A Guiding Hand for Families in NICU and Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 43
Your baby and you
Common questions that parents ask
• How long will my baby be in the NICU/SCN?
• How do I obtain information about my baby?
• Please help me understand what is happening to my baby...
• When may I visit my baby? Who can visit my baby?
• When may I hold and feed my baby?
• May I breastfeed my baby? Who can assist me?
• What can I expect when visiting my baby for the first time?
• My baby is having trouble breathing. What does that mean?
• Who are the people working in the NICU/SCN?
• Can I bring in my own clothes for baby?
• Can I take part in my baby’s care (feeding, bathing, changing)?
• Is there a booklet about the nursery and the facilities available?
Confidently understand your baby’s behaviour
Babies have a number of behavioural states or different levels of
wakefulness ranging from deep sleep to crying. For babies in the neonatal
unit, it can be difficult to tell what state they are in due to medication, illness
or premature birth. Learning behavioural cues will help you to know how
best to care for your baby.
Understanding your baby’s behaviour can help you to:
• recognise when your baby is asleep to ensure they
can get as much as possible
• tell when your baby is comfortable or not and learn
what strategies helps to calm them
• learn which positions your baby finds the most
comfortable
• know what types of stimulation and levels your baby
enjoys and will accept
• master feeding your baby - successful feeding is
based on understanding signs that tell you when to
feed, when your baby needs a break or when they
are satisfied.
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
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