Page 21 - What to Expect

Arrival in the NICU

Each hospital will have its own rules about visitors and who can come in to
see your baby or babies, and at what time. Please check what the rules are
for your Unit so you can inform your family and friends before they come
to visit.

You may not want certain people to visit your baby. It is normal to want
to protect your baby from people who are just curious. Parents, and only
parents, can make a list of people who can visit their baby without them.
Staff members will not admit visitors unless they are on the list or come
with a parent. Talk to a co-ordinator to arrange this. Staff members will
only give information about a baby over the telephone to parents. Please
do not give the Unit phone number to others.

Sometimes parents-to-be or the family of a baby are shown through the
Unit. Some days you may not mind the people looking in, other days it
might be the last thing you want. If you are feeling uncomfortable about
people looking in on that day, speak to your baby’s nurse or the associate
charge nurse manager (ACNM).

How can the social workers help me?

There are social workers available to see families who have babies in the
Unit. To speak with one of the neonatal social workers you could ask either
the nurse looking after your baby, or your midwife while on the postnatal
ward about contacting one of Woman’s Health or Whanau Care social
workers.

Having a baby in the Unit may cause social, emotional, financial, or
practical problems in your life. It can often help if there is someone to talk
to, or someone to listen to you.
Social workers can provide information and referral to resources available
in the community, and offer supportive counselling in a number of areas
such as:
Adjusting to the changes in your life while your baby is in the Unit
Feelings of loss, grief, anxiety, isolation and depression and how to
manage them
Stress

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