After Your Baby is Born
Baptism
Because of the high risk, you may want to arrange for immediate baptism. Sebastian was baptized right after birth.
Ventilator
Your baby will likely be put on a ventilator immediately.
Bilirubin
Your baby may be kept under a light in the NICU to normalize his bilirubin.
Blood gasses
You will be told blood gas numbers that can be alarming.
Casts and constrictions
Plaster casts may be fitted for your baby even when he or she is only days old to correct problems.
Pneumothorax
A pneumothorax is potentially dangerous situation in which a collection of air or gas in the space surrounding the lungs occurs. It is most likely resulting from the ventilator.
Visits
Be super germ-conscious and make sure all others including medical people are, too.
Expect to see all sorts of tubes as your baby is in his incubator. Find out what all the numbers and tubes mean.
Love your baby, sing to him, hold her tiny hand, kiss him if you can.
Holding your baby
This may not happen for some time.
Feeding
Breastfeeding is out, but pumping is in. The hospital staff will help you with this. Your baby may not eat much for a long time. Remember his first experience of something going into his mouth was the ventilator. Speech therapists will help with feeding issues.
Breathing treatments
The hospital will do this and you will learn how to do it as well.
NICU
Find a high-level NICU that can handle your situation.
NICU to Step-Down Unit
Many babies go to a step-down unit before they go home. This can last for months, so find a good one. Get recommendations from the NICU nurses who have cared for your baby.
Therapies
Physical and speech therapies are common. You will learn a lot.
Transfers
Your baby may have to be transferred to different hospitals for different tests. Try to go with her. No one will watch over or care for your baby like you will.
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Taking Your Baby Home
Monitor
Be sure you have a monitor that monitors heart rate, breathing, and oxygen saturation levels
Therapist visits
Have a notebook to schedule and keep a record of what happens with each therapist. Make sure therapists wash their hands and are not sick themselves.
Doctors’ appointments
Your baby may have several doctors, including a pediatrician, pulmonologist, gastroenterologist, and/or an orthopaedic specialist
Additional Tests
Additional tests may be ordered, such as sleep studies, barium and modified barium swallow tests, and possibly a MRI. Use your best judgment.
Equipment
Your baby may need oxygen tanks and nose canulas, syringes for medications, overnight feeding bags and stands, monitors for breathing and heart rate, wedges to keep her head up if she has reflux.
Oxygen
Watch your baby’s oxygen level and monitor it.
Overnight feeds
These feedings help babies get calories they may need that they do not get during the day or that they lose because of reflux.
Siblings
Teach siblings and cousins about this little baby. They are the greatest fans!
Help in your home
If possible, have someone at home to help you and/or to be on call for the first year.
Return admissions to hospital
It is not unusual for PROM babies to be readmitted to the hospital for infections that settle in their very vulnerable lungs.