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DownloadAt last the time has come to take your baby home! You may have mixed feelings, excitement and some concern. It is natural to feel like this. Please be reassured that the Neonatal team would not discharge your baby from the hospital until they are ready.
You may now have lots of questions. This booklet has been designed to answer some of these and we hope that you will find it useful.
Can I get help and advice now my baby is at home?
Yes: the neonatal staff are always informed when your baby goes home. If your baby is less than ten days old, your midwife will visit you and your baby until the health visitor takes over the care at around ten days of age. The Health Visitor will monitor your baby’s growth and development and provide advice on health education. Your GP and Health visitor will be sent written detailed information about your baby’s stay on the neonatal unit. They are available for help and advice if you are worried.
The Neonatal Outreach team are a small team of neonatal staff who liaise with TMBU to provide support with home visits and telephone calls. The team’s role involves feeding advice, tube feeding, monitoring of weight gain and supporting babies who are receiving low flow oxygen.
What temperature should the room be?
It is not necessary to keep your home as warm as the baby unit nursery. The ideal temperature is around 65- 69°F (18-21°C). You should feel comfortable in a tee shirt.
What should my baby wear?
Babies should be warm with vest, babygrow and two or three blankets. A cardigan may be useful in addition.
On a hot day:
Dress your baby in a single layer of clothing, preferably cotton,with a sun hat. Try to keep in the shade if you are going out.
On a cold day:
Several layers are better than one thick layer as the trapped air provides insulation. Be careful not to over wrap your baby.
How do I know if my baby is too hot or cold?
If too hot your baby may be irritable, sweaty, hot to touch and may breathe faster than usual. A cold baby may be unusually quiet, pale or slightly blue, cold to touch and may refuse feeds. Cool hands and feet are not a good guide to your baby’s temperature so check the tummy or head instead.
When can I take my baby out?
There is no reason why you should not take your baby out if dressed according to weather conditions. Some babies are more prone to infection and if possible you may choose to avoid contact with anyone who is ill.
Walking:
If you use a buggy make sure your baby can lie down with back flat. If you wish to use a sling make sure your baby will not fall through.
In a car:
It is unsafe (and illegal) to hold a baby while sitting in a car, even with a safety belt around you and your baby. The only safe way for your baby to travel is in a properly secured, backward facing baby seat.
Ensure the car seat you have is age and weight appropriate and correctly fitted.
Practice placing the car seat in the car before discharge home.
If you have a car with air bags in the front, your baby should not travel in the front seat because of the danger of suffocation if the bag inflates.
The back should be flat against the back of the seat. Babies can overheat in a car seat if overdressed. Do not wrap in a blanket or heavy clothing before going into the car seat. A blanket may be placed over the top once secured in the seat. Remove head wear to allow any excess heat to be lost from the head.
In hot weather:
Babies are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the sun as their skin does not contain enough pigment to protect them from sunburn. Keep babies under six months out of the sun. Don’t forget a sun hat.
In cold weather:
Make sure your baby is well wrapped while out but remember to take the extra clothing off when you get in a warm place to prevent your baby from overheating even if asleep.
How often should I feed my baby?
Preterm and low birth weight babies may safely demand feed but should not go more than five hours between feeds during the day. Breast fed babies should feed 8-10 times a day. They can go longer at night, providing they are contented and gaining weight. Let your baby guide you with how often to feed and do not worry if times vary initially. Babies usually settle into their own pattern of feeding.
How will I know if my baby has had enough?
Breast: Offer the breast and let your baby feed until satisfied. This will give the fore milk and creamy hind milk, which is so important for growth. It is unlikely that you will be underfeeding if you are responsive feeding. From day 4 and for the first few weeks, your breast fed baby should pass at least 2 yellow stools every day and these may be loose. Nappies should be wet. Your baby will be weighed regularly which will help you know if enough milk has been taken. If you are at all worried, speak to your midwife, health visitor or doctor.
Bottle: As a guide, a baby needs approximately 150 milliliters of milk for every kilogram of body weight each day. Your health visitor will advise you when to increase feeds as your baby gains weight.
Your bottles and teats must be sterilised until your baby is at least one year old. There are several ways of sterilising:
Cold water sterilising.
You can buy a complete unit or use a plastic bucket with a lid. Follow instructions carefully when making up the sterilising solution and immerse equipment in the solution for the recommended time. Do not add unsterilised things later to the container or you will have to start all over again.
Boiling.
Wash equipment and put into a large pan reserved only for this use with a lid. Make sure no air is trapped in the bottles. Boil for at least ten minutes (teats for three). Leave everything in the pan until needed. Keep the pan out of reach of older children.
Steam sterilising.
Especially designed for bottles, they are both quick and efficient. Follow instructions carefully.
Microwave steam units.
These are designed especially for sterilising bottles in a microwave oven. If you intend to use a microwave, you must use one of these units otherwise ‘cold spots’ may occur and could leave part of the bottle unsterilised.
How do I store my expressed breast milk?
Research suggests that Frozen EBM may be stored for 3 to 6 months in a freezer at minus 18 degrees.
Research suggests that Fresh Breast milk can be stored in a fridge for 2 to 5 days at 4 degrees or below.
Defrosted Breast milk should not be stored in the fridge for longer than 12 hours.
Storing a feed.
A feed should be freshly made up when it is needed to reduce the risk of infection that may make your baby ill. Measure amounts carefully, follow manufacturer’s instructions and never add extra scoops of powder. Any formula left in the bottle after a feed should be thrown away. Infant formula that has not been used and has been kept at
room temperature must be thrown away within two hours.
Bacteria multiply quickly at room temperature. Even if a feed is kept in the fridge, bacteria can survive and multiply, although they do this more slowly. The risk of infection increases over time so that is why it is important to make up the feed each time your baby needs it.
My baby is not taking his feed properly?
Breast:
Latching on may be a problem that can be easily resolved. Check with your midwife or health visitor who will help you with positioning your baby correctly. There may be other reasons why your baby is experiencing difficulties with feeding. Being too sleepy, uncomfortable due to wind or a dirty nappy, too hot or unwell are all possible problems. Being anxious or in a hurry may also affect the way your baby feeds. Always consult your midwife or health visitor if you are worried.
Bottle:
Is the milk too hot or cold?
Is the teat placed corrected in the mouth? Make sure the shaped teat points towards the roof of your baby’s mouth and that the teat is on top of their tongue.
Is baby uncomfortable due to wind or a dirty nappy?
Does baby seem unwell?
My baby has refused a feed? If your baby appears contented and is gaining weight do not worry, he will probably take more at the next feed. If your baby remains sleepy and not interested in subsequent feeds then seek advice from your health visitor or GP. 9 Please remember that in the early days pre-term and small babies tire easily and tired babies do not feed well. Try not to over stimulate your baby in the first few weeks following discharge and allow time for sleep in between feeds.
When to start solid foods?
It is wise to introduce some solids at approximately six months from birth. Your baby will now need more nutrients than milk alone can provide. Pureed and liquidised fresh fruit and vegetables or baby food products free from added sugar or salt may be offered. Check the labels of manufactured baby foods for ingredients.
Some babies may benefit from earlier or later introduction of solids. Ask in clinic and discuss with your health visitor what is best for your baby.
Increase solid foods gradually so that between six and twelve months these become the main part of the diet with breast or formula milk to drink alongside
How can I tell if my baby is ready for solids?
Look out for some of these signs:
Please remember that all babies are different, some start solid food earlier, some later. Some babies take to it more quickly than others. Go at your baby’s pace and try not to rush or ‘force’ him to feed. If you have any doubts, talk to your health visitor.
Vitamin and iron supplements
Many premature babies do not have enough stores of vitamins and iron as these are built up during the last few weeks of pregnancy. These babies need supplements to help promote growth and prevent anaemia.
We recommend the following:
We will dispense a supply to be taken home. Further supplies may be obtained by prescription from your GP.
Vitamin supplements are recommended for all children up to the age of five years. These can be bought over the counter after the age of one year.
If your baby has a problem coping with the amount of supplement, you may wish to give half the dose twice a day (breakfast and tea time), but this should not generally be necessary. You should not give more than the amount prescribed and do keep them out of the reach of other children.
Give the supplements before the feed either by letting your baby suck them from a teat or a syringe. We recommend that you do not put them into the milk, if bottle feeding, as your baby may not finish his feed. If your baby vomits, do not re administer the medication. Missing a dose of vitamins or iron for one day will do no harm.
Washing (topping and tailing)
Wash your baby’s face, neck, hands and bottom carefully every day. Choose a time when he is awake and contented and make sure the room is warm and you have everything you need before you start.
Bathing
Bath your baby when awake and not crying for a feed or straight after a feed. Get everything ready before you start and make sure the room is warm enough. Place the bath or washing up bowl on a firm surface and test that the water is comfortably warm by checking with your wrist or elbow.
Never leave your baby alone in the bath; not even for a second.
Babies do not need bathing every day, two or three times a week is enough and remember to keep bathing speedy until your baby is a bit bigger.
If your baby seems frightened of bathing and cries, you could try bathing your baby in your bath with you but make sure the water is not too hot. It’s easier if someone else holds your baby while you get in and out.
Rashes
If your baby has a rash, changing to a mild detergent or a soap powder may help. For nappy rash, try without a nappy for short periods of time and keep the skin clean and dry. There are several barrier creams available, which may help. If you use disposable nappies, the manufacturers recommend that you do not have a thick layer of cream on the bottom as this may interfere with the absorbency of the nappy and your baby may develop a sore bottom from contact with the urine. If the rash persists, seek advice from your health visitor or doctor.
Massage
Bath time is a good time to give your baby a massage. This is beneficial in many ways for both you and your baby. Apart from giving you the opportunity to touch touch your baby in a lovely way, it can help you both relax and give you both much pleasure. Lay your baby on a towel on the floor as your hands will be slippery.
If you wish to use oil massage, we recommend that you use unperfumed oil such as sunflower or coconut oil. Aromatherapy oil should not be used on babies as this can be readily absorbed through the skin and may be harmful.
How can I reduce the risk of cot death?
Sadly, we don’t know why some babies die suddenly and for no apparent reason from what is called ‘cot death’ or ‘Sudden Infant Death Syndrome’ (SIDS). But we do know that placing a baby to sleep on his back reduces the risk and that exposing a baby to cigarette smoke or overheating a baby increases the risk.
Safety tips
Snuffles or colds:
Young babies can become quite poorly with colds. Their noses may block, making it difficult for them to breathe and suck a feed. If this happens, gently clear nostrils with a cotton wool ball or soft tissue if necessary. If your baby becomes unusually sleepy or very hot or cold, starts to wheeze or refuses feeds then seek medical advice immediately.
Vomiting:
Sometimes after a feed, babies bring back some milk with wind. This is normal and is no cause for concern. If your baby vomits a large amount or starts a pattern of frequent vomiting, seek medical advice.
Diarrhoea:
If your baby has loose motions and other symptoms develop, e.g. fever, sleepiness, vomiting, refusal of feeds, seek advice from your doctor immediately.
You should seek medical advice if your baby:
Immunisations
We advise all parents of babies who have been on the unit to have their baby immunised. Babies are usually immunised when they are two months actual age and monthly thereafter for three doses in total. When they are older they will have further immunisations. There is no reason why your baby should not be immunised, but talk to your doctor, practice nurse or health visitor if you have any doubts or questions about immunisation.
Development
What is my baby’s real age?
If your baby was born early, there will be two ages:
real age: the actual time from birth
corrected age: the age from expected date of delivery.
For example:
Your baby was due on 8th May 2020, born 8th March 2020.
On 8th Sept 2020: actual age 6 months, corrected age 4 months.
The corrected age is used when plotting weight on a growth chart and when checking on developmental milestones for at least the first year of life.
Some parents ask if their baby will catch up. Providing there have been no major complications, there may be no noticeable difference in developmental milestones by the time your baby is about two years old. catch up with development may be achieved by one year corrected.
Will there be long term problems?
The outcome of premature or small babies has improved considerably. The outcome is very good for the majority of babies, often with no difference when compared with full term babies.
We know that the condition of the baby at birth and the problems in the first few weeks are just as important as the number of weeks born early when considering future development.
Babies at particular risk are those born before 30 weeks and weighing under 1.5 kg. Babies who needed long term help with breathing, have had a severe infection, bowel disease or a bleed in to the brain are also at risk. Sometimes babies born pre-term can be late in walking or talking. Poor co-ordination and concentration and restless behaviour are also found in some children in the early years.
For some, these difficulties disappear with time, for others they may persist. It is important to remember that development in these early years is not an accurate predictor of intelligence or later school performance.
Your health visitor will monitor your baby’s development closely. For babies at risk there will be routine follow-up appointments in Baby Clinic. If your baby does have problems with developmental milestones these will be identified as early as possible and you and your baby will be given the appropriate support, usually at a local Children’s Developmental Centre.
Your baby may be given an outpatient appointment to check his progress and provide an opportunity for you to discuss any worries you may have.
The first outpatient appointment is usually at 4-6 weeks after discharge home. Clinics are held on Level 5 at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital.
It is important for you to keep this appointment, both for your baby’s sake and to reassure you that all is well.
For babies born before 29 weeks and those that have had cooling treatment following a difficult delivery there will be additional routine developmental checks until 2 years corrected age. These checks should be undertaken at your local hospital.
It is not unusual to have mixed feelings about taking your baby home. It is natural to feel anxious at this time.
You will find that it takes time to settle in to a new routine and it will be tiring. Some babies seem more restless and sleep less than they did on the Unit. It is important to enlist help from partners or family or friends during this phase.
Finally: we hope you enjoy being home at last with your baby. We wish you happy days and peaceful nights!
Please pop up and see us on the unit after your outpatient clinic as we love to keep in touch!
The information here is for guidance purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner.
The information here is intended for patients receiving care at Brighton and Haywards Heath.
Publication Date: July 2022
Review Date: April 2025
