your baby newborn care


and lactation consultants in the NICU can show you how they are caring for your baby,  and your baby transition home. Bear in mind that you may be able to go home before your baby. Spending time with your baby is the easiest way to become an expert in your  smell soothing because of what your child experienced in the womb. Active participa- tion in your child’s care reminds you of the special bond between mother and baby, even though your baby may require some special attention from the medical staff. Skin-to-skin contact is a miracle for


infants. Research tells us that babies who are held bare-chest-to-bare-chest regulate their breathing, heart rate and temperature more easily, grow faster and experience less pain than babies who are not. Let the staff members know that you want to spend as much time skin-to-skin as possible, and encourage them to show you


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how to hold your newborn. If wires or IVs are making you nervous, let your nurses know. Medical staff in the NICU are great at  care. Your baby will feel most comfortable being on her parents’ chest. Skin-to-skin is an easy way for both you and your partner to bond with your baby. Breastmilk is like medicine to babies


who are born prematurely or require extra medical care. Rates of dangerous gut infections are much lower when babies are fed mother’s milk, so your NICU staff will encourage you to pump your breastmilk as much as possible. Taking videos of your baby to watch while you are pumping will help activate the hormones needed to make milk. Pumping while interacting with your baby can help your milk supply. Ask if your hospital has  Consultant (IBCLC) whom you can work with to make a plan of care. In the NICU, every drop of breastmilk is precious.


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