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Welcome Home, Little One
Bringing Your Preemie Home
By Katherine Bontrager
"Teaching other people how to care for your preemie is difficult because it means letting go, which is hard for any parent, but especially for the parent of a fragile preemie," says Ardolf. "Limit your help to those who visited frequently in the hospital because they'll have a good idea of what your baby needs and will be comfortable in a medical setting. Teach those people any procedures your child needs and oversee them for a period of time before you run an errand or take a nap."
But even helpers can be trying – and potentially dangerous for your preemie. "There are often people coming into your house, such as home health nurses and therapists, which can be hard to adjust to when you're used to having privacy," says Ardolf. "There's also the issue of having friends and family who want to visit after discharge, which can be extremely tiring and overwhelming, not to mention dangerous for a vulnerable infant 
who's susceptible to illness. Saying 'no' makes you feel like a bad guy, but it's in the best interest of your baby. I strongly suggest limiting visitors to only those people who are there to help the first couple of weeks after discharge."
To keep other concerned family and friends in the loop, Ardolf kept a Web site. "You can update the site with photos and information when you have time, instead of taking dozens of phone calls a day from people who want to check up on your baby," she says.
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