Visiting Your Baby In The NICU

Bonding with your baby is an important step on the road to going home! We encourage parents to visit as much as they can.  It is important to hold, touch, and care for baby as his or her medical condition permits. Parents are allowed to visit anytime. Other friends and relatives may visit or view your baby if the medical condition and time permit. Parents will need to be present when others visit. If you are ill, please postpone your visit to the NICU. Masks can be provided if a parent has a cough, but if you have a fever, we encourage you to wait until your temperature is normal to visit. Cameras and camcorders are permitted. Many parents bring disposable cameras to leave at their baby's bedside.

Careful hand washing is required before entering the NICU and before and after infant care (such as diapering). This is the best way to prevent infection. We try very hard to provide a clean and germ-free environment for our patients.

We encourage you to leave siblings under two at home. If you must bring them with you, make arrangements to have someone accompany you that will be responsible for watching them. We want the time you spend with your baby to be entirely on your own.

Like a lot of NICU parents, your feelings may be jumbled, confused, and not very pleasant at times. Some parents feel guilty, even though they are not to blame. Most feel anger too at some point. You may be shocked, or at least surprised, at how small and helpless your baby seems. You may feel a very strong need to protect him and you may want to cry. Cry if you want to anytime, any place, it's a necessary release. It may also help to bring a good friend or loved one the first time you visit the NICU.

You may feel as though the NICU nurses are doing your job. But really, it only seems that way. While the NICU nurses give life saving care, they rely on you to spend time holding your baby, talking to him or her, and just making him feel loved. Your love is one of the most important things you can give your baby at this time. Your baby is learning to know your voice and touch, and you are an important part of your baby's recovery.

Make sure you know what to do when your baby is ready to go home.  Before you take your baby home, our staff will teach you about caring for you baby and tell you about any follow up care your baby will need. They will talk about daily care, diet, and any medicines you will need to give. Our staff is very supportive and will answer any questions if you do not understand.