The nurses see your baby every day, so they can give you frequent updates on your little one. Remember, though, that nurses do not make diagnoses. To discuss a diagnosis or your baby's overall plan of care, find the neonatologist, fellow, nurse practitioner, hospitalist, or the resident. They have all the information about your baby and can talk to you about the big picture.
Some things you might want to ask the neonatologist and/or the nurses include:
How long will my baby be in the unit?
What, specifically, is the problem?
What will be involved in my baby's treatment and daily care?
What medicines will my baby have to take?
What types of tests will be done?
What can my baby eat and when?
Will I be able to nurse or bottle-feed my baby — if so, when and how?
Will someone help me learn how to nurse my baby?
What can I do to help my baby?
Will I be able to hold or touch my baby?
How often and for how long can I stay in the unit?
Can I sleep there?
What sort of care will my baby need when we get home?
Is there someone who can help us through the process?
You may also want to talk to the nurses in more detail about your baby's daily care and what to expect when you spend time with your little one. You should also learn the visiting schedule and any rules of the NICU so you'll know which family members can see the baby and when they can visit.
You may also want to ask the social worker:
Where can we get food when we're here?
Can we eat in the NICU?
Are cots or recliners available if we're allowed to stay overnight?
What about blankets and pillows?
Is nearby temporary housing available (such as through the Ronald McDonald House)?
If so, how do we get a room?
Is the room free?
If not, is the cost low and/or covered by our health insurance?
Are computers with Internet access available for doing work or emailing friends and loved ones about our baby's progress?
Are phones available in or around the NICU?
Can we use our cell phones in the NICU?
If not, can we be reached in the NICU?
Is there a support group or other parents of children in the NICU we can talk to?
.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/systems/ill/nicu_caring.html
Some things you might want to ask the neonatologist and/or the nurses include:
How long will my baby be in the unit?
What, specifically, is the problem?
What will be involved in my baby's treatment and daily care?
What medicines will my baby have to take?
What types of tests will be done?
What can my baby eat and when?
Will I be able to nurse or bottle-feed my baby — if so, when and how?
Will someone help me learn how to nurse my baby?
What can I do to help my baby?
Will I be able to hold or touch my baby?
How often and for how long can I stay in the unit?
Can I sleep there?
What sort of care will my baby need when we get home?
Is there someone who can help us through the process?
You may also want to talk to the nurses in more detail about your baby's daily care and what to expect when you spend time with your little one. You should also learn the visiting schedule and any rules of the NICU so you'll know which family members can see the baby and when they can visit.
You may also want to ask the social worker:
Where can we get food when we're here?
Can we eat in the NICU?
Are cots or recliners available if we're allowed to stay overnight?
What about blankets and pillows?
Is nearby temporary housing available (such as through the Ronald McDonald House)?
If so, how do we get a room?
Is the room free?
If not, is the cost low and/or covered by our health insurance?
Are computers with Internet access available for doing work or emailing friends and loved ones about our baby's progress?
Are phones available in or around the NICU?
Can we use our cell phones in the NICU?
If not, can we be reached in the NICU?
Is there a support group or other parents of children in the NICU we can talk to?
.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/systems/ill/nicu_caring.html