Parents anticipating a premature baby have much to think about. Knowing what to expect with a premature baby and a preterm delivery can help parents prepare for their upcoming NICU experience. In a preterm delivery, NICU staff will be present with the Labor and Delivery staff. This higher amount of hospital staff is crucial to attending to the critical needs of the baby.
For parents expecting a preterm delivery, in the delivery room you will likely see the OB, Labor and Delivery Nurse, a scrub tech, a NICU Neonatologist or Practitioner, a NICU nurse, and a repspiratory therapist. There also will be an anesthesiologist present for c-sections. Depending on the severity of the complications for mother or baby, there may be additional nurses present as well.
The NICU team consists of the neonatal doctor and/or practitioner, NICU nurse, and respiratory therapist. This team will stablilize the premature baby, or neonate, in a special NICU bed within the delivery room. The respiratory therapist will assist in oxygen management, and help set the infant up on whatever breathing machine is necessary upon entering the NICU (if required).
After Birth
When the premature baby is born, NICU staff will go immediately into action to stabilize the neonate. Depending on the condition of the infant, the staff may or may not be able to allow the mother and father to hold the baby. For more severe prematurity, often the NICU staff must rush the baby back over to the NICU for optimal care. This can be hard on parents, because the first moments of their baby’s life can be overwhelming as life-saving measures are taken to help the premature infant.
Parents need to understand that these first minutes and hours are crucial and important to the overall health of their new baby. It is going to be tough, as there is often very little bonding time allowed in those first few moments.
Once the NICU team has left, it can take up to a couple hours to stabilize the neonate to a point where the parents can come visit. This time is painstakingly slow for a NICU mom and dad, but it is important to remember that these first few hours are extremely critical, so letting the NICU staff care for the baby is of utmost importance.
That said, it is very important that parents are allowed to bond with their baby. NICU staff will accomodate this as much as possible after the infant is stabilized, because they want the parents to be able to hold and touch their baby.
There are limitations to physical contact with extremely premature infants because too much stimulation can actually have negative side effects. The NICU doctor or nurse can help outline the best option for bonding with a preterm baby.
Dads
Dads of preterm infants, while mom is still in bed recovering from delivery, it is often you who will be the first one to check on your baby in the NICU. Remember when your preemie is born, the NICU will stabilize the baby in the Labor and Delivery room, and then take the neonate over to the NICU.
While your first instincts will be to rush over to the NICU to check on your baby, remember they need time to stabilize the infant. One good option to checking when it is okay to visit is to ask your Labor and Delivery nurse for the NICU phone number, and call the NICU front desk to check on the status of your new baby, as well as when you will be allowed to start visiting.
Understanding the NICU Process
In summary, parents expecting a preterm delivery should be aware that there will be a number of medical staff in their room. The NICU team will stabilize the premature infant in the room, then move it quickly to the NICU.
Parents may or may not have the ability to hold their infant immediately after birth or stabilization, but as soon as the infant is comfortable and optimal care has been given, they will have the opportunity from then on to be with their new baby.
Updated: June 2011
