Page 55 - What to Expect

Going home

If your baby shows any of these signs, slow down the pace of one activity
when stimulating your baby and stop all others. You may, for example, rock
more slowly, stop talking and break eye contact. This gives baby a chance
to relax and to slowly build up the coping skills that are important for his
healthy growth and development.
A happy, relaxed baby may show some of the following signs:

Good skin colour
Bright and alert eyes
Can make and hold good eye contact

Arms and legs are relaxed and move smoothly.
Try not to handle your baby too much. This helps to avoid over-stimulation.
Over-stimulated babies can be tired and cranky. More importantly, know
your baby and his moods and patterns, remembering that they change as
he grows. This is where all that time sitting with him in the Unit pays off. If
any of the signs of a cranky baby persist and you would like reassurance
talk with the neonatal homecare nurse, Plunket nurse, or your GP’s practice
nurse.

What is the long-term outlook for my baby? Is he really

ok?

These are some of the big questions parents ask. Most premature babies
develop normally, and only a small percentage have long-term problems.
If you are concerned about your baby, the paediatrician will be able to talk
with you about this.
Premature babies aren’t always little - there have been some quite famous
pre-term babies: American writer Mark Twain, scientists Albert Einstein and
Sir Isaac Newton, British politician Sir Winston Churchill and Russian ballet
dancer Anna Pavlova.
Being told again and again by your baby’s doctor that everything is ok
sometimes is just not enough. There always is the haunting question or
doubt in your mind that is only answered when he says his first word,
crawls or walks.

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