What should I do while my newborn is staying in the NICU?

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New parents are understandably concerned when they find out that their baby has to go to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, or ICU. Sometimes it ends up being hours, sometimes it's a couple of days, and sometimes it's even a couple of months, especially if the mother delivered preterm or the baby is born with a medical problem. It's normal to have feelings of frustration, guilt, and sadness, and so if you're feeling these things, then do know that you're normal. There are a lot of resources out there to help new parents who find themselves in this situation, there are Newborn ICU support groups, so talk with the staff at the hospital that your baby is at. They can discuss those different options with you, and you'll probably also get to know other mothers and fathers who are there at the same time visiting their babies. You'll have a lot to talk about, and it's good to help each other through the process.

It's easy to become overwhelmed by all of the long-term goals that your baby has set for them. Sometimes they say, "Your baby might be here for a few weeks. We want to see them gain this much weight, and be eating from the breast or the bottle.", and they seem so far away from those things at that point in time, so focus on your baby's daily accomplishments. That will help you change your entire attitude and enjoy spending time with them rather than just being stressed out by all the things you're not seeing happen. These accomplishments will be gradual, and that's why it takes a while. They need to learn how to breathe on their own if they were born prematurely. They need to learn how to eat and, consequently, grow. So these are things we need to see happen before they go home, but again, it's a long process. It doesn't happen overnight.