Page 44 - What to Expect

Going home

Going home

Rooming-in before going home

One or two nights prior to being discharged you may be asked to come
and stay in your baby’s room. You will be responsible for full care of your
baby but a nurse will be allocated to you and staff are available if you need
advice. Your baby will be weighed each day to ensure he is gaining weight
and when you, the homecare team and the consultant are happy for your
baby to be discharged, you will be able to go home.

Survival tips for slightly anxious parents

Taking your baby home from the security and constant monitoring of the
Unit may be the hardest thing you have ever done. Here are a few survival
tips to help you out at home between discharge and the next paediatrician
or specialist out-patient visit:
• tip When you have a baby, everyone you know or have ever met
before will give you advice on all you ever need to know about
babies. This is just something that comes with the territory of
becoming a parent. If you have concerns, let your paediatrician,
midwife, specialist, GP, Plunket nurse or neonatal homecare nurse
know. Don’t feel you are being over-anxious about your baby. It is
their job to answer your questions.

• tip Try to ignore tactless comments about your baby. Some people
may not even be aware that they are making hurtful comments
when they first see your baby. You can’t explain in a second to a
stranger the experience you and your family have been through.

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