Have
you been told you are a candidate for a high-risk pregnancy? Are
you currently pregnant and dealing with pregnancy-induced hypertension,
preterm labor or gestational diabetes? Are you now the parent of
a preemie in the NICU? Do you know someone who is? If so, What
to Do When Your Baby is Premature may prove to be an invaluable
resource for you. I wish I'd had this book when I was pregnant and
on bedrest, and then later when visiting my premature daughter in
the NICU. This book is packed with information dealing with high-risk
pregnancies and babies born prematurely.
To
quote the front cover, this book contains information on:
- the most common
medical conditions that can cause prematurity, including pregnancy-induced
hypertension, placental disorders, gestational diabetes, HELLP syndrome,
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, and more
- steps to take
to prevent early delivery
- the latest
options for treatment
- understanding
the neonatal intensive care unit
- specific recommendations
for different stages of prematurity
- taking preemie
babies home
One
of the authors, Sharon Simmons Hornfischer, has firsthand experience
with having a high-risk pregnancy and delivering a premature baby.
Her first son was born at 32 weeks, and throughout the book are
personal notes and anecdotes from Ms. Hornfischer, which add a nice
personal touch to the book.
The
book has 14 chapters, covering such topics as "The Causes of High-Risk
Pregnancy", "Managing High-Risk Pregnancy", "Labor and Delivery",
"The First Twenty-Four Hours after Delivery", "Your Preemie's
Growth and Maturation", "The Rhythms of the NICU", "Special Concerns
in the NICU", and "Bringing Your Preemie Home". Each chapter goes
into great depth and is full of technical information. This is the
book to have on hand if you want details and full explanations of
conditions and procedures. Sprinkled throughout the book are blue
boxes with "FAQ's" - Frequently Asked Questions. Some of the FAQ's
addressed include:
- Will I be
able to go home if my contractions stabilize?
- When will
my blood pressure go back to normal?
- If I take
medications, will I still be able to breastfeed?
- Where will
my baby be taken immediately after delivery?
- Can I read
my baby's chart?
There are also
many good tips highlighted throughout the book, including tips on
surviving bedrest (page 86), dealing with insurance (page 145), getting
oriented in the NICU (page 182), and dealing with well-meaning friends
and family (page 199). This is an extremely comprehensive book! I
agree 100% with this tip, found on page 192:
"Remember, this
is your baby. Get involved. Ask questions. Take the initiative to
be an active participant in your preemie's NICU life. The more involved
you get, the stronger the bond you will feel toward your child,
and the more attached he or she will become to you."
The book ends
with a seven page glossary of terms that serves as a handy reference,
as well as three appendices: Developmental Milestones, Conversion
Charts, and Helpful Resources. As a former parent to a child in the
NICU, I know firsthand that all of these resources would have been
very valuable to me while my daughter was still quite small.
What
to Do When Your Baby is Premature is a well-written, information-packed,
easy-to-read book that should be required reading for all parents
dealing with high-risk pregnancies or premature babies. I am happy
to have a copy of it and only wish that I would have had this back
when I was in my high-risk pregnancy, worrying about my unborn child.
Information is power, and this book will certainly arm you with the
knowledge you need to help carry your unborn child for as long as
possible and make the best of the NICU experience.
Book review by Jennifer Thompson
To Purchase:
• What
to Do When Your baby is Premature at Amazon.com
• What to Do When Your baby is Premature at Amazon UK
• What to Do When Your baby is Premature at Amazon Canada
