General Development

I will weigh around 800g-1300g. I will still be small and fragile, but my skin won’t be as transparent and delicate . I will need help from equipment and medication. I might need a machine to help me breath, which might be a tube in my mouth or a mask/prongs in my nose. I might have lines in my arms/legs or even my belly button to give me nutrition/medication. I will also have a tube in my nose or mouth, that goes into my tummy so I can get breast milk. I will have a lot of equipment around my incubator, my nurse will explain it all to you. I will still be in intensive care and there may be a lot of alarms going off. This is just to alert the doctors and nurses caring for me. My brain is growing and developing quickly and I can hear. I may be startled by loud noises, but I love to hear your voices.

Because I am still very small I will be nursed in an incubator, this keeps me warm and protects from the outside environment. I will have humidity in my incubator to help control my temperature and protect my skin (this will make my incubator appeared steamed up). I have an immature immune system and I am vulnerable to infections.

Touching and holding me

Spend as much time as possible with me. My nurse will show you how to care for me. My skin is still very sensitive to touch – if your touching me try not to rub or stroke me, a warm hand on top of me lets me know you are there. I enjoy being out for skin to skin and being close to you so I can become familiar with your scent (try not to wear perfume/aftershave) so I can smell you. Read and sing to me I love hearing your voice and it will help my brain grow and develop. Touching and holding me will help us bond together.

Sleep Patterns

Sleep is very important for me as it helps my growth and development. I still don’t have a regular sleeping pattern as yet, but I may have short patterns of sleep and awake periods. My movements can still be sudden and jerky like I am still in the womb, and I can become startled to loud noises and bright lights. If I am sleeping try not to disturb me. I will still have a cover over my incubator and my nurses will make sure the lights and dimmed and there isn’t too much noise to promote my sleep

Feeding me

I will have a tube in my nose or mouth so I can get milk. I still can’t coordinate sucking and swallowing together. I will get some of my nutrition through a fluid called TPN and lipids, This will go into a vein in my arms, legs or even my belly button. The nurses will slowly increase my milk and the TPN and Lipids will go down as my milk goes up. I can taste and smell, and you may see my trying to ‘root’ at the breast when you have me out for skin to skin. You can help me coordinate my suck and swallow by giving me a dummy when I am getting a feed. This is called non-nutritive sucking

General Development

I will weigh around 1.3kg-2.1kg, I may still need some help with my breathing as this stage, but most of the time I can do this on my own.  I will need help with feeding and growing.  I may have a cannula in my hand or foot for fluids.  I will also have a tube in my nose or mouth so I can be fed, I will start to show you signs that I am ready to try suck feeding, like sucking my fingers or dummy. I may still be in an incubator, but I will be getting to ready to go into a cot.  If I am well enough I will be cared for in special care.

Touching and holding me

My brain is growing rapidly and my hearing is well developed. I can be soothed with your voice, talk quietly to me, read stories and sing to me. My skin is still sensitive to touch, when you are touching me try not to stoke or rub me. I love being close to you and skin to skin care is the best thing for me.  If you want to cuddle me, swaddle me and hold me so my legs are tucked close to my body and my hands are close to my face.  At this stage I may enjoy a bath, ask my nurse about swaddling bathing; they will teach you.

Sleep Patterns

Sleep is still very important for my brain development.  I will start to have periods of deep sleep.  Try not to waken me when I am asleep as this interrupts my growth and development.  I will still be startled by loud noises and bright lights.  If I am starting to wake up, let me know you are there by speaking to me and gently placing your hand around me.

Feeding me

I will have a tube in my nose or mouth so I can get milk.  I may also get nutrition through a fluid called TPN and lipids, this will go into a vein in my arms, legs or even my belly button.   I will be starting to show signs of being hungry and I may become restless just before its time for my milk. Between 30 -32 weeks I will still need practice to learn how to co-ordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing. However, as I get towards 34 weeks I might want to have a try.  When I am due a feed try giving me my dummy at the same time, this will prepare me for sucking.  If I am out for skin to skin, look for signs of ‘Rooting’ (this is where I will turn my head towards your nipple and open my mouth searching for food, I may also do this if you touch my cheek).  You can also try expressing some milk when I am out for skin to skin, this will let me smell your milk and encourage me to feed.  If you are feeding me using a bottle,  may manage to take some milk.  Doing all of this uses a lot of my energy and I will get tired easily, I won’t be ready to take every feed just yet.

General Development

I will weigh around 2.3kg-3.6Kg.  I may not need to be admitted to the neonatal unit.  I may be able to stay with you in the transitional care unit.  If I have been in the unit a while, my nurses will be preparing you to take me home.

Touching and holding me

Speak to me in a soft voice before you touch me.  If I still need to be in an incubator, you can cradle one or both hands around my feet, head or body.  This is called a comfort hold, and my nurse will show you how to do this.  Skin to skin is very important to me, we will both benefit from it.  Read and sing to me.

Sleeping Patterns

I will start to develop my own sleeping, waking and feeding pattern.  I should be more awake during the day and sleep more at night.  As I prepare for home I should be sleeping on my back with no boundaries or supports around me.  Sleep is still very important to my growth and development

Feeding me

I will be starting to wake for my feeds, My sucking, swallowing and breathing will be more co-ordinated now.  If I have a feeding tube in, get me out for skin to skin before my feed and let me root at the breast, or suck on a dummy, this will help encourage me to feed.  My nurse will guide you on my feeding plan.  If I am bottle feeding, bring my own bottle in, this will make it easier for me when I am ready to go home.  My nurse and breastfeeding support worker will help you fed me.  Speak with my nurse and plan what you would like my routine to be, so we are prepared for home together.

• Spend as much time with me as possible. Bonding with me is extremely important to my development.

• When you are ready my nurse will show you how to change my nappy and how to feed me.

• Provide breast milk for me. You are the only person that can do this. Your milk is specifically made for me. My nurse/midwife will show you how to express breast milk for me. It really is the best medicine, only you can give me.

• Learn how to perform good hand hygiene and teach my visitors. Help the staff prevent infection.

• Come to the ward rounds and tell the doctors and nurses all about me.

• Read and sing to me, I know your voice and it will help soothe me, it is also great my for development and bonding with me

• Protect me from strong smells like perfume and aftershave. I want to smell just you. My nurse will give both of us a mini boo, which is a small piece of cloth, we will swap these around so we can always have each other’s scents close to one and another.

• Get me out for skin to skin, my nurse will guide you when I am ready. There is nothing better than skin to skin contact with my parents. It can help regulate my temperature and breathing. It lets me get super close to you so I can smell you and hear your heart beating. It will help my development. It will help you mummy with your milk supply, and most importantly it will help us bond as a family.