by Kimberly Solis
For all parents, be physically present and be involved in their daily care like changing their diapers, feeding time, and bath care. Your presence alone means so much for your little one in overcoming this traumatic and stressful moment in their life.
Don’t be afraid to let the doctors and nurses know that you want to be involved w/ their care while in the NICU. Advocate for your baby, if something doesn’t feel right to you, let your health care team know, and ask a lot of questions especially for first time parents and don’t stop asking these questions until they address your concerns.
For mamas who want to breastfeed, let your health care team know so they can help you and your baby with your breastfeeding journey. If you are a first time mama and want to breastfeed, and doesn’t know how to do it, or is having difficulty with your milk supply, please ask your health care team for a lactation consultant who can help you address all these issues.
Having a preemie baby is HARD. It causes emotional and physical toll on your body, and it is OKAY to seek therapy, and reach out to your social workers in your NICU for support.
For first time parents, don’t be shy or hesitate to ask your health care team for help if you don’t know how to do basic care for your baby. They’re more than than willing to teach and show you how to do stuff like putting on a diaper, feeding and bathing your little one before taking your little one home.
For all daddies, please be supportive to your partners. They need you more than ever. Giving birth is one of the hardest and traumatic things a woman’s body goes through. Let alone delivering a premature little baby. Please make sure your partner can physically and emotionally rely on you, and be involved in caring for your preemie baby. You and your partner are in this together.
Talk to your baby. Tell them how much you love them, tell them stories, read them books. They may look so tiny and fragile, but I believe that they listen, and gets familiar with your voice, and this alone helps them stay strong and keep on fighting.
Lastly, preemie babies are built different. They’re unique, and one of the strongest people I know.
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