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Celebrating Neonatal Nurses Week

Celebrating Neonatal Nurses Week

by | Sep 9, 2019 | Family Stories | 0 Comments

September 9 – 15 is Neonatal Nurses Week! Established in 2000 by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN), members of the neonatal community use this time to honor their nurse colleagues and show their pride in being a neonatal nurse. For NICU parents, it’s a time to honor and celebrate the nurses who not only cared for our babies, but who cared for us as NICU parents and the entire NICU family.

NICU LifeNutrition
NICU baby feeding, NICU baby, TPN, Gastroschisis
Going from TPN to Feeding Success in the NICU

Going from TPN to Feeding Success in the NICU

My son Calvin was born at 32 weeks gestation via C-section after he went into distress and stopped moving. His delivery was further complicated due to his diagnosis of Gastroschisis. Gastroschisis is a congenital anomaly that occurs early in gestation. Basically, he had a hole in his abdomen which led to his small and large intestine developing on the outside of his body. Because his gastrointestinal system was so compromised, I had a pretty strong determination to breastfeed from the beginning.

| Aug 29, 2019 | 0

Family Stories
full-term nicu baby, hand to hold
From Healthy Pregnancy to Traumatic Birth and a Full-Term NICU Baby

From Healthy Pregnancy to Traumatic Birth and a Full-Term NICU Baby

As I progressed through my pregnancy, I relaxed each time we passed a milestone. After I reached 36 weeks, I breathed a sigh of relief because, if my baby were born, he or she would probably survive. My attitude as I made it to 41+1 weeks was downright cavalier. I had an extremely normal, healthy pregnancy. So, as I reached my due date and proceeded to plow right through it, I thought, “I am going to go into labor, pop this kid out and be home in two days.” Although it works this way for some women, in my case, it could not have been farther from the truth.

| Aug 26, 2019 | 0

NICU LifeNutrition
breast milk NICU baby
Why Breast Milk is Important for Your NICU Baby

Why Breast Milk is Important for Your NICU Baby

Pediatricians and lactation consultants agree human milk is the best nutrition for babies. For the NICU baby, it can be a life-saving medicine. The anti-inflammatory properties of breast milk play a big role in preventing many diseases and conditions. Human milk decreases the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis, meningitis, viral infections, urinary tract infections and respiratory infections. Infants born too small or too soon are at increased risk for these illnesses. Breast milk also protects the gut, enhances brain development and is associated with a shorter hospital stay.

| Aug 22, 2019 | 0

Medical Info & ResourcesNICU Life
late preterm baby
Your Late Preterm or Early Term NICU Baby

Your Late Preterm or Early Term NICU Baby

When we think of preemies, we think of extremely tiny babies born several weeks or months before their due date. But did you know that even babies born just prior to 37 weeks gestation are still considered preemies and still have a higher probability of facing developmental challenges? We're going talk about what a late preterm baby and an early term baby is, they might need to stay in the NICU, and the unique challenges they face in the NICU and beyond.

| Aug 19, 2019 | 1

NICU LifeNutrition
Pumping Tips for NICU Moms

Pumping Tips for NICU Moms

Premature infants need breast milk more than most. But because most babies aren’t developmentally ready to nurse until they are 34-35 weeks gestation, they rely on pumped breast milk for their nutrition and delivery of these vital nutrients. We consulted the experts - current and past NICU moms, NICU nurses and lactation consultants - for their best pumping tips.

| Aug 5, 2019 | 0

Emotional HealthLife after the NICU
life and grief as a mosaic, mosaic tiles, NICU, prematurity, beyond the NICU
Life and Grief as a Mosaic

Life and Grief as a Mosaic

All of us have to say goodbye to our old selves, our lives before (medically fragile) child. It hit me when I broke my favorite blue and white patterned plates. The visions I had of dinner parties, book clubs, a fun and relaxing home full of guests...just shattered by the intensity of the first year in the NICU and home.I know the pain of grief can be shattering. I’ve felt that pain, and worked through that pain quite a few times.

| Jul 22, 2019 | 0

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Our blog is inspired by the many diverse experiences that are common to parents of preemies. If you have a preemie or a baby who spent time in the NICU, a child with special needs or a loss – we want you to know that you are not alone. Join our supportive community and connect to parents who share similar experiences to your own, arm yourself with information to properly care for your child(ren) and your family, and find inspiration and hope when you need it most.  Meet our bloggers.

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