Navigating Life As A NICU Mom
When your baby ends up needing care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), it means that your parenting journey has taken an unexpected turn. This time can be filled with a myriad of emotions. You may be feeling overwhelmed, hopeful, scared, worried and uncertain of the future. These are all normal and valid emotions to have. Whether your baby was recently admitted or you’re waiting in anticipation to bring home your NICU graduate, check out this helpful guide to navigating life as a NICU mom.
Understanding the NICU
The NICU experience can bring a whirlwind of emotions. Here’s how you can navigate the NICU journey.
Your baby is in the best place for what they need right now: As much as you had hoped to bring your baby home after delivery, the NICU is uniquely staffed with professionals who are experts in caring for critically ill newborns.There’s no better place for your baby to grow stronger and healthier to give them the best chance possible for a healthy life.
Manage your expectations: The road ahead might seem rocky and unpredictable. Try to take things one moment at a time, one day at a time. Things can either feel like they’re changing rapidly or not changing soon enough.
Celebrate everything: Any improvement is progress so celebrate all the small wins that happen. Every day without a new complication or a setback is a victory.
Your Self-Care
While your baby is getting the best care possible, it’s important for you to also take good care of yourself. This can be a challenge when it’s tempting to spend as much as time as possible with your little one in the hospital. Don’t underestimate the emotional and physical toll of having an infant in the NICU is significant so how you take care of yourself matters. Here are a few things to consider in providing your own care.
Pay attention to the basics: Quality sleep, nourishing your body well, staying hydrated and taking breaks when possible.
Seek support: Attending a NICU support group, seeing a counselor, getting emotional support from family and friends.
Stay informed: Knowing what’s happening with your baby’s care, how they are progressing and what challenges they are experiencing will help you stay updated on the day to day changes. Ask questions about anything you don’t understand. Don’t be afraid to advocate for your baby. You will also feel better knowing that you’re playing an active role in the care of your child and the decisions that are being made.
Acknowledge how you feel: Give yourself permission to feel all your emotions. Having a baby NICU is an emotional rollercoaster so it’s okay to feel lots of things.
Connecting With Your Baby
Just because your baby is in the NICU does not mean you can’t bond with your baby. Here are a few helpful things you can do to facilitate bonding.
Kangaroo Care: This is skin to skin contact by holding your baby in just a diaper against your bare chest. Kangaroo care is known to help infants grow, reduce infant mortality, regulate
breathing and heart rate and increase maternal triggers for milk production. The benefits are numerous for both babies and parents. Skin on skin contact during kangaroo care also triggers the release of oxytocin in parents.
Interact with your baby: You can talk to your baby, sing to them as well as read to them. Even though there’s a lot happening in the NICU, you can provide a familiar and comforting voice to your baby.
Be involved: You can be as involved as you’d like to be or is as feasible for your baby. When possible, be involved in diaper changes, feeding and dressing your baby. This also helps with bonding and helps increase your confidence in caring for your baby. Your parenting journey doesn’t start when they come home so get active and involved as soon as possible.
Life After Discharge
Getting ready to bring your baby home can feel exciting and also intimidating. Here’s how to get ready as you plan for the future. Making it this far is a testament to the resilience and strength of both you and your baby.
Ask about a transition plan: Be familiar with any equipment your baby will need for ongoing care when they come home.
Schedule appointments: Get information and schedule any follow up appointments your baby will need.
Be patient: Be patient with yourself and your baby. This is a big transition for everyone and time to adjust will be needed. You and your baby made it this far! The journey doesn’t end when your baby comes home.
The NICU journey is a unique and challenging one. It can reveal strength and resilience that perhaps you never knew you had. As you navigate this experience, know that you are not alone. I hope this guide helps you or anyone you know with navigating life as a NICU mom.
