Prematurity Awareness Day

Did you know that November 17 is World Prematurity Awareness Day?

About 8% of babies born in Canada arrive too soon. The rate of premature births has increased by 23 % since the beginning of the 90s.1

Premature infants face increased health risks.

Be a part of the solution by bringing awareness of prematurity to Canadians!

Spread the word and celebrate this special day dedicated to improving the lives of premature babies.

1. http://www.cihi.ca/cihi-ext-portal/internet/fr/document/types+of+care/hospital+care/acute+care/release_29jan09

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While my Baby is in the Hospital

Before entering the neonatal unit, always remember to wash your hands carefully and completely. When you go into the neonatal unit for the first time you might be alarmed to see machines, tubes near your baby and wires on your baby’s skin. Don’t be shy to ask the nurse to explain the purpose of each one.

Premature babies may seem more fragile than other infants because of their small size. You might not feel like touching your baby right away, but you should begin touching your baby as soon as you can. Your touch helps your baby to bond or connect with you which is very important.

Many Special Care Units encourage parents to use Kangaroo Care (skin to skin), a way of holding your infant that provides skin-to-skin contact. Kangaroo Care may be helpful for the baby’s development because it gently comforts and stimulates the infant. Many parents find that using Kangaroo Care helps them feel closer to their baby. The nurses will show you how to hold your baby for Kangaroo Care.

When your baby is medically stable, you may be able to touch, feed, clean and help provide care as your baby develops. The nurses will show you how to perform these tasks.

In most instances you will be discharged before your baby is ready to go home. Neonatal units are open to parents at all times. Close family members are usually also welcome, but you should ask people to stay away if they have an illness or a cold as it could spread to others in the hospital. Some hospitals may allow you to stay in a special hospital unit for a few days with your baby before she or he is finally ready to go home.

If you have other children at home, they may want very much to know how you and your baby are doing. A good way to reassure them is to take pictures or make a video of your baby and bring them home for the children to look at. You can also take photos of your baby and attach them outside the baby’s bed for the older children to see if they visit the baby. Your children may also like to draw a picture of the family that can be put on the outside of their isolette (incubator). This will help them understand that they really have a new baby brother or sister.

In some cases, your baby may be moved to a hospital closer to your home as she or he improves. You might worry that the staff at the local hospital will not be able to meet all of your baby’s special needs. These concerns are normal, but you should know that the staff at the new hospital will be ready to give your baby all of the care she or he needs. This move should also reduce the stress of traveling to visit your baby in a distant hospital. It will also give you an opportunity to become more involved in the care of your baby in preparation for going home.