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Brianne Thomson
Mrs. Harrell
English 4
November 7, 2014
Life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Having a baby emitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is extremely difficult and
challenging. It has more downs then ups but it is not impossible for one to deal with. Faith and
hope gets parents through the NICU section. Parents that have babies in the Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit section can benefit their baby in many ways.
When a parent is in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit one feels many emotions, one main
emotion one feels is helpless. When a parent first walk into the NICU section and sees all the
tubes, ventilators, IVs, and incubators it seems very scary and overwhelming to deal with (4446). Parents need to remember that the staff is there for support and guidance. A parent cant
handle the hardships alone, having someone to lean on is crucial. Parents cant hold in their
emotions, it is important to cry and be angry. If a tries to be alone during the journey of having a
child in the neonatal intensive care unit than one will feel helpless and undetermined. A parent
needs to keep faith and accept support from other or else the pain will get worse.
When a having a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit one important role a parent
has is always being there as much as possible. Skin to skin care is very important when it comes
to heath of a baby. A parents touch and sense of smell reassures the baby of one presence and
love (Different Beginnings). When a baby knows the presence of their parent is present then it

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will increase the heartbeat of the baby. One needs to be around the baby as much as possible.
Another thing a parent can do is cuddle with the baby. One type of skin to skin care a parent can
do to help benefit their baby is kangaroo care. Kangaroo care is something a parent can do
while having a baby in the intensive care unit. Kangaroo care helps with stabilizing the heartbeat,
breathing, less crying and better weight gain. If one brings a toy animal from the house it helps
the baby learn the parents scent and lets the baby get more comfortable with the parent. If a baby
is given a toy that has the scent of the house and parents then it will help the baby feel more
comfortable when they arrive home finally.
One way a parent can benefit the babys heath is by breastfeeding. People have different
views on breastfeeding, some support it and others knock it. Breastfeeding is encouraged
strongly in the NICU section. Breast milk helps mature the babies digestive system and their
lungs and helps with brain development (44-46). A baby should receive breast milk about eight
times every twenty-four hours. If a parent cannot be there at certain hours of the day then pre
pumping the breast milk and leaving it with the nurses is a good way to help the babys heath.
Breastfeeding is an important rule a parent can play in dealing with benefiting the baby.
Nobody ever expects their baby to be admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit but it
happens on a daily basis. There are many emotions and obstacles parents may face while their
baby is in the NICU section. A parent can help save their child with the basics of staying with
their baby and making sure the baby is cared for. No parent wants to be alone when they have to
face these obstacles.

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Work Cited
"Different Beginnings - An Inside View of the NICU." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 14 Oct.
2014.
Knispel, Sandra. "When Newborns Need Extra Care." Baby Talk 76.6 (2011): 44-46. Health
Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.