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In the NICU, you and your baby will have a new set of caregivers from the practitioners
who cared for you during your pregnancy. Try to meet as many of these new caregivers
as you can before you deliver so you will know what to expect -- as well as
what is expected of you and your partner or spouse -- after your baby is born.
Your new health care team will consist of one or more of the practitioners
listed below.
Neonatologists evaluate and treat medical problems of newborns and premature
babies. Your neonatologist will head up your baby's NICU health care team.
Neonatologists assist with deliveries, provide care in the NICU, and occasionally
provide follow-up care in coordination with pediatricians after a baby is discharged
from the NICU. If you are at a teaching hospital, your baby might also have
one or more neonatology residents participating in his or her care.
Neonatal nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training in
caring for newborns in the NICU and their families. The NNP works closely
with the neonatologist to manage the nursing care of NICU babies, and works
with families to be actively involved in their babies' care.
There will likely be several nurses caring for your baby from day to day, and
it may be helpful to keep track of their names in your written log, along with
any notes about them. If you and your family find one or two nurses that
you are especially comfortable with, you can ask the nurse or nurses to "follow"
your baby. This means that the nurse or nurses will be your baby's primary
nurse during her or his shift. This is nice because it can be difficult to get
consistent care with so many people taking care of your baby, even with the
neonatologist overseeing all the care. There are so many simple things that
can be done differently, and while both methods may be correct, you want your
baby's care to be consistent. Also, the primary nurse may be more "in tune"
to things going on with your baby that might not be noticed when there are several
caregivers.
NICU respiratory therapists treat and monitor breathing disorders common in
premature infants, especially PROM preemies. The NICU respiratory therapist
will adjust your baby's respiratory devices (see the Breathing Equipment
section) and administer any breathing treatments ordered by the neonatologist.
A NICU respiratory therapist may also attend your baby's birth.
If you intend to feed your baby breast milk, you will also have a lactation
consultant as part of your NICU health care team. A lactation consultant
educates and supports women in the fundamentals of breastfeeding. Your lactation
consultant will also provide you with information about breast pumps and proper
storage methods. When your baby is ready to breastfeed, your lactation consultant
can help you resolve any feeding issues your baby has in the NICU or after you
go home.
Physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) provide help with
gross and fine motor skills in newborns and children. PTs and OTs help babies
stretch and increase their range of motion, which is especially important for
PROM preemies who may have tight muscles or contractures due to PROM. NICU
PTs and OTs also adjust babies' head positions to make sure their skulls grow
evenly, and assist with learning feeding skills. Preemies may also be referred
for PT or OT after discharge from the NICU to develop self-help skills, strength,
balance, coordination, or to improve sensory, physical, or perceptual dysfunction.
Most hospitals have a social worker and/or case manager to assist you with planning
for discharge, insurance issues, short-term counseling, and locating community
resources. The social worker or case manager can also help you arrange for hotel
or other short-term housing if the hospital is a long way from your home. Ask
your social worker or case manager about whether you qualify for government
funding to offset the costs of treatment and post-discharge care. For example,
in the United States, state disability insurance, Medicaid, Social Security,
Children's Special Healthcare Services and other programs provide financial
assistance such as reimbursing for mileage, meals and lodging for hospitalizations,
and prescription coverage and copays for specialists.
Although not strictly a member of your baby's NICU health care team, you will
need to find a pediatrician before your baby is discharged from the NICU. Ask
your neonatologist or your NICU nursing team for a referral to a pediatrician
with experience treating preemies.
Next page
>> Article by Jodi Donnelly, Mommy to Anthony PROM @ 16
weeks, born in 2004 @ 31.5 weeks, 41 days in NICU and now thriving
and Kay Squires, september 2005
Special thanks to Inkan, Jen, Jody, Lise, Sonya, Valerie, Beth and the members
of the PROM list
© 1998-2024 Inkan, The PROM Page
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