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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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 …

Breastfeeding a premature baby at home, after it has been in the NICU, will often be very similar to how it was in the hospital.  Many parents come home with the expectations that breastfeeding will progress into that of a newborn baby very quickly.  This is not always the case.
It is common in NICUs to send premature babies home a week or two before their original birth date.  A 31-week preterm infant could, in theory, be sent home healthy at around 38 weeks, still 2 weeks early!  Because of this, it …

Mothers deciding to breastfeed have a very positive list of breastfeeding benefits, not only for their baby, but for themselves as well.  Whether a mother’s infant is in the NICU or at home, breastfeeding benefits may be surprisingly more prevalent than most moms expect.
In the NICU, parents are often forced to deal with the separation that occurs when their baby goes into the intensive care unit.  This separation can be very difficult, especially for the mother.  Natural protective instincts create an irrespressible desire to be with their baby at all times.
Fortunately, in …

Neonatal acne, also referred to as acne neonatorum, in an infant or newborn baby can be a concern for many first time parents.  Neonatal acne is a common condition that affects nearly 20% of all newborn babies.  While the initial onset of the baby pimples can be alarming, they are actually quite harmless, and disappear in a matter of weeks.
Neonatal acne can occur when the baby’s sebaceous glands are stimulated by the mother’s hormones after birth.  The sebaceous glands are glands found most commonly in the face and scalp, and …

If my baby is in the NICU, can I sign my initials to verify a nurse’s lab specimen collection of my infant’s blood, etc.?  For most NICUs, the answer would be yes.  When a nurse draws blood, or another type of specimen, they are required to initial the lab label, which has the baby’s name, type of lab to be done, and patient identity numbers.  It may also include an area to enter the date and time the specimen was collected.  A nurse will fill this information out and sign it …