Time in the NICU

• Take it one day at a time.  Most often a baby’s stay in the NICU is a very emotional time for the family.  Conditions change rapidly, and the baby can experience ups and downs over the course of a day.
• Visit the nursery regularly and participate in as much care as your babies will tolerate.  The only time you should not visit is if your health is compromised.  You will want to find a healthy balance of visiting your babies, but not overdoing it.  Take advantage of the fact that the babies have around the clock expert care when you are not there.  You can always call the NICU to check on your babies.
• Stagger visits to the hospital with your partner.  Your partner can visit in the morning and drop off breastmilk that you pumped overnight.  Then you can sleep in and visit later in the morning.  Your husband might return to the hospital in the evening for a feeding and to bring more pumped milk.    
• Do “Kangaroo Care” with your multiples.  The practice of skin-to-skin contact between a baby and the mother or father is very beneficial.  Not only is it a great way to bond, but the baby’s health improves as the vital signs stabilize.
• If you would like to breastfeed your multiples, meet with a lactation consultant as soon as you can.  We also suggest that you rent a hospital grade breast pump, as it is much more efficient than anything you can buy.  Begin pumping around the clock, as it is important to establish your milk supply. 
• Ask if your multiples can share a bed.  Most often multiples who share an incubator tend to help each other stabilize.  You can also ask if you can bring a baby blanket (or other small item like a cross) from home to place in the bed. 
• Limit visitors in the NICU.  Preemies do not tolerate a lot of activity.  It is okay to request that your friends and family members wait to visit until after your babies are home.  Make sure that all visitors are healthy, whether it is at the hospital or at your home. 
• Take good care of yourself.  Be sure to eat nutritious meals, and try to get as much sleep as you can.  If you can, find a way to help relieve the stress.  Sometimes just getting outside for a short walk can help.  You might also want to keep a journal about your experience.  
• Accept all offers of help, particularly if you have other children at home.
• Usually a baby in the NICU will be able to go home within a couple weeks of the due date.  Your doctor will be able to provide more information.  Typically, there are several tests that a baby must pass before being discharged from the NICU.  The baby must be able to maintain his/her temperature outside of the warmed bed.  The baby needs to be able to suck, swallow, and breathe without any trouble.  The baby needs to be able to either breastfeed or take a bottle, and must be gaining weight.    

NICU Survival: A Commentary

I have always believed unwaveringly that we are never given more in life than we can handle.  My twins’ stay in the NICU challenged that belief to the core. Read the complete story . . .