Extended Hospital Care for Pre-term Babies – Vital Tips for the Mother

A mother who has just given birth and is unable to leave the hospital with her baby is bombarded with a flood of emotions. She is glad that she has given birth but at the same time is unhappy that she will be unable to leave hospital immediately. In some cases she will feel guilty and even blame herself for what has happened. She may also feel bad because she has other children at home and a partner who have been looking forward to reconnecting with her. When you add this to the hormonal change that occurs immediately after childbirth, you have recipe for emotional disaster.
One of the main reasons a mother has to stay for an extended period of time in hospital is if she has given birth to a pre-term baby. Mothers of pre-term babies are particularly emotionally unsettled because they tend to perceive it as their fault. They think that they must have done something wrong during pregnancy which led to the baby being born pre-term. Pre-term babies have always had dicey chances of survival especially those that are delivered before 33 weeks. Thankfully, modern medicine and research has come with methods that increase infant survival rates. One of these ground breaking techniques is known as Kangaroo Mother Care. Kangaroo Mother Care is a caring method modeled along the lines of how a Kangaroo takes care of its young. The pre-term infant is basically cared for by its mother under close medical supervision. The infant is held close to the mother’s bare chest while dressed only in a diaper. This skin-to-skin contact has been shown to be beneficial to development of bodily functions such as respiration and body temperature regulation. It is done under close supervision by a medical practitioner and as frequently as possible. The child is also able to feed readily by breast feeding.
Mothers with pre-term babies and undertaking Kangaroo Mother Care need all the emotional support they can get. In this regard, friends and family can make a huge impact. The mother needs to be in constant interaction with her family. The following tips can help her improve the interaction with her family:
• Sibling Participation – if you have older children, let them get involved. It is exciting to introduce them to their new sibling. Hug them warmly when they visit you and let them accompany you to the nursery. Hold a birthday party for the new one, complete with a cake and candles. Let them give gifts like a normal birthday party. Get your partner to take the kids out for a special dinner to celebrate. Give your children your hospital phone number so that they can call you whenever they like.
• Connect with your Partner – if you have a partner, connect regularly. Take a walk around the hospital with your partner. Hold hands and remind your partner that you love and miss them. Let them know that they are constantly on your mind. Be affectionate and loving; it will do wonders for your emotional well being.
• Connect with your friends – your friends may not be allowed to visit you at a time convenient for them. So, keep in touch using social networking. Keep them regularly updated and soon there will be thriving online community dedicated to you. You will feel good about it.
For more information on the benefits of breastfeeding and kangaroo mother care, please visit http://themiracleofkangaroomothercare.com your online resource for natural parenting and newborn care. Nyrie Roos is one of the internet’s foremost people on the education and application of Kangaroo Mother Care.