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Preparing for Preemies

Making the Move From Hospital to Home

By Amy E. Tracy

For five months, Julie and Peter Crooks visited their daughter, Kellie, born 17 weeks early and weighing barely a pound, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan.

Though already experienced parents of 2-year-old Jacob, the Crooks weren't prepared to care for a baby as fragile as Kellie. So the nurses taught them how to change Kellie's diapers without overstressing her, how to pump and store Julie's breast milk for future bottle feedings and how to recognize the signs of illness. When Kellie was well enough to go home, the Crooks felt prepared.

"We were confident that we could take care of Kellie without the medical staff, but our confidence weakened when the lack of sleep hit," says Julie Crooks, a stay-at-home mother. "We had to deal with all the normal baby care, plus an apnea monitor and supplemental oxygen, and she required feedings every three to four hours."

Parents of preemies like the Crooks, who are eager and grateful to finally take their babies home, are often surprised by how difficult the transition is, especially handling their infant's medical care. During their daughter's first year at home, Kellie saw seven specialists and had up to four appointments a week.

Now take the demands and stress of caring for a premature infant and double – or triple – them. For parents of premature multiples, making the move from hospital to home can be overwhelming.

To help you coordinate your babies' follow-up care, you'll need a pediatrician with whom you can communicate and whom you trust. This primary doctor should ensure that specialists are updated on your babies' health.

You also need a doctor who has experience in preemie care, says Dr. Judy Bernbaum, director of the Neonatal Follow-Up Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "In this day and age of managed care, a doctor's time is limited, so you need someone who can recognize needs quickly," she says.

If you live in a metropolitan area with one or more busy NICUs, your babies may be followed up with at a specialty clinic that houses some (or all) of the specialists your preemies need. There are more than 60 of these one-stop shops for preemie care in the United States. You may have the option to have your children seen for regular follow-up care or on a consulting basis in conjunction with your pediatrician.

Frequency of doctors' visits will depend on your babies' individual needs, but you'll find your calendar full for at least the first year. Here is an overview of what follow-up your babies may need in addition to regular visits to your pediatrician's office:

Want to see more?

• Ahead of Schedule: What to Expect When Your Multiples Are Premature
• Are You Prepared for a Preemie? A Guide to Preterm Babies
• Power Dressing for Preemies: Finding Practical and Fun Fashions
• Talk about it!

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