World Prematurity Day
November 17th marks World Prematurity Day, dedicated to raising awareness about premature birth and its global impact on families. The journey through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a complex and emotionally taxing experience that no one can fully prepare for. As a NICU Nurse, it is a privilege to walk beside families as they navigate premature birth and separation from their baby in the NICU. In this post, I would like to explore ways to support NICU families whilst offering a little guidance on self-care for parents navigating this journey.
How Others Can Support Families in the NICU:
Meal Train and Vouchers: Provide practical support by organising a meal train or offering meal and fuel vouchers. Navigating the NICU is emotionally draining, and easing the burden on families with one less thing to worry about can make a world of difference.
Childcare for Older Siblings: If the family has older children, offering to spend time with them allows parents to focus on their baby in the nursery. Providing a sense of normalcy for older siblings can help maintain stability during a challenging time.
Pet Care: Taking care of pets or walking animals ensures the family's furry loved ones receive the attention they need, contributing to the overall well-being of the entire family.
Navigating the Emotional Challenges:
Acknowledge and Validate Grief: It's crucial to acknowledge and validate the grief and complex emotions that arise when separated from your baby in the NICU. Connect with support groups tailored for parents of premature infants, such as the Miracle Babies Foundation, Life's Little Treasures, or PIPA, which offer valuable resources and a supportive community. Miracle Babies have a 24-hour support line: NurtureLine 1300 622 243.
Supporting Neurodevelopment: You can support your baby’s neurodevelopment through nurturing care, responding to their cues, and communication both in the NICU and at once discharged home. As parents, you are the only consistent presence in your baby's world: your smell, your touch, your voice are important, providing reassurance and safety to your baby. The presence and care you can provide to your baby, even if it might just be a hand cuddle one day, or perhaps providing your expressed breast milk for your baby's growing needs are so important to your baby's growth and development.
Maximise Every Opportunity for Skin-to-Skin Contact: Skin-to-skin otherwise known as Kangaroo Care has profound benefits for premature infants, promoting physiological stability and fostering improved developmental and cognitive outcomes. Beyond measurable effects, it's a potent tool for bonding between parents and their premature infants
Encourage your co-parent or support person to participate in skin-to-skin care, deepening their connection and providing moments of respite for you as the primary caregiver.
Self-Care for NICU Parents:
Honoring the Body: Prioritise basic self-care, including pain relief, proper meals, and staying hydrated. Creating a comfortable environment is crucial for physical recovery. Ask for a comfortable chair if you need one. The day's can be feel long in the NICU and it's important to honour where your body is at.
Short Breaks: Take short breaks, even for a breath of fresh air. Moments outside can provide a sense of grounding and much-needed respite.
Noise cancelling headphones: Lessens environmental noise, allowing you to listen to calming music or perhaps an audiobook while you spend your days in the NICU. This can provide immense respite from the continuous noise and stimulation in the NICU environment. Loop earplugs are also so great to reduce environmental noise.
Accepting Help: It's okay (and important) to accept help from others, whether it's assistance with daily tasks or emotional support.
Early Support with Breastfeeding:
Seek early support with breastfeeding from an experienced midwife, neonatal nurse or IBCLC.
Many premature infants take time to learn to breastfeed. Ensuring you are well supported with expressing milk and establishing supply will support your breastfeeding journey.
Breastmilk provides many benefits for growing preterm infants and is protective for growth and development.
Donor Human Milk banks are a great alternative if you need additional milk whilst establishing your supply.
Bonding with your baby
Simple yet meaningful moments contribute to the emotional connection between you and your baby. Every interaction with your baby in the NICU is a precious opportunity to connect, establish trust, and respond to their unique cues.
Collaborate with the healthcare team to actively participate in various activities such as nappy changes, hygiene care, skin to skin, reading stories, and providing comfort.
Keep a bedside journal to document your days in the NICU
Maximise Skin-to-Skin contact with your baby: Kangaroo Care fosters bonding, promotes rest and physiological stability for premature infants and supports your baby to learn to feed.
Engage with your baby’s sensory system
Babies experience the world through their senses, and your body, touch, and voice play a vital role in providing rich sensory nourishment.
Observe your baby's behavior, allowing their cues to guide your interactions. For example, a soft and gentle parental voice during conversations or storytime can have a soothing effect on your baby.
Sensory suggestions:
Dim the lights and avoid bright lights whenever possible.
Use unscented body products to allow your baby to recognise your smell.
Warm your hands before touching your baby by washing them with warm water or rubbing them together.
Firm hand cuddle/skin to skin. Avoid light feathry touch as this can cause your baby to feel stressed
Soft, calming voice, read to your baby
Adjusting to Home: A Guided Transition from the NICU:
Bringing a premature baby home from the NICU is a significant milestone, marking the beginning of a unique journey of adjustment. Considerations to help you navigate this transition include:
Gradual Integration into Daily Life: Transitioning to life at home will be an adjustment process that takes time. Allow your baby time to adjust to the new environment. Utilise co-regulation techniques and hold your baby close. Investing in a baby carrier is a great way to support your baby to life at home.
Skin-to-Skin Continuity: Maintain the precious practice of skin-to-skin contact established in the NICU. Regular and extended skin-to-skin sessions at home contribute not only to physical well-being and responsive feeding but also strengthen the emotional bond between parents and their baby.
Professional Guidance and Follow-up: Regular check-ins with healthcare providers offer valuable insights into your baby's progress and provide necessary reassurance. Seeking support from an NDC practitioner can further support you with life at home and responding to your baby’s cues and communication as they develop.
Embracing Flexibility: Acknowledge that each day is different. Flexibility is key. Be open to adjusting plans based on your baby’s cues and needs, allowing for a responsive and nurturing caregiving approach.
Supporting families in the NICU has been my greatest life privilege. World Prematurity Day serves as a reminder to extend empathy, understanding, and practical support to families navigating this journey. By fostering a community of care, we can make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by premature birth.
A reminder to those who have experienced premature birth of the wonderful supportive organisations out there: Miracle Babies @miraclebabiesfoundation, Lifes Little Treasures @lltfoz, PIPA and the 24 hour support line NurtureLine 1300 622 243.
