A Parent's Role in the NICU
During a pregnancy, parents begin to picture themselves caring for and interacting with a wonderful new little person. When the unexpected happens and a sick or premature baby requires a Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), you must deal with often overwhelming feelings of fear and helplessness.
Although you may feel helpless, parents are important members of their infant's NICU team. While you cannot provide the technical care required for a medically fragile infant, the love, warmth, and comfort you give your baby is vital to his recovery and well being.
A parent's caress, voice, and even smell become familiar to their infant and become a constant factor in a world of ever-changing caretakers, sounds, and often unpleasant procedures.
For an unstable NICU baby, lots of handling can be stressful and is discouraged. But a parent's soft voice and gentle touch can work wonders. Babies very quickly distinguish your touch from the often more clinical one of nurses and doctors. A parent's caress will calm a stressed baby, increase oxygen levels, and stabilize heart rate and breathing patterns.
The sense of touch is the first to develop in humans and is well established even in very premature infants. Before birth, a gentle massage is provided to the fetus through the motion of amniotic fluid flowing over the baby's body as he moves. New studies theorize that this touch may play a role in normal brain development. An unborn fetus is enveloped in a warm, caressing environment and feels safe and comfortable.
Parents can provide a similar environment by learning a few simple techniques. Babies like a sense of enclosure like that of the womb. You can create boundaries to quickly calm and "center" a stressed baby simply by flexing the baby's arms and legs in toward the body (fetal position) then holding them firmly but gently in place. Blanket rolls and, more recently, commercially made soft enclosures can be put in place for longer term "nesting".
Once a NICU baby is more stable, you can begin to provide as much of his care as possible. You will be encouraged to take the baby's temperature and diaper, dress, bathe, hold and feed him. You will form an alliance with your baby's nurses and they can demonstrate skills and help you with anything you might be hesitant to do. Remember that babies, even tiny premature ones, are a lot stronger than you think.
Recently, NICUs have begun to use moisturizers on infant skin to prevent drying and cracking which may be a source of infection. Applying these lotions is a perfect opportunity for you to do some gentle infant massage.
A nice warm bath can be an opportunity for a massage as well. Some physical therapists are finding that NICU infants may benefit from water therapy. They better tolerate therapy in a warm environment where their limbs are supported by the water. Most NICU babies are seen by a physical therapist. She can teach you how to best position your baby and do some simple physical therapy both in and out of the bath.
You will be encouraged to spend time in the NICU just holding and cuddling your baby. Your baby's nurse can tell you how much the baby can tolerate. This is your chance to really get to know each other. Most nurseries are now allowing "kangaroo care". A stable baby, even a tiny premature infant, is snuggled skin-to-skin on a parent's chest. Studies have shown better breastfeeding, weight gain, heart and breathing rate stability, and sleeping patterns in infants who routinely experience kangaroo care.
"Although the NICU can be a stressful and overwhelming place at times, you are a vital part of your baby's care. You can make a difference in his speed of recovery, his comfort, and his development. Ask the nurses and doctors what you can do for your baby every step of the way. They are always happy to show you skills that can help you to form a strong bond with your special baby.