Premature birth: mental and emotional preparation
If you know you’re having a premature birth, you can prepare emotionally. Practise relaxation, tour the NICU, and explain to other children what’s happening.
Premature labour, birth and babies
This essential guide for parents of premature babies covers gestational age, premature birth risk factors, premature labour and premature development.
Sick or premature babies: practical preparation
If you know you’re having a premature or sick baby who’ll be going to the NICU, it’s good to get organised beforehand with cooking, child care and more.
Fathers and all non-birthing parents: premature birth and premature babies
After premature birth, non-birthing parents including fathers play a big role in caring for premature babies. Looking after themselves is important too.
After premature birth: your emotions
After premature birth and while caring for a premature baby, mixed emotions are common. Be kind to yourself, look after yourself and just be with your baby.
Premature birth: questions to ask
Our checklist has answers to questions about premature birth and labour, covering where and how premature babies are born, and things to ask medical staff.
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU): what to expect
Your sick or premature baby might spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit. NICUs can be strange or scary at first, so it helps to know what to expect.
Family-centred care in the NICU
If your baby is in a NICU, you can expect family-centred care. In a family-centred NICU, you should feel welcome, respected and involved in your baby’s care.
Coping with the NICU: tips
These tips for parents of sick or premature babies can help you cope with the NICU, make the NICU space your own, feel more relaxed and look after yourself.
Advocating for sick or premature babies in the NICU: tips
If you need to advocate for sick or premature babies in the NICU, a good relationship with NICU staff is important. Expect them to treat you with respect.
Sick or premature babies: tips for family and friends
Find out how family and friends can support parents of sick or premature babies, with practical tips for being positive, staying in touch and offering help.
Special care nursery: what to expect
A special care nursery is for sick or premature babies who need specialised care after birth. NICU babies go to special care nursery when they get healthier.
Bonding with sick or premature babies in the NICU
Bonding is important for sick or premature babies in the NICU. It helps them feel secure and develop. You can bond through touch, song, play and daily care.
Calming sick or premature babies in the NICU
Sick or premature babies can feel upset or stressed in the NICU. To calm them, watch their reactions and try gentle touch, slow movements and soft voices.
Touch and holding for sick or premature babies in the NICU
Touch, holding, comfort holding and kangaroo care can soothe and comfort sick or premature babies in the NICU. These are also great ways to bond.
Premature babies: body language
Premature baby body language can tell you a lot. Fast breathing and jerky movements can be signs of stress. Slow breathing and stillness are relaxed signs.
Corrected age: how old is your premature baby?
Corrected age is your premature baby’s chronological age minus how many weeks or months early they were. It helps with tracking premature baby development.
Premature baby development
Read this essential guide to learn about premature baby development from 0-6 months – weight, muscles, vision, hearing, states, skin, sucking and feeding.
Premature babies: development concerns
If you’re worried about your premature baby’s development, it’s good to know that most premmies develop typically, although they might face some challenges.
Premature babies: physical appearance, bones and skin
Premature babies are small. They often need extra minerals and exercises for bone and muscle development. They have fragile skin and need careful handling.
Breastfeeding premature babies in the NICU
Breastmilk is ideal for premature babies. Even if it’s a while before you can feed your baby at the breast, you can still express breastmilk for your baby.
Playing with sick or premature babies in the NICU
Playing with sick or premature babies in the NICU can help with bonding and development. Get to know your baby, and use sight, touch and sound to play.
Sleep and noise: sick or premature babies in the NICU
Noise in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can affect how sick or premature babies sleep. You can work with NICU staff to monitor and manage noise.
Going home from hospital: sick or premature babies
It’s time for your sick or premature baby to go home from hospital. Planning, preparation and support from staff, family and friends can help things go well.
