your baby newborn care


bonding & breastfeeding in the nicu


Skin-to-skin contact is a miracle for infants BY ASHLEY BENZ, MA, CD(DONA), LCCE, IBCLC


Having an infant who requires extra medical care can elicit a host of emotions: Grief, worry and anticipa- tion are common during a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. Parents often ask: “How can we bond with our baby?” and “Is breast- feeding possible?”


Although an NICU stay


may be different from other situations, rest assured you will be able to bond with your baby fully and breast- feed as well. As much as you can, plan to be in the NICU. The more you are with your baby, the more you are able to par- ticipate in your child’s care. Parents may need to take turns being in the NICU, be- cause staying at your child’s bedside means that you can communicate with the staff about your baby’s progress. Your presence also gives you the most opportunity to keep your baby skin-to-skin. The doctors, nurses, aids


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