Being a parent in the Neonatal Unit
For most of the families who pass through the hospital each year, the birth of
their baby is a happy and uncomplicated event. However some babies will need to
be admitted to the Neonatal Unit.
Babies are admitted to the NNU for many different reasons. Some may stay for
one or two days while others for several months. No matter how short or long the
stay is, a parent's worries and concerns are important and valid.
Walking into the hot and noisy nurseries of the NNU can be a daunting
experience for any parent. There are alarms sounding, babies crying, numerous
staff going about their daily work using words which may sound foreign. Some
parents do not notice the surroundings, the people or remember what is said to
them - their focus is completely centred on their baby. Others have said that
the sight of all the machinery surrounding their baby is very frightening. In
the NNU, parents are an important part of the team caring for their baby. Staff
are available to help parents and families through what is a traumatic time;
they offer support and answer questions openly and honestly, they include
parents in the decisions involving a baby's care and keep parents up to date
with baby's progress.
There is a lot of information to take in and parents may have many questions
about what's happening with their new son or daughter. Writing
down questions and concerns as they occur so that you can discuss them
with your baby's doctor can be very helpful. Parents often feel that asking the same questions over and over may seem silly.
No question is considered silly and if it needs to be repeated several times then that is
fine. Sometimes the responses given by the staff may differ and seem
conflicting. This is because some information is factual and other is interpretation.
Many parents feel frightened, confused, angry, dazed and most of all
helpless. The experience for each is different, even between couples, and the
way in which a parent deals with having a sick baby is as individual as their
fingerprint. For couples, this can be a time when they pull together however stress over a period of time is enough to shake
even the most firm of relationships. The demands of spending time with a sick
baby, coping with the attention of family and friends, work or other children
are, at best tiring. Staff on the Neonatal Unit are only temporary people in a baby's life
whilst parents are there for always. As the days pass in the NNU and a baby improves,
parents will find they are able to do more and more, especially in preparation for going home. The staff will do
what they can to help parents build confidence and ability in caring.
|
Please comment on this page