A Guiding Hand for Families in Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 49
Special Care Nursery (SCN)
REMEMBER:
You are doing
the best you can,
so give yourself
a break.
If you feel like you or your partner are not coping well then it could be very
helpful to talk with a trained counsellor at the hospital.
The Life’s Little Treasures Foundation also runs 3 NICU Connections
groups every week, including a dads group where you can talk to trained
peer support staff.
Bonding with a premature or sick baby can take time
If you haven’t connected with your baby in the way you’d imagined it would
happen, don’t despair. Both you and your baby may need time to recover
from the shock of your experiences and to relax before you can start to enjoy
a feeling of closeness. Your baby does know who you are, but it may just take
time. Please don’t suffer in silence – if it’s upsetting you, talk to someone.
Here are some ideas on how to bond with your baby:
• Reading, talking and singing
• Kangaroo Care
• Participating in baby’s care – change
nappies, hold feeding tube or bottle
• Taking photos
• Personalising baby’s cot
• If there are other siblings, organise
for them to come in so you can have
family time together
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
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