My Baby is in the NICU!
First, take a breath. A lot likely happened quickly and you need to remember to breathe. Your baby is in good hands and there is no place for guilt or shame here.
Helpful Hints:
Take a wheel chair to the NICU for the week, even if you are discharged. Your body is not meant to be walking back and forth immediately after birth.
Swap blankets with your baby. Getting your scent on a blanket will help comfort baby and your baby’s scent will help comfort you (and help with bringing in your milk.)
Do skin to skin as often as possible and wear clothing that facilitates this easily.
Get a long phone charger or extension cord so you can be plugged in while holding or being close to your baby.
Have a journal to write down all the things, including your feelings and questions.
Find a way to play music, whether for your baby or just you. Music can be so healing!
Know your NICU rules:
There are often visitor limits, make sure you are aware before you let family members meet your baby. The rules may be different for daytime and nighttime.
You may not be able to bring food into the NICU, but a lot of them offer a kitchen with a fridge, where you can store and eat your food when needed.
Request your favorite nurse/care provider and fire the ones you don’t care for.
Breastfeeding Support:
Ask for the Lactaction Consultant ASAP!
The hospital will supply you with a pump if you don’t have one.
Pump at least every 4 hours, even if you aren’t able to breastfeed immediately.
You usually have options when it comes to supplementation-your own breastmilk, donor milk, and formula.
The more you are able to touch your baby, hold your baby, smell your baby, or even look at photos of your baby, the better your milk will come in. It may take time, and that’s okay. Keep working at it!
Eat and hydrate, even if you don’t feel like it. Having enough calories is the best way to support your own healing and start producing milk. You need to eat around the clock, at least every time you feed or pump.
Additional Support:
Ask for help, even when it’s hard.
Assign one person you trust to communicate with everyone. Your phone will feel overwhelming, even though people mean well. Decide who gets informed.
Set up a meal train and a way to accept monetary donations for ordering food.
Make a list of what needs you have. It’s a lot to manage, so delegate where you can.
Allow for family, friends, or professional services to assist with caring for other children, chores, pets, and any errands or immediate needs that come up.
Ask about support groups and other resources the hospital may have.
Lastly, give yourself and your partner so much grace. You are in this together.
