Bringing your preemie home: Considerations and questions

Bringing your newborn home from the hospital is exciting. You’re in the comfort of your own home, you can finally introduce your wee one to the nursery you’ve lovingly prepared, and those all-important day-to-day routines can begin to develop outside of the hospital environment. While it’s exciting, this process can also feel overwhelming, especially if your newborn is a preemie or micro preemie. Premature infants often have different needs than full-term babies, and by starting the research and question-asking process before you leave the hospital, you’ll be better prepared and feel more at ease.

Things to Consider Before Leaving the Hospital 

Even though each preemie is different, there are several things to consider before taking your newborn home:

Nursing

Even though your preemie may not be able to nurse immediately, it is important you begin to build your milk supply right away. You can pump and freeze your milk to feed your baby until he or she is able to nurse all his feeding at the breast.

Medication

Ask your physician if there are special medications your preemie will need. Get the phone number of the nearest 24 hour a day pharmacy and keep it on your phone and provide it to the baby’s doctor’s office. Let the pharmacist there know you have a preemie at home and feel free to ask them any questions you have regarding the medications your baby will take. Be sure to have any instructions on hand, so you feel confident administering the medication.

Special Equipment and Devices

If your preemie has a special condition like apnea and requires special breathing equipment, be sure to read all materials your physician gives you, and ensure any questions you might have are addressed before you leave the hospital.  Practice using any equipment while you’re still at the hospital to make sure you’re 100 percent comfortable. If your baby is discharged on a monitor or oxygen it is a good idea to let your local fire department or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) location know so they can be of service if needed for any reason.

Preemie Development

To accurately gauge your preemie’s development, subtract the number of weeks your preemie was born early. In the NICU you learned that we determine the babies gestational age by weeks – not months. A full term baby is considered 40 weeks old.  So if your preemie is now nine months old, and was born eight weeks (or two months) early, you would compare development to that of a seven month old.

Infant CPR

Being trained in infant CPR is a practical way to prepare for taking your preemie home, and it’s a great way to help set your mind at ease. Just ask your physician about obtaining your infant CPR training - you can often take the course at the hospital - before you head home.

Ask the Right Questions

There are no wrong questions to ask when it comes to your preemie. Don’t feel embarrassed or silly when you have questions. Just ask your physician, medical team, or lactation consultant, and they will do their best to address your questions and concerns.  Your peace of mind and the safety of your baby are essential, and the hospital team is there to help. Here are some questions to ask before you head home with your preemie: Once you’re home with your preemie, you’ll develop a routine that works best for your family, and you’ll discover new questions and solutions as you go.

Don’t forget you can still ask questions, even though you’re no longer in the hospital. Just give your physician’s office a call and ask away ask away or look to preemie parent advocacy groups and networks such as Graham’s Foundation, Preemies Today, and Preemie World.

• Ask your physician or his primary nurse for tips on how to calm your preemie, and practice settling him or her before you leave the hospital.
• Get advice on how to properly use a car seat. This can be done at the hospital or your local fire department. Your baby should have a car seat test performed in the NICU prior to his discharge.
• Breathing can be a problem for preemies, so be sure to ask if there are any seated positions you should avoid and to position your baby on his back when sleeping unless your doctor specifically says otherwise.
• Determine who your physician will be after leaving the hospital, and make a follow up appointment before you are discharged. Take the doctor’s name, phone and fax number to the NICU so they can forward the discharge summary and instructions to the office before your first visit. This really helps to get everyone ready for a smooth transition.
• Ask for emergency contact numbers and make a list for easy access at home and on your phone.
• Inquire about immunizations your preemie may have received while in the hospital, and which ones your baby will need in the coming months.
• Ask your physician about illnesses your baby may be at a higher risk for, and get advice on precautions you can take to keep your preemie healthy.
• Ask the nurses how to protect your baby from exposure to germs by using good hand washing and how to protect your baby from strangers who come up to touch them.
• Have a thermometer at home and know how to read it.
• Ask general care questions such as advice on feeding, sleep positions, and how to watch for signs of breathing trouble.