget to breath. So the day he came completely off of it, I burst into tears, because I knew that was a big step for him.

The day I needed support and strength was when he had to take a few steps back. He was placed back on room air, and all of his feedings went back to the tube.  Earlier that week, he had busy days. He had his eye exam, hearing test, a shot, his first bottle feedings, and a bath.  That was a lot for him! So by the end of the week, he was back on room air, sleeping all the way through his feedings and only being fed by tube.  To overcome the little things, make huge leaps, and then go all the back was heartbreaking. Because you pray for those big steps and success so you can finally go home. I need my family and thank God they were there.

 

If you could share one tidbit with other­­ NICU parents what would it be?! Take each day and each moment one step at a time. You’re going to want to jump through the hurdles quickly so you can go home and enjoy your baby; and you will. Worrying, stressing, and being negative only breaks down your body and mindset. You must take care of you in order to continue the journey. In due time, you will bring your baby home. But for the time being, don’t stress, focus on pumping, taking care of you, getting rest, being positive, creating positive memories, and taking it all in. Just one step at a time.

Is there anything else you would like to share? Out of our journey an experience, I founded my nonprofit organization that is totally geared towards assisting NICU families.  From pregnancy to the NICU, and being discharged, I was unemployed. It was hard. Trying to pay bills and focus on your baby in the NICU was overwhelming.  So, I founded Maison Alexander Support Group Inc. – we specialize in assisting neonatal families in need during their time in the NICU.   MASG INC. understands the NICU journey can be overwhelming.  From the constant hospital visits, to transportation, breast pumping around the clock, adjusting with existing family in the home, to medical issues, bills and more.  MASG INC. provides our very own “NICU Buddy Program” along with our “Pump, Eat & Sleep” brochure, gas cards, food cards, premature clothing, infant items, and additional searches for different venues to provide for the families in need.


Parent2Parent: Shana

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How many kids to do you have? I have one living, Shiloh

How many kids do you have with a NICU jo­­urney? Just Shiloh

How long was the stay within in the NICU­­? 94 Days, from May 8, 2012 to Aug 9, 2012

Where did you draw strength from while i­­n the NICU? I knew that I had to just make goals (not necessarily, Shiloh’s goals like eating, breathing, etc.) like, I will get through today without being negative or I will think of 5 things that are better than they were yesterday.

Was it a song, ­ a Scriptu­re, ­ a quote? Can you share it with us­?­ Three little Birds by Bob Marley was my mantra, and the song I would sing to Shiloh daily as I held her, “Don’t worry about a thing, cuz everything little thing will be alright”

Who ­ ­within your personal network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­? ­Parents, Partner, Friends, NICU staf­f? ­My family tried to help, but they were at a lost, so many times I had to find the strength within myself. Luckily, my Gramma called me daily and would help keep my spirits up.

In what way did you feel like you ­were s­upported by them? Lots of laughs, and encouraging words

Who ­ ­within your internet network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­? ­was there a ­Facebook, twitter, goo­gle plus community­ or communities? ­Onl­ine forum in what way did you feel li­ke­ you were supported by them? I really didn’t spend much time talking online during those 3 months, I would get on long enough to post updates but I was too consumed with Shiloh.

What are some of your favorite tools, resources or gadgets that made your NICU journey easier? Journaling was the best for me, I knew I could write anything and everything without judgement and then later go back and read it and know that I got through another day.

Can you share with us a good NICU day fo­­r your ­child (a triumph)? ­ What was­ the day were you need support a­nd stre­ngth? The best day was obviously the day they said, “You can take your daughter home”, but we had lots of good days, because to me any day that she continued to fight for her place on this planet was a good day.

The worst day was the day we almost lost her. On Thursday, June 21st, I walked into the ICN to a very noisy room, and the sound of every alarm on Shiloh’s monitors going off, but before I completely freaked, I decided to check on her to hoping that is was just a machine malfunction. As I walked to her crib I notice my baby girl was ashen blue and was not breathing at all. Of course I immediately began to freak out. I tried to stimulate her in hopes that she would take a breath, fearing that my little girl was already gone, and yelled out to the nurse that my baby was blue. The nurse came running, tried to suction out her mouth, and then said the words I was hoping I wouldn’t have to hear, “Get her team in here, we have a code blue”.

I ran to the hall and watched as a team of 7 people rushed to my baby’s bed. I then leaned against the wall, praying like I had never done in my life, just saying over and over, “God, please do not take my baby girl, I will do anything just don’t take her”. About 30 seconds later I heard the most beautiful sound in the world, my little baby, crying. The charge nurse came out, and told me I could go in and hold her, but she had aspirated on some formula, and would probably need some breathing support.

As I held my little Monkey, I felt a love that I have never felt before (don’t get me wrong, I have loved her so incredibly since the second I found out I was pregnant, but after feeling like I was going to lose her, my love only grew stronger). To feel her tiny breath against my cheek, to hear her baby cries, I felt like I was given a second chance, and I guess in a way I was.

Then the questions set in. How long had the alarms been going off? Even though it was a little noisy, why had neither one of the nurses heard her alarms? And the worse question, what would have happened if I hadn’t walked in when I did?

After x-rays, we found she had collapsed her left lung and would most likely have pneumonia. She was put on a ventilator and was given morphine for the pain. It was then in it all hit me again. My 6 week old baby girl, who had been healthy since the day she was born at just a little over two pounds, now had a collapsed lung and pneumonia, because of a careless mistake.

I sat there, crying again, feeling helpless. Wanting nothing more than to wrap her in my arms and hold her, knowing that I couldn’t because she was on so many tubes, and had multiple IVs. I just sat there staring at her swollen body, hoping she wasn’t in too much pain.

It was then that Graham and I had a chance to actually sit down and talk to her doctor. He told us that she would be getting antibiotics to help minimize her pneumonia, and that, because she probably only went without breathing for 3-4 minutes, and that she still had a heartbeat, she most likely would not have any brain damage. But because of the degree of aspiration she might have lung damage. And then the only thing I didn’t really want to hear, had I not walked in when I did, she would have probably died. That as helpless as I felt at that moment, I had actually saved my baby’s life.

If you could share one tidbit with other­­ NICU parents what would it be?! DON’T GIVE UP!

Is there anything else you would like to share? I am free to answer any questions, or talk about my experiences

 

 

 



Parent2Parent: Jennifer, Founder of Lily’s Hope Foundation

My husband, Justin, and I have two children, Lily and Aidan.  Our daughter, Lilian Hope, was born 7 weeks premature, only 2 lbs. 12 oz. and 15 inches long in July 2007.   She was born early because of preeclampsia and a placental abruption; small for 33 weeks gestational age.  She almost didn’t make it through her first day of life, but thanks to the amazing doctors and nurses at Lehigh Valley Hospital, they saved her life.  She was on a ventilator and oscillator for 7 days, had a chest tube, and spent almost 1 month in the NICU. Later she had speech and physical therapies. Lily struggled with gastrointestinal issues, failure to thrive, had surgery and saw specialists at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at age 5.

Additionally, our son, Aidan Patrick, was born October 2013, 3 weeks premature at 5 lbs. 2 oz. and 18 1/2 inches long. He has gastrointestinal and pulmonary issues like Lily, as well as severe allergies and asthma due to his prematurity, and sees specialists at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. He also went through early intervention also for physical and speech therapy like Lily.

I drew strength from my husband, my family, my faith, and from the information that was given to me by the doctors and nurses.  Lily was born in 2007, and at that time there really wasn’t much information at my disposal like there is now.  I think through all of Lily’s and Aidan’s difficult periods due to prematurity, I held onto hope.  I always believed they could get through it, even though the periods of transition and sickness were difficult.

I would like to share a few of my thoughts with new NICU parents:

  • Find the strength within yourself, your child, immediately family and friends, to get through each day in the NICU and when you go home. This is a tough time, but you can do it.
  • Be present in the moment with your new little one. Appreciate their milestones and trust in his or her progress.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the medical staff around you.
  • Educate yourself as much as possible about this new situation you are in.
  • Take advantage of all the resources available to you.
  • You are not alone. There are many families with preemies out there, and many support groups at your fingertips.
  • There is hope in all difficult situations. You can do this.

 

The Lily’s Hope Foundation supports babies, children, and their families with unexpected and urgent needs due to premature birth. 



CareNav’s NICU Survival Guide I

Connect2NICU asks: 25% of families know that their baby will be born preterm and 75% of families do not know they will have a preterm baby. If you do end up in the NICU, do you have any advice or survival tips for families with babies in the NICU?

Here is a compilation of advice from our CareNav nurses:
Bringing a child into the world is nothing short of a miracle. It’s not comforting to think about, but even if you do everything “right”, there can always be circumstances beyond your control. Whether you have been told to plan for a stay in the NICU or it’s unexpected, here are CareNav’s survival tips for orienting yourself to the NICU.

1) Try to see your baby as soon as possible.
It may mean getting there in a wheelchair or going there in a post-anesthesia fog, but the sooner you see the new life you have brought into this world, the better off you will both be.

2) Before you go, ask the nurses or doctors what you can expect to see.

The equipment and tubing that will help your baby get well are second nature and invisible to the staff that works with them every day, but it is best to be prepared to the extent possible. It may be hard to hear about what to expect or it may be hard to grasp what they are saying, but it will help you get oriented to the new environment. And don’t be afraid to ask questions!

3) Plan to practice great infection prevention starting with hand hygiene
Newborns, especially those who get a rough start to life, are susceptible to infection. Depending on the type of NICU and the babies they have, don’t be surprised if you are asked to cover your clothes with a hospital type gown. Always sanitize your hands before entering the NICU and make sure others do the same. Good, thorough handwashing is better than Purell type liquids. Keep anyone sick (or who has been exposed to illness) far away from yourselves and the baby.

4) Try to connect to your baby as much as possible.
If circumstances allow, try to touch your baby skin to skin as much as possible. Studies suggest that this is very important for the infant and for you. Speak to the baby or sing to them, to the extent that it doesn’t disrupt other families. The baby has been hearing your voice for months, and continuing to hear your voice is important for their development.
Also, if at all possible, breast-feed, even if that means pumping your milk and having the nurses give it to the baby. As far as science has come, they haven’t been able to replicate the nutrients and antibodies in mother’s milk. It’s something that you and only you can do for your newborn.

5) Get familiar with the monitoring machines, but block out the noise.

The beeps and bleeps of the NICU are part of the rhythm. You will make it harder on yourself if you try to follow every signal, but it is comforting to have a sense of what is being monitored. That having been said, be aware that although the NICU is full of other families, noises, and beeping, focusing in on your family and trying to stay calm amidst the commotion is a tall order but you are up to the task!

6) Understand the hospital schedule
All hospital staff works on shifts. So every 8 – 12 hours, you will be dealing with a fresh team of nurses and doctors. While it is different for different hospitals, find out the basic schedule and make sure you have a chance to talk with and give input to your medical team before the shifts change. It might not work all the time, but the more you understand about their plans for your family and the more they understand your needs and concerns, the better the care will be. Especially pay attention to and try to be present when the shifts change and teams do their “face to face” hand-offs.

7) Make sure you take care of yourself
A NICU stay is a marathon not a sprint. No matter how long you end up there. Make sure to take care of yourself. EAT. SLEEP. Get some fresh air. You can’t take care of your little one if you are completely drained.

8) Say yes to help
Friends, neighbors, and family will ask what they can do to help, and you may not even know where to start. Make a list, and always say yes. It’s good for you and good for them. If not for yourself, then let them help with your other children or help you do something nice to help your significant other. And if they don’t ask, learn to ask for help. There are lots of unknowns in the hospital, and you always want to preserve your strength when possible.

CareNav is a network of experienced nurses available for one-on-one virtual consultations to empower and facilitate the healthcare experience of patients, caregivers, and their families. If you have more questions, reach out to us and talk to one of our nurses.