Pearls of Wisdom

Premature and medically high-risk birth may impede the earliest experiences between newborns and their parents, and have a lifelong impact on the family, the baby’s future development and overall health, as well as the parents’ well-being. Parents might worry that their relationship with their hospitalized newborn feels so different from what they had hoped. There are many ways parents get to know their babies to improve their well-being. Babies rely on their parents to be strong supporters and advocates.

These NIDCAP-based considerations are for parents with hospitalized babies in the intensive care nursery. They were developed to support parents and their babies to get to know one another and build close and trusting relationships. Babies feel and experience their parents and the world around them through all of their senses. The baby’s behavior guides the parent. How parents interact with their infant is much more important than what they do. The parents’ gentle caresses and soft smiles, and the tone of their voice provide comfort and assurance. A parent’s presence and love provides invaluable healing medicine for their baby.