Q1: What do I need to know about the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit?
If you are aware that your baby is due to be born early it’s a good idea to request a visit to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to familiarise yourself with the surroundings.
Request a contact number for the NICU so that you can ring the unit from home after you have been discharged.
Enquire if your NICU has family facilities, i.e. a family room, cooking facilities, tea or coffee-making facilities, a fridge to store food that you may bring from home, a water fountain, charging points for phones, and lockers.
Many NICUs have introduction packs for families new to the NICU. Ask if your unit has such a pack, if they provide any useful printed resources to help you navigate the journey ahead if peer-to-peer support is available, if there's an internal Family Support group, if psychological support is available and if there are community-based advocacy organisations with whom you can connect.
Many NICUs provide discounted or free parking to families with children in the unit and discounted local accommodation for families, so enquire what is required to access these facilities.
Q2: What should I bring to the Neonatal Unit?
The NICU can be a very warm environment. Wear loose comfortable clothing that buttons down the front to enable you to do skin-to-skin contact with your baby.
The following items are also useful for the long days in the NICU:
Deodorant
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Face wipes
Tissues
Phone charger
Notebook
Pen
Change of clothes
Bring a water bottle and be sure to stay well hydrated throughout the day.
If your NICU provides facilities for families to eat, i.e. a fridge or microwave, try to eat nutritious healthy food and avoid junk or processed foods where possible. Many NICUs provide access to the staff restaurant to families in the NICU. Enquire if your unit provides this option.
Journaling is a lovely way to capture and record your baby's NICU journey in addition to providing an opportunity for you to process the many emotions associated with a preterm delivery.
Enquire if your unit permits the use of mobile phones to take photos and videos of your baby. There will be strict guidelines around the use of photography in the NICU, so familiarise yourself with the unit guidelines.
Bring a small mirror into the unit so that you can look at your baby's face while doing skin-to-skin contact.
Q3: What can I do to take care of myself when I have a baby in the NICU?
Preterm birth is a traumatic and stressful event and is associated with higher rates of post-natal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Families of preterm babies have lost the experience of a full-term pregnancy, the birth they had hoped for, and they begin their parenting journey in an environment that many never knew existed. They often feel ill equipped to care for their preterm baby and spending time in the highly charged environment of a NICU can be emotionally draining and stressful for families.
To help you manage this period it is advisable to enlist the help of extended family and friends who can take care of some of the day-to-day practicalities associated with having a baby in hospital. Ask friends and family to:
Cook meals
Do the shopping
Take care of your garden
Do your laundry/ironing
Take care of other children
Do school runs
Do the housework
Drive and collect you from the hospital
Most NICUs provide psychological support to families with babies in the NICU. Ask if your NICU offers this service and if not if they can signpost you to community-based support.
If you are concerned about your mental health, are not sleeping or are having intrusive thoughts, speak with your General Practitioner who will be able to provide you with the appropriate treatment.
The days in the NICU can be very long. Be sure to take breaks, go for a walk in the fresh air, practice mindfulness, stay hydrated and try to eat healthy nutritious meals.
Consider daily journaling as an outlet for recording your thoughts and emotions.
Leaving your baby in the NICU every night to return to your home is the hardest thing for every parent to do. Whilst it's understandably difficult to sleep, you must try to get as much good quality sleep as possible to stay healthy.
Q4: How can I involve siblings?
The majority of Irish NICUs do not permit siblings on the unit. This can result in many months passing before siblings get to meet their new brother or sister.
Preterm birth impacts the entire family including siblings and it’s important to involve them by taking lots of photographs and videos of the new baby.
Encourage siblings to draw pictures and write notes to the new baby.
It's important to use age-appropriate language when explaining the situation to younger children as it can be confusing for them not to be able to see their new brother or sister.
Allowing children to express their feelings, thoughts and concerns through the medium of play, art, dance, etc will help you gauge how the situation may be affecting them and when to seek professional intervention.