According to the March of Dimes, 1 in 8 pregnancies in the United States results in premature birth, which is birth before 37 weeks of gestation. If your child is born prematurely he may require hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit, also known as a NICU.While physical contact with your child may be limited due to health concerns, comforting your child in the hospital and at home is still essential for the well-being and attachment of parent and child. Some proven techniques, such as adjusting your child's environment, and kangaroo care, can provide comfort while conforming to the advice of medical professionals.
Minimize Noise and Light
Hospitals are often busy environments full of noise and the harsh glare of lights. While this environment may be conducive for medical procedures, it is not necessarily conducive for the rest and comfort of your premature infant. Susan L. Madden, author of The Preemie Parents' Companion, in an article for Prematurity.org suggests assessing your child's environment and taking steps to minimize noise and light. Adjust the amount of light shining on your child by adjusting light settings or placing a blanket over your child's incubator or bassinet. Talk to staff about reducing noise such as ringing phones or radios and keep your voice quiet during conversations near your child's sleeping place. If your child's location is in a heavily traveled area with frequent noise, ask to have her relocated. All of these environmental considerations will provide comfort so your child can rest and grow without being disturbed.
Limit Stimulation
Full-term babies can become easily over-stimulated and this is perhaps even more true for premature infants. Your infant may show signs of becoming stressed or upset when faced with too much stimulation at once. Susan L. Madden, author of The Preemie Parents' Companion, in an article for Prematurity.org advises comforting your child by limiting stimulation. Provide your child with one form of stimulation at a time. For example, if you are feeding him, do not talk or give him eye contact; let him focus on eating. You may gradually add more than one form of stimulation at a time, but watch for signs of stress and give him a break by reducing stimulation. Also, help your child self-soothe by bringing his hand or fingers to his mouth.
Provide Swaddling and Boundaries
Babies feel most comfortable when mimicking the familiarity of the womb. One form of mimicking the womb is to swaddle your infant with her arms and legs bent and hand brought toward her face which simulates the position she was in while in your womb. Your baby will also be most comfortable when touching something during sleep and, according to Susan L. Madden in an article for Prematurity.org, babies will often move in the incubator until they touch the wall or bottom of the incubator or bassinet. Help your child by placing rolled blankets or cloth diapers around her head and back.
Containment Holding
BabyCenter recommends using a technique called containment holding to comfort your premature infant. Physical contact, including holding your child, may be limited during his stay in the NICU. Containment holding is an alternative to traditional holding that involves placing one hand on your infant's head and the other on her back or stomach while she is in her bassinet or incubator. Hold your hands steady with a gentle but firm touch to provide comfort if your infant shows signs of distress, or during procedures and tests.
Kangaroo Care
Kangaroo care involves holding your diapered premature infant to your bare chest or between your breasts, while a blanket is draped over your infant's back. This type of holding provides skin-to-skin contact that benefits both the premature infant and the parent, according to the March of Dimes. Kangaroo care helps your child regulate his body temperature, heart and breathing rates and provides comfort, while providing you with confidence and promoting emotional bonding with your child. Your child knows your scent, touch and speech from his time spent in the womb and feeling that familiarity will help comfort him. You should speak with medical staff regarding the kangaroo care policy of the specific NICU, as some allow kangaroo care from birth onward while others require that you wait until your infant is medically stable.
