Leaving the NICU Checklist
Leaving the NICU ChecklistThe time for your baby to be discharged from the NICU will be her before you know it. You should startplanning for that day as soon as your baby is admitted. Your NICU nurse will carefully go over all the thingsyou need to know before your baby leaves the hospital. Here is a brief checklist of some of the things she’llcover.Before babies can be discharged, they will be required to do a variety of things: They should be able to stay inan open crib with baby’s temperature in normal range. They must breather normally with no concerningepisodes of apnea or bradycardia. And they should be able to take all feedings by mouth for 24 to 48 hoursand show that they can gain weight consistently. Premature babies usually meet these criteria somewherebetween 36 to 40 weeks or near their due date.There are a number of tests your baby must complete before going home: A hearing screening. And for somebabies, an eye exam. But only if baby was less than 31 weeks or 1500 grams at birth.Before they are released from the hospital, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a car seat safetytest for all babies born earlier than 37 weeks gestation. After NICU staff check that the baby’s car seat is thecorrect size, he will sit in it for at least 90 minutes, while oxygen saturation levels are checked to establish thatthey remain in the normal range. This will help ensure a safe journey home.In addition, one of the NICU nurses might provide you with specific car seat safety instructions. This willinclude: The appropriate car seat selection. How to put the baby in the car seat properly. And where and howto keep the seat secured to the car. There are many resources available to help you keep your baby safe in acar seat. Ask your hospital staff which ones are the best for you.Preparing yourself for life with baby before he comes home will help the whole family make the transition. Setup the crib and get the baby supplies you’ll need. Make a list of all the baby’s doctors and any emergencynumbers you may need. Take advantage of any of the NICU baby care classes that are available. Schedule allfollow up appointments and well-baby visits. And look into home caregiver services, or other medical helpservices that might be available.There are a host of other considerations you need to be aware of upon baby’s discharge. They includeinformation about: Immunizations; Taking medication; Reviewing any medical equipment that might benecessary; Creating a safe sleeping environment; And learning about Shaken Baby Syndrome and why babiescry.It can be mentally and emotionally tough when you finally arrive home with your baby after discharge. Thereare real adjustments to life outside the NICU without all the helpful NICU staff. So, prepare yourself for beingalone with baby. Seek help and support from family, friends, or other caregiver professionals if you think youneed it.Soon your baby will be on his way home and you will leave the NICU knowing that he was well cared for. Nowit will be your turn to give your baby all the love and support he’ll need to grow up healthy and strong.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG00021B EN LeavingTheNICUChecklist.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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