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

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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 …

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 …

What are the causes of birth defects?  What causes birth defects to occur?  These are common questions asked by parents who are expecting a baby with a congenital birth defect.  There can be many reasons why birth defects happen, but the actual causes of birth defects generally are unknown.
Parents seeking the cause of their infant’s birth defect are often left with many questions unanswered.  This can lead to frustration, because it can leave them questioning many of their actions and events during pregnancy.  Other times, however, the resulting birth defect can be pin-pointed, …

What is a birth injury? A birth injury is also known as birth trauma, which consists of an injury that occurs during birth, usually while the infant is in the birth canal.  There are a number of reasons a birth injury may occur, with the results varying from mild to severe.
It is hard to predict when a birth injury may occur, and for parents, it can be a very worrisome and stressful event.  Depending on the severity of the birth injury, the infant may be admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit …

Congenital birth defects refer to health problems present at the time of a baby’s birth.  These can be visible, physical abnormalities, or they can be internal birth defects, related to the infant’s overall health.  Congenital birth defects can be diagnosed during pregnancy, though it is not uncommon to discover them at the time of birth.  The term “congenital” simply means present at birth.
The severity of a congenital birth defect can vary from mild to severe.  An infant with a mild birth defect may appear as a normal newborn baby would, …