When a mother has a high risk pregnancy, there is a possibility that her baby could be born prematurely, and would need to be placed in the NICU, or neonatal intensive care unit. There is also the chance that a baby could be delivered unexpectedly early to a mother with a normal pregnancy. Regardless of how the preterm delivery came about, many parents are faced with thereality of having a baby in the NICU.
The goal of this article is to prepare parents for what they can expect to see when …
Premature Infant Appearance in the NICU
In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, babies born prematurely are often admitted to the unit for critical care. Neonatal infants are not fully developed, as prematurity involves some unique physical traits. Parents with a premature infant will see their tiny baby, who will look very different that a full-term newborn infant.
Eyes
In extremely premature infants, it is possible for the eyelids to remain fused at birth. In time, the eyes will open, which can be a truly unique and exciting experience for the parents.
Skin
Photo by …
Infant Gestational Age in the NICU
When an infant is born, their gestational age is calculated by the total mount of time in utero, or inside the mother’s uterus. The neonatal intensive care unit will often admit premature babies, also called preemies or preterm infants.
So what exactly defines a premature gestational age? The following gestations are a general guideline for prematurity:
Premature – Under 37 weeks gestation. Infants with a gestational age of 36 weeks and below are considered premature.
Term – Anywhere from 37 weeks to 42 weeks gestation.
Post Term – Any …
NICU Infant Weights
An infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, has their weight measured on a daily basis. An infant or premature baby’s weight is an important number to know, as it can affect everything from diet and nutrition to medications.
Neonatologists and Pediatricians will carefully monitor an NICU infant’s weight to determine the best possible care plan. Many parents with babies in the NICU generally expect to see a weight in pounds. However, in the NICU, the common measurement used is actually in grams. Measuring in grams is a far more …
PURELY YOURS ULTRA™ BREAST PUMP WITH CUSTOMFIT™ FLANGES
A Custom Approach – Because Every Mom is Unique
Ameda knows moms respond differently to different pumping patterns. Purely Yours Ultra’s CustomControl™ dual adjustability has separate suction and speed dials that let you choose from 32 different combinations to customize your pumping experience for the best results every time
Ameda takes customization a step further with its CustomFit Flange System™. Moms need their breast pump flange to fit properly for greatest comfort and better milk flow. Because flange fit can change with birth, breastfeeding and …
How much breast milk should I pump per day? This is an extraordinarily common question many mothers ask, especially first-time moms new to breastfeeding. The motherly instinct to provide the best possible nutrition for her baby has create certain uncertainties that need answers.
When finding out how much breast milk a mom should pump per day, she should seek the advice of her OB/GYN and/or her baby’s pediatrician. These two resources will be invaluable assets in terms of breastfeeding advice.
Another way of determining the amount of breast milk a baby needs …
Every NICU will have unique policies in regards to labeling and storing breast milk. Because of this, it is important for a mother to ask the baby’s NICU nurse what should specifically be done in regards to the laebling and storing of her breast milk.
A common practice for many NICUs is to have the mother use a label that has her baby’s name and medical record number on it. These labels will be placed on the storage container for the breast milk. It should have the date and time the …
When a premature infant is born, they are usually not ready to breastfeed immediately after birth. In fact, it may be days, weeks, or months before the baby is ready to breastfeed, depending on how early the infant was born, or the severity of the condition keeping the child in the NICU.
It is important for mothers to begin expressing their breast milk very soon after birth, because this provides the first form of breast millk, colostrum. Colostrum is a nutrient-packed form of breast milk that protects a baby from disease …
Renting a breast pump is a very important part of expressing milk for a baby. Mothers with a preterm infant will often find themselves unable to breastfeed, due to their baby’s prematurity. regardless of the circumstances, renting a breast pump is a tremendous asset in the care and feeding of a baby.
The best type of breast pump would be a hospital-grade pump, that has a dual collecting kit, which enables the pump to collect breast milk from both breasts at the same time. These are generally electric, but there are …
