Understanding the NICU: What Parents of Preemies and other Hospitalized Newborns Need to Know

by The American Academy of Pediatrics, Jeanette Zaichkin (Editor)

Overview

Most parents do not expect to begin life with their new baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Parents of preemies and other hospitalized newborns often feel lost and powerless amidst this new world of medical vocabulary, technology, and numerous health care providers.

Understanding the NICU will guide you through your NICU journey, help you communicate with members of the NICU team, and learn about your baby’s condition so that you can ask questions and participate as a valuable partner in your baby’s care. It will also provide important information about how to care for your baby after you leave the hospital and head home with your little one.

Included in the book are inspirational stories from parents who have had their own NICU experiences, bringing hope and comfort to other parents with an infant who is premature or hospitalized.

Understanding the NICU provides you with everything you need to know about:

• Common NICU equipment and tests
• Common medical problems for babies in the NICU
• Special health issues for premature infants
• Who's who in the NICU and how to work with the team
• Mother-baby factors: effects on newborn health
• Feeding your baby
• Parenting in the NICU
• Birth defects and surgery
• Heading home from the NICU
• Home at last
• Caring for your baby in the first year

Intensive care is stressful by nature and overwhelming at times. Reading this book and learning about what happens in the NICU will help you gain confidence and feel more reassured about your baby’s care in the NICU—and at home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610020480
Publisher:	American Academy of Pediatrics
Publication date:	11/01/2016
Pages:	260
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 66,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. The AAP is the largest pediatric publisher in the world, with a diverse list that includes essential clinical titles and award-winning books for parents.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Family Story: Bailey Jo & Abraham
Family Story: Kellan
Family Story: Christopher
Chapter 1
An Unexpected Beginning
Family Story: Lucy
Chapter 2
The NICU Journey Begins
Family Story: Nathan
Family Story: Pascal
Chapter 3
NICU Equipment and Tests
Family Story: August (Auggie)
Chapter 4
Common Medical Problems
Family Story: Holland & Eden
Chapter 5
Your Preterm Baby
Family Story: Frankie
Chapter 6
Parenting in the NICU
Family Story: Maxwell
Chapter 7
Feeding Your Baby
Family Story: Sienna
Chapter 8
Homeward Bound
Family Story: Niklas, Gabbie, & Lukas
Chapter 9
Home at Last
Family Story: Allison & Reece
Family Story: Jack & Henry
Chapter 10
As Your Child Grows
Chapter 11
The Loss of Your Baby

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Franziska Herpich, MD (Thomas Jefferson University)
Description: A book specifically designed for parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), this book provides the essential tools that they need to navigate their child's stay in this specialized care environment.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide parents of infants in NICU units (preemies and other hospitalized infants) with a summary of what to expect during their child's hospital stay.
Audience: Although designed specifically for parents of preemies, the book also can serve as a guide for novice nurses. It also would be beneficial for students in a variety of professional discipline programs (e.g. advanced practice nursing, social work, psychology, pediatric residency programs, nutrition, etc.). Furthermore, it would be helpful to case managers and care coordinators. The authors bring an interdisciplinary focus to the topic.
Features: This concise book gives an overview of what parents with preemies can expect while their baby is in the NICU and what questions to ask. It includes definitions of medical terminology and describes hospital procedures that often frighten parents, while providing many illustrations and pictures.
Assessment: This is a high-quality book that is comparable to some of the other books on this topic. It can serve as a navigating tool for all parents and help them to better understand the NICU journey.

Doody's Review Service

★ 09/01/2016
Having an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is extremely stressful, and parents need all the help they can get. Here is that support, written in a factual yet personable voice by NICU practitioners. Readers will learn not only what the equipment and tests in this environment are used for but also how to communicate with the NICU staff, what common medical issues are treated, instructions for home care, and dealing with the loss of a newborn. Images of infants in intensive care will help assuage the intensity of this experience, and the stories of parents throughout will go miles in providing hope and understanding. VERDICT Over 380,000 babies are born prematurely each year. This is an important acquisition for all collections.

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