Dear Preemie Mama,
So after the long, grueling wait, your baby graduates from the NICU. What now?
First things first. Be strong, mama. After you leave the hospital, there would be no more NICU nurses to monitor your little one. Hang in there, because you need to be strong more than ever. You are now in charge. It can be daunting, like any other first time experience, but you have to remember that only you can provide what’s best for your baby.
Breast is best or fed is best? The debate on this one is far from over. Breast milk is very important for preemies because they need antibodies to protect them from infection and to enhance their immunity response. But our babies came ahead of schedule, and sometimes this means our bodies are not yet ready to accommodate their needs. When the newborn is still in the hospital, it is easy to get milk from milk banks while you work on your own supply. I can understand the pressure for a preemie mama who is struggling with her own output at home.
Remember to eat well and try not to stress yourself out. I had no milk for the first two weeks of my 33-weeker and I had to regularly pump to mimic milk demand from my breast. NICU fees prove to be expensive so if you could not get a hospital grade breast pump, Pigeon’s United Manual breast pump is your best bet. Joining breastfeeding forums to get encouragement and tips will also help a lot.
Preemies tend to tire easily from sucking so cup feeding is your next best bet. If there is a need to use the bottle, Pigeon Peristaltic Plus Nipples provide for effortless transition from breast to bottle and vice versa.
Sometimes though, despite the efforts to boost milk supply, one just cannot produce enough milk. Breast milk is always the best for babies but if you need to consider formula feeding, do so after you have exhausted all other efforts and consulted with your doctor.
Practice Kangaroo Care. Preemies need to double their weight as soon as possible and skin-to-skin contact is usually recommended by hospitals to help them gain weight. Premature babies normally don’t have enough protective fat yet, which makes them susceptible to the cold even in normal room temperatures. Aside from doing lots of skin-to-skin contact, swaddling or keeping your baby warm helps him or her adjust to life outside the womb. Soft blankets such as those from Nappy Baby and Borny can keep them safe and cozy.
Be prepared for soft cries (or none at all). Be vigilant of your preemie baby’s visual cues because sometimes crying can also tire him or her out. With preemies, you either hear soft cries or sometimes, none at all. You can tell when they’re hungry if they start to pout and suck air. They can also give a look of discomfort if you need to change their nappy.
Preemie grunting is normal. This bothered me hugely and I googled about it a lot. Don’t worry — they’ll outgrow it within a few months. Because of their immature nervous system, they spend most of their time in light sleep and emit sounds similar to grunting. Although this is common for preemies and doesn’t cause them pain, be sure to check their skin color, breathing rate, and chest retractions to tell if they are experiencing actual respiratory distress.
They’ll need clothes beneath size 0. It can be a sobering experience when you try to fit your baby in newborn clothes and no matter how tiny these newborn clothes are, they still fall off by your babies’ shoulders. Know that there are plenty of stores offering preemie outfits and diapers so that your little one can still have that #OOTD for his or her monthly photoshoot. Try adjustable tie-sides like those from St. Patrick’s.
Take it one day at a time. All babies, premature or not, fulfill their milestones at their own pace. Do not compare your preemie to full-term babies from the same age group, or even other preemies. If ever there are any delays, rest assured that they will catch up soon. Just maintain your regular pedia visits so that you can monitor your baby’s development properly. For now, focus on enjoying every moment with your newborn because with babies, time flies real fast.
Jot it down. Keep a journal of your time together. If you are feeling stressed about this newfound responsibility, putting your thoughts to paper can lessen the weight of what you’re feeling. Keeping tabs on changes in your baby’s behavior can also be helpful during your pedia visits.
In general, being a new mother is no easy feat but a mother’s heart will always strive for resilience, courage, and bravery. Chin up mama, you got this.
Love,
A Preemie Mama
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