Childbirth is one of the exciting, important and frightening events in our lives. Childbirth is an event in which feelings of joy, excitement and fear are mixed with each other, and sometimes until each other controls others, especially when the premature baby is born prematurely.
The incubator is a newborn and intensive care unit for infants who need special care and supervision when they are born very early, when their bodies are not sufficiently developed. One premature birth occurs in every 8 births and requires special baby care immediately after birth. But not only the premature baby who is born prematurely needs special care, also his parents who are next to him - anxious and excited that one does not always know how to deal with a child''s stay in an incubator of preterm infants and how to deal with their raging feelings - they need treatment and support.
For anxious parents, we prepared a number of helpful tips to help them deal with their child''s stay in an incubator:
1. Learn about a baby sitter
It is important to know some important things about the premature baby staying in the incubator. When a child is born prematurely, he is taken there immediately, and the parents are not able to catch him or touch him after his birth. Also, when a child stays in an incubator for premature infants, his family cannot touch him. After a certain period of time has passed in the preterm incubator, where the child''s condition improves and grows slightly, parents can participate with the medical team in checks such as a fever test, when changing diapers and when feeding the child.
Premature incubator room varies from hospital to hospital, but usually serves as a large room with open or closed incubator beds arrayed along the walls. It is important to know that most of the time the premature baby incubator is full of equipment and members of the medical team who are actively working on it. There are also more anxious and fearful parents, so it is sometimes difficult to approach and develop an intimate relationship with the child.
Babies who are born prematurely have a slightly different shape than regular children. They are smaller, brittle and more soft. Sometimes it is difficult for parents to deal with the shape of their premature baby, especially if the premature baby is also attached to many tubes and devices in the incubator. Therefore, parents must know this possibility in advance so that they do not panic over the shape of the child in the incubator.
Because premature babies are more likely to be infected with bacteria and diseases, visiting hours are very limited. Parents can stay alongside him all the time but the rest of the family can only visit him for short periods and in advance in coordination.
2. Dealing with rough feelings
Parents whose child remains in the incubator do not know whether they should consider this as a crisis in their life or as a happy event because, despite this, a new child has been born to them. Parents simply don''t know how to feel and what legitimate feelings are in this situation. Many parents feel guilt, panic, anxiety, fear, deprivation, indifference and loneliness when the premature baby is in the incubator, but it is important to try to put those feelings aside and try to focus on the positive side more in the premature recovery process.
This advice is very easy to read and often difficult to implement. But it is important to try to overcome overwhelming feelings during the time in the incubator and to succeed in staying next to the child and help the medical staff treat it in the best possible way.
3. Get to know the medical staff and the hospital
It is true that the medical staff in the incubator is very busy most of the time and takes care of many children at the same time, but they are also well aware of the situation of the parents who stay beside the child and the difficulties they face. So do not hesitate to involve them in your mind and ask questions that you should receive an answer. Sometimes parents stay in the incubator for a long time, so it is very preferable to get to know the names of the crew members and put peace upon them at all time and take care of their health. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the position of each person in the department and for any person to address the various issues.
In addition to getting to know the medical staff, it is also preferable to get to know the hospital itself, because the parents spend most of their time while their child is in the incubator. It is important to clarify where to eat, from where chairs can be brought if they are missing in the section, is there an arrangement for parents who want to stay to sleep, in which places in the section are they allowed to speak on the mobile phone, and is it allowed to use the laptop, is there a support group in The hospital is for the family in your position and everything else you think is important.
4. Data collection
Despite serious concerns about the premature baby''s health, it is preferable to participate and get to know in detail every medical procedure and examination he undergoes, in order to feel connected to him and the process, not to feel distant and to stay with many questions without reply. However, gathering information about the condition of the premature baby can be a daunting and difficult task while the premature baby is in the incubator. There are many medical terms that parents have not known before, so sometimes parents can feel powerless for all the information that comes down to them all at once. So it is important to write everything down and not try to remember. If you feel the need to ask the question again because you did not understand the answer - do so and do not be shy. You can also check online the medical terms or procedures that you do not understand deeply.
5. Development of interaction with the premature baby
The child who stays in an incubator for preterm infants is of course not aware of his condition, but like any other child he is thirsty for the touch of his parents and the warmth of their body. Not all children are allowed to touch the incubator, and not all can be caught, but there are ways to deal with this with the help of medical staff. However, if the medical staff prohibits direct contact with the child, he can talk to him or sing to him.
When the child gets a little older and you can catch him, ask the medical staff to take part in his treatment. Whether it''s dressing, changing diapers, feeding it, and just bringing it close to your body.
6. Request support
When the couple stays together in an incubator for premature babies, they often both need support. Because they are both in the same position, they often find it difficult to support each other, so in this case it is advisable to find another person who can support them and who can talk to them about staying in the incubator and what they are going through. This could be another family member, a social worker, a member of the medical staff who is not very busy, and maybe other people in the same department. Every person feels parents can listen and support them.
7. Diary writing
Yes, as we did when we were 16 years old. Writing can be very helpful in dealing with overwhelming emotions and leaving thoughts that are fast in the head and intertwined with one another. Writing can help remember all medical information and medical staff instructions. Parents who love to photograph can do this while they are in the incubator, in coordination with the medical staff. Engaging in photography can be greatly reduced and also used as a souvenir for this period.
8. Mutual support between spouses
The couple who stay in the preterm incubator knows the situation better than anyone else. They know what the other side feels because they feel it themselves. So it is important to share feelings and talk about everything, even if you sometimes feel that you are a burden to each other. Many parents do not know how to behave, what to do and close in silence with themselves, making the whole process more difficult for them. Try to get out from time to section and take a little walk outside. They also tried to go home from time to time even for a few hours to recover and break the routine.
9. Receive support
If the parents have more children in the family or if they live in a place far from the incubator and find it difficult to come to it, or in any other logistical issue - it is important not to hesitate to ask for help. Parents cannot do everything on their own and deal with everything. Stress and fatigue can cause the body to collapse, at which time parents will not be able to stay with their child in the incubator and help them. To maintain strength and motivation, it is important to enlist the help of other people to carry out various tasks.
10. Try to prepare
Premature birth does not always happen suddenly. Sometimes there are medical conditions that require a cesarean delivery or labor induction ahead of time, which will allow parents to prepare to remain in the incubator. In this case, prepare the house for the period of your absence, prepare everything you need during your stay in the department. Also try to prepare family and friends to be ready for help if you need them.
