Premature Newborn Care: Nurturing in the NICU
Premature Newborn Care: Nurturing in the NICUThe practical ways you comfort your baby and promote his development, help him medically as well asemotionally. The following strategies and care practices will help your baby remain calm and stable in theNICU – which will lead to more opportunities for brain growth and development.NICU caregivers can ease your baby into a flexed pose in their bed. When your baby is laying on her belly, theflex position imitates the feeling of being in the womb. Staff, and you too, can imitate the womb another way byusing your hands to cradle your baby gently, giving her room to stretch and tuck, and press against boundariesin ways that remind her of the womb.Swaddling your baby loosely with a blanket is another way to gently contain and calm him when he is not inyour arms. Keeping your baby in a loosely flexed position keeps his hands near his face, like he did in thewomb.While still developing in the NICU, your baby's brain processes information more slowly than it will only a fewweeks from now when the brain's communication pathways are more mature.Because of your baby's extreme sensitivity to everything around her, it helps to move slowly and quietly as youcare for her. You can appeal to your baby's sense of smell by placing a piece of cloth, which you have wornclose to your chest, inside his incubator.As her brain develops, your baby will enjoy rocking and other motion. For now, though, limiting stimulation willhelp your baby to take in and enjoy the low-key interactions you provide.The sounds in a NICU often lead to stress, so your baby truly appreciates quiet. Whispers sound good to him.Opening and closing the port holes of her incubator very slowly and quietly helps your baby avoid the startlethat can come with sudden and unexpected sounds.While there are sounds in the NICU you cannot control, you can soften them. Having your baby wear a hathelps to keep out loudness. So, does using a sound muffling blanket as an incubator cover.Keeping light indirect and levels low make it possible for your developing baby to sleep well and, when he isalert, to open his eyes to the world.Because it is connected to your familiar voice and smell, your face is what your baby loves to look at most of allonce her vision develops. You may not be in focus yet. Still, the expressions of love and care that your faceconveys come through to your baby and help him feel more secure.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG10025B EN PrematureNewbornCareNurturingInTheNICU.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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