Bringing Your Preemie Baby Home

Tips to help bring a preemie home safely and with as little stress to you and baby as possible.

By Amy E. Tracy

From our provider:

Find Peer Support
Following Daniel's homecoming I started a support group for parents of premature children. I needed to be around others who understood my feelings and concerns. We also shared valuable information. To find a local support group, ask your hospital social worker. On the Internet, one of the most popular support groups is Preemie-L. Chats and e-mail lists can also be found at www.preemies.org .

With practice in the hospital, then at home, you'll feel more comfortable caring for your baby, and you'll have more time to enjoy your new family. Nine years later, I fondly remember the many hours I sat rocking Daniel in my arms that first year after he came home. Preemie parents, like you and me, wait a long time to get our babies home - we deserve to enjoy them!

Want to know more? You might also be interested in these articles:

• Baby born at 23 weeks
• Dads of preemies: Your involvement is important
• Hush little baby: Why do babies cry?
• More Preemies!

About the Author: Amy E Tracy is the coauthor of Your Premature Baby and Child: Helpful Answers and Advice for Parents (Berkley, 1999); and The Pregnancy Bed Rest Book (Berkley, 2001). © copyright 1999-2000 by Amy E Tracy. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

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Parkslund says:

April 10, 2008

Thanks for sharing this article. Preemies are more the norm now then then were 24 years ago when we brought Rachel home. I can't stress enough the idea of getting to know your baby. While they are small, they really will not break any more so than a normal weight baby. And, get the peer support if you need it. This little bundle of joy is yours, no matter how small (Rachel was a mere 3 pounds), so cherish their being alive and do what you were taught at the hospital and what you know in your heart is right. It really will work out well.

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lucy72784 says:

October 23, 2007

I just wanted to thankyou for posting this bc I have to felt gulty for being nervous about leaving the nurses. Even though i already have children, It just seems so different since he is so small