Babies Requiring Neonatal Care

Neonatal Units can be scary initially; the constant beep of monitors and alarms can be overwhelming. It can be extremely difficult to see your baby attached to machines, wires and tubes.

Premature babies can look small and vulnerable, and it can be distressing for parents, especially if your baby needs to stay in the hospital for a long time. If you are struggling emotionally, talk to your midwife – they can offer support and refer you for extra help if needed.

Your baby may look different to how you pictured them, especially if born very early. This can upset you, and the staff understand this is a difficult time.

The team will support you, explain everything, and encourage skin-to-skin contact as much as possible. They will also explain if it’s not possible to hold your baby right away.

A paediatric physiotherapist may also support your baby’s care and advise you on placing them in the best positions for their development. Your baby may sleep on their front while in an incubator. Their oxygen levels will be constantly monitored, so there is nothing to worry about.

Hormonal changes after birth can make a new mum feel emotional. With the additional worry of your baby being born early, you may find it difficult to cope, especially if you have other children to care for.

You may also suffer from birth trauma. Tell your partner, family and friends how you feel if you can, as they can support you. The midwifery and neonatal teams will also support you and answer any questions. Talk to your midwife about available help and look at our birth trauma and emotional wellbeing sections.

The team will support you in feeding your baby using your chosen method.

We recommend breastfeeding for premature babies where possible, as breastmilk strengthens their immature immune systems and helps protect them from infections, such as necrotising enterocolitis (a condition affecting the gut), as premature babies are susceptible. 

If you choose to breastfeed and your baby isn’t strong enough to feed from the breast, you will be shown how to express your milk. You will need to express milk every 2-3 hours. It is crucial to express through the night, as this is when your milk production hormones are raised. The team will show you how to hand express and use a pump. Electric pumps are available to use in the neonatal and postnatal wards. Staff can store milk in hospital fridges or freezers – they will show you the process. 

Don’t worry if you only produce small amounts of colostrum initially – this is normal until your milk comes in. Your milk supply may be low initially, as feeling anxious and upset can slow lactation.

• Pumping regularly and continuing skin-to-skin contact with your baby will help, as breastfeeding is a supply-and-demand process.
• Watching videos of your baby and smelling their clothing while pumping at home can help boost your supply when you are apart.

Even small amounts of breastmilk will benefit your baby’s health – every drop helps.

Some babies will require formula – this might be a regular or specialist formula for premature babies. If you wish to formula feed, the team will support you with this. 

Some women choose to give their babies human donor milk instead of formula – discuss this with the staff caring for your baby.

Depending on your baby’s gestation and condition, you will receive advice on the most appropriate feeding method. You can safely feed your baby with more than one method.

They may receive:

• Fluids that contain nutrients through a cannula (a small plastic tube inserted into a vein).
• Milk through a soft plastic tube passed through the nose to the stomach (nasogastric tube). Babies may also be fed via a syringe or cup.

You will be shown how to use these feeding methods so you can do as many feeds as possible yourself.

Whether your baby has a brief stay in hospital or a longer one, you may feel excited and nervous about taking them home. The team will ensure your baby is safe in their car seat, give you any medications your baby needs, and give instructions on managing health issues at home.

They will also inform you about performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an emergency. If your baby needs ongoing care and monitoring, they will be referred to other healthcare professionals – this might include:

• Paediatricians
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational therapists
• Dieticians
• Other specialists, depending on your baby’s needs.

When you are discharged, the neonatal team will notify your health visitor and general practitioner (GP). Your midwife or health visitor will support you with the transition to caring for your baby at home.

The special care baby unit may seem strange and confusing at first, especially if your baby is in an incubator or on a breathing machine. There may also be tubes and wires attached to their face and body.

Ask the nurse to explain everything and show you how you can help with your baby's care. You may be able to change your baby's nappy, wash them and change their clothing.

Once your baby is stable, you can hold them. The nurses will help you take your baby out of the incubator and show you how to have skin-to-skin contact.

Your baby will benefit greatly from physical contact with you. You can also talk to your baby – this can help both of you.

You should wash and dry your hands thoroughly before touching your baby.