[Contact]
[Bookstore] [Publications]
[Article Library] [Resources]
[Ronald McDonald Houses] [Mall]
[E-mail Discussion List] [Chat]
|
|
|
Preemie Books
The
Preemie Parents Companion: The Essential Guide to Caring for Your Premature Baby
in the Hospital, at Home, and Through the First Years by Susan L Madden M.S,
William Sears MD, Jane E Stewart MD
|
Reprinted with permission from Kerry Bone. What Every
Parent Needs To Know: Taking Care of Yourself The difficult
we do immediately. Caring for Yourself To maintain your strength and heal properly, it is important for you to eat as best as you can and get some additional rest during the day. Of course, both of these things will take on a modified version while your baby is in the NICU. Rest may mean taking a nap in the NICU chair or waiting room, a couple of times each day or sleeping in the car on the drive to the hospital. Since you often want to spend as much time as you can with your baby, you may choose to eliminate resting. This is not a good choice. Getting extra rest will help to keep you from feeling any more stressed than you already do and is just as important to your mental and physical health as is seeing your child. This is especially important if you're pumping breastmilk. Meals on the other hand, are a whole other story. You must adjust your thoughts on what regular and nutritious meals mean during the NICU stay. If you have volunteers to cook for you, by all means take up their offers. If those offers are short, which they often are, (people fail to realize you need the help as much as a mother whose baby is home) then venture to the hospital cafeteria. They may even reduce your costs if you ask. Other options: take-out, delivery and good old McDonald's. Remember eating like this is temporary and a survival skill, and you can return to "regular, nutritious meals" once your baby is home. When you visit the hospital, take along a snack each day. This way, you won't have to leave the area if you get hungry or spend extra money you may need to save. If your baby is going to stay for more than a few days, you need to start scheduling some breaks for yourself. Remember that everyone needs an occasional break from visiting the hospital, even moms and dads. It can be upsetting to do this-you may feel like a negligent parent, or worry about your baby receiving love and attention while you are gone. You may be fearful that something will happen while you are away. You may even worry that the nurses will judge you as a "bad parent". All these feelings are valid and normal. However, you are not a "bad" or selfish person for needing an occasional break from the NICU. Consider taking one day off a week to rest and take care of other duties, or leave early two nights a week. Spend one evening with your spouse and talk about all that is going on with the two of you. You will feel renewed and better able to cope with your baby's stay. It is not uncommon for mothers to have to return to work before their baby comes home. Be sure to explain to your boss about your needs. It can be difficult to work, rest, eat, and visit your baby, but it can be done. You will probably need to cut down on your work schedule or your visiting schedule during this time. Don't forget to give the nurses your work number so that they can reach you. Stress
and Your Body It is not uncommon to suffer from headaches, stomach pains, nauseas, gastric distress (such as diarrhea), or difficulty sleeping (nightmares, sleeplessness, flashbacks, sleepwalking, etc.), all as a result of stress. Depression is another symptom that your body is dealing with an overload of stress. (See more under Depression.) You may notice that on particularly rough days, your symptoms increase. Or you may see a trend where your symptoms appear during routine times-when phoning the NICU for an update, on the drive to the hospital, riding on the elevator to the NICU floor, or during rounds. It is normal to feel apprehensive, worried, and scared during these moments of "uncertainty". It is important to talk to your own doctor about the stress you are under. Not only can they help you, but it is wise to ensure you are not actually sick with something you could pass onto your baby. Letting
Others Know How They Can Help You Copyright © 2000 Kerry Bone Kerry Bone is mom to two preemies; Tyler, born at 31 weeks in October 96, and Kaitlyn, born at 35 weeks in January 2000. She writes about preemie issues and leads parent groups at local hospitals when there is free time. She is currently working with the March of Dimes to develop a NICU parent packet.
|
Site Directory
|
|
