Congratulations on the birth of your baby
The birth of a baby is usually a time of great joy but if your baby is born premature, small or sick this raises many questions and anxieties. Our team is committed to family integrated care and is experienced in supporting families in your situation
We would like you to be the primary care givers for your baby and be with your baby as much as possible, caring for them with support and guidance from the neonatal team. As a family you have special qualities that no doctor or nurse can match, which your baby recognises and finds calming.
You may feel nervous at first, this is perfectly normal. The nurse caring for your family will begin with you observing until you feel you want to help or feed confident enough to carry this out on your own.
Evidence shows that babies looked after this way have fewer complications and infections, are more likely to breastfeed, gain weight more quickly and go home sooner. We aim to ensure that when you leave us you are confident and skilled in looking after your baby at home.
If you have other children, we have a booklet available ‘My New Baby’ which uses pictures to help you explain to them what to expect when you bring them to visit. You can also get them to fill in the ‘How am I feeling today’ page and have a discussion with them about what they are feeling.