We understand that the NNU is not where you wanted, or perhaps, expected to be. You might be feeling a mixture of emotions.
This website will guide you through practical information, helpful tips, and ways you can be engaged in your baby’s care during their stay on the neonatal unit.
Our unit adopts a FICare (Family Integrated Care) approach. This means we want to support and empower families to be the primary caregivers for their babies, in partnership with the clinical team. This type of care for you and your family is called ‘family-centred care’ and ‘family-integrated care’.
You can read more about being a parent on the neonatal unit, including how to be a partner in your baby’s care, comfort holding, touch and skin-to-skin, and changing your baby’s nappy.
Information on being involved in your baby’s care and procedures on the neonatal unit is also available, including procedures in neonatal care, the role of parents in comfort and pain relief and working together with the neonatal care team.
Other useful information
Colostrum is the first milk you produce after your baby is born. It is yellow in colour, thick in consistency.
Colostrum is beneficial for many reasons including:
- supporting your baby’s immune system
- supporting your baby’s gut development
- brain development
- improving long term health outcomes
- encourages progression with feeding and support’s your milk production
- supporting your baby’s pain relief if given as mouth care during procedures
In the first few days it is normal to only get small drops of milk, so expressing by hand means that you are able to catch these small, but precious drops of colostrum for your baby.
Skin to skin is vital for both you, and your baby. The power of human touch can influence our physiological, psychological, development, and growth.
Discuss with the team how they can support you and your baby to have skin to skin contact. Skin-to-skin contact – Baby Friendly Initiative
Read more on the benefits of skin-to-skin.
EBM (Expressed Breast Milk) is incredibly important for neonates, especially those who are premature or have medical conditions. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for babies, as it contains essential nutrients, antibodies, and enzymes that support their growth and immune system. It helps protect neonates from infections, reduces the risk of certain diseases, and promotes healthy brain development.
For preterm babies, EBM is even more crucial, as it helps with weight gain, improves feeding tolerance, and reduces the risk of complications like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Additionally, breast milk supports the bond between mother and baby, even when the baby can’t breastfeed directly.
EBM ensures that babies receive the best possible nutrition while in the neonatal unit, setting the foundation for healthy development as they grow.
This can also be incredibly challenging, so please ensure you look after yourself and ask for support if you need it.