Why sick or premature babies might feel stressed in the NICU
Sick or premature babies can experience different kinds of stress in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
They can feel stress and pain from having heel pricks, being ventilated, having tubes inserted into their veins, or even just having their nappy changed or temperature checked.
Living in a noisy and bright environment and having people coming and going all the time might also be overwhelming for sick or premature babies. This is because they’re used to being in the womb, where it’s warm, dark and quiet.
By watching how your baby behaves and responds to their environment, you can learn to read your baby’s body language. This will help you tell when your baby is feeling stressed or uncomfortable and needs extra support.
Signs of stress in sick or premature babies in the NICU
NICU staff will be watching for signs of stress and discomfort in your sick or premature baby.
These signs might be changes in your baby’s heartrate, breathing or blood pressure. Signs also include changes in your baby’s behaviour. For example, your baby’s movement might be jerky or they might cry.
Calming sick or premature babies in the NICU: what you can do
If your sick or premature baby is showing signs that they’re stressed or upset, you can help to calm and support them. The key is to watch your baby’s reactions. If what you do seems to help, you can keep doing it. If it doesn’t, you might need to try something else.
Here are ways to help your baby feel calm:
- Give your baby a dummy to suck. You can use a dummy even if your baby is ventilated.
- Position your baby’s hands together in the middle of their chest or near their face.
- Help your baby get into a curled-up or tucked position.
- Wrap your baby.
- Gently touch your baby by putting your hands on their head and bottom.
- Give your baby your finger to hold.
- Gently talk, read or sing to your baby. Your baby can recognise your voice.
- Give your baby skin-to-skin care, or kangaroo care, when they’re ready. Even ‘medically unstable’ babies can be more stable while receiving kangaroo care.
Your baby might get stressed by what you’re doing or how you’re handling them. If this happens, you can help your baby relax and feel calm by talking to them, pausing or slowing down what you’re doing.
When sick or premature babies hear their parents’ voices, it can improve their feeding, lower their heart rate, improve the oxygen level in their blood, and help them feel calm and alert.
Working with NICU staff
You know your sick or premature baby best. It’s OK to advocate for your baby if you notice something that doesn’t seem right or if you think that your baby is uncomfortable.
For example, if you notice that your baby’s environment is too bright or too noisy, you can ask the staff whether they could dim the lights or make the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) less noisy. Or you can ask the nurse whether your baby needs some medicine or sugar water to help them cope with procedures.
The goal is for you to work together with the nursing and medical staff as a team looking after your baby. Being respectful and open with one another works best.
It’s also important to look after yourself, because your baby can pick up on your stress. Our articles on coping with the NICU experience and understanding your feelings about premature birth have tips for making things easier for yourself.