Premature Babies and Their Parents

You have not been able to welcome your baby in the normal way you have been dreaming about. The baby might not even be near you but in an NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) being cared for by other people while you lie on your bed feeling helpless. You might even feel guilty that you have failed your baby in some way. A clear understanding of why babies are born before term can help you at such a time. Before we look at the reasons, let us look at a more positive side. With advances in the medical field, premature babies born even as early as 25 weeks are not only surviving, but also thriving. So you can indeed hope to see that tiny baby grow into a sprightly teenager and a mature adult. Babies can be born prematurely for no reason at all. Nothing could have prevented the premature delivery. So there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty about such births. Instead, focus on what you should do now, which can be quite a lot. Start by asking the doctors and nurses who attend to the baby and clarify all your doubts. You might even be surprised to know that you can hold your baby, even with all the tubes and monitors. Even your spouse might be permitted to do so. Premature babies need loving touches and the warmth of your body even more. One way to do this is to hold the baby close against your skin for a period of time each day. This is known as Kangaroo care, and has shown benefits that seem nothing short of magic. It helps not only the baby but also the mom making her feel more like a mother and reducing her stress levels. Even dads can do this. Then there are medications that can also help the premature babies grow, mature and even go home earlier. So if you happen to deliver a premature baby, don?t feel all that shocked and devastated. There are people to help you. The people at NICU are quite familiar with the feelings of parents with premature babies and will try to involve you as much as possible in caring for the baby. You will also get plenty of advice, particularly if you ask specific questions. Parents of premature babies can also get help from reading relevant books and joining support groups of similar parents. So, even if you have to leave the hospital without your baby, don?t feel all that devastated.