Understanding the NICU: What Parents of Preemies and Other Hospitalized Newborns Need to Know

by Gary Weiner MD FAAP, Meera Meerkov MD FAAP (Editor), Jeanette Zaichkin RN, MN, NNP-BC (Editor), Gary M Weiner MD FAAP (Editor)

Overview

Invaluable expert information and support for any parent whose infant is admitted to the NICU.

When a newborn is admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), it can be frightening and overwhelming. Edited by two top NICU doctors and a veteran NICU nurse, this guide will support parents through their baby’s time in the NICU, helping them communicate with members of the NICU team, ask the right questions, and participate as valuable partners in their baby’s care. Understanding the NICU addresses such topics as common NICU equipment and tests, common medical problems for babies in the NICU, special health issues for preterm newborns, feeding and parenting in the NICU, and heading home from the NICU. This updated and fully revised edition also features new inspirational stories from parents of hospitalized newborns, bringing comfort and hope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610026659
Publisher:	American Academy of Pediatrics
Publication date:	07/18/2023
Edition description:	Second edition
Pages:	300
Sales rank:	501,925
Product dimensions:	9.25(w) x 7.25(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Meera Meerkov, MD, FAAP, is a clinical assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and a practicing neonatologist at the University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital and the director of the neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship training program. Gary M. Weiner, MD, FAAP, is clinical professor in the department of pediatrics and medical director of the Brandon Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is a member of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation’s Neonatal Life Support Task Force and the American Heart Association’s Resuscitation Guidelines Writing Group. Dr. Weiner is the editor of the American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation. Jeanette Zaichkin, RN, MN, NNP-BC, has been a neonatal nurse for more than 30 years. She served as the nurse consultant for the American Academy of Pediatrics Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Steering Committee from 1998 to 2022, and served as associate editor of the Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, 4th through 8th editions.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Family Story Icons Please Note Acknowledgments Introduction Family Story: Bailey Jo & Abraham Family Story: Kellan Family Story: Christopher Chapter 1 An Unexpected Beginning Family Story: Lucy Chapter 2 The NICU Journey Begins Family Story: Nathan Family Story: Pascal Chapter 3 NICU Equipment and Tests Family Story: August (Auggie) Chapter 4 Common Medical Problems Family Story: Holland & Eden Chapter 5 Your Preterm Baby Family Story: Frankie Chapter 6 Parenting in the NICU Family Story: Maxwell Chapter 7 Feeding Your Baby Family Story: Sienna Chapter 8 Homeward Bound Family Story: Niklas, Gabbie, & Lukas Chapter 9 Home at Last Family Story: Allison & Reece Family Story: Jack & Henry Chapter 10 As Your Child Grows Chapter 11 The Loss of Your Baby Appendix Index

Editorial Reviews

"Having an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is extremely stressful, and parents need all the help they can get. Here is that support, written in a factual yet personable voice by NICU practitioners. . .the stories of parents throughout will go miles in providing hope and understanding. VERDICT Over 380,000 babies are born prematurely each year. This is an important acquisition for all collections.” —Library Journal, starred review
 

“It’s hard to imagine a better guide for parents of premature babies than this title from the American Academy of Pediatrics.” —Booklist 

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Maradith L Skalak, MD (Tulane University School of Medicine)
Description: This book is a resource for parents of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), covering aspects of high-risk pregnancies, delivery, and hospitalization for premature infants and other sick newborns in need of intensive care. Parents of infants requiring intensive care at birth share their stories and experiences throughout the book. This second edition is an update to the original version, which was published in 2016.
Purpose: The book aims to aid parents of hospitalized newborns in understanding the medical and technical aspects of care provided in the NICU. Having a newborn requiring intensive care is overwhelming, with a whole new language for parents to learn about equipment, medications, and various medical conditions. By creating a guide for parents that uses plain language to explain common conditions and procedures, the book seeks to empower parents to recognize their newborn's journey in the NICU and become active participants in their newborn's care. Admission to the NICU disrupts parents' roles and creates lasting emotional and psychological impacts in both parents and children. The book provides parents with tools to comprehend their newborn's condition, facilitating a more active role for parents as part of the care team and strengthening their bond with their infant. Many parents do not consider the possibility their newborn might require intensive care until it is happening. This is a scary and overwhelming time for most parents that impacts their ability to process information the medical team is sharing. Parents will benefit enormously from having an easy-to-read and comprehensive source of information to help guide them along their infant's journey in the NICU.
Audience: This book is primarily intended for parents of newborns admitted to the NICU. Family and friends of parents whose newborn is hospitalized will benefit from learning more about the journey through the NICU to better support their loved ones. Expecting parents experiencing a high-risk pregnancy may find comfort in learning about what can happen if their newborn requires hospitalization. Neonatal care providers including nurses, practitioners, and physicians will find this book helpful, especially to see the perspective shared by parents of infants who require intensive care. The authors are well-known experts in the field of neonatology, and the affiliation with the American Academy of Pediatrics provides additional credibility.
Features: The book covers medical concepts in plain language, helping parents understand why certain conditions arise during pregnancy or delivery which require medical attention in newborns. It provides explanations on common medical conditions, equipment, tests, and medications which parents may encounter during their infant's hospitalization. The information empowers parents to comprehend basic concepts in order to meaningfully engage with the child's medical team and ask appropriate questions regarding treatment. The highlight of the book is the stories of parents whose children were admitted to the NICU for a variety of reasons. Each parent offers a unique perspective on their infant's condition and medical treatment, as well as the emotions they faced during this challenging time. These stories may be helpful for parents undergoing similar experiences, highlighting what was most important to the families at the time. In addition to sharing narrative stories at the beginning of the chapters, the book includes parents' perspectives in the body of the text to highlight certain areas of focus. Acknowledging the voices of parents throughout the book adds an additional layer of authenticity.
Assessment: This book is an excellent resource for parents of hospitalized newborns, or anyone supporting these parents during their journey in the NICU. Use of plain language to explain common medical conditions and treatments can facilitate parents' engagement with the medical team throughout hospitalization and empower parents to take a more active role in their infant's care. The stories from parents of newborns admitted to the NICU may provide hope to families who are struggling and create an additional sense of support for those who feel isolated. An abundance of information is available for parents of newborns admitted to the NICU, much of it online and reflecting individual experiences or opinions. This book provides a neutral, comprehensive, and medically focused guide for parents of hospitalized newborns. Serious topics are covered with the gravity they deserve, without raising concern that may not be warranted. The well-respected authors and support from the American Academy of Pediatrics lend additional credibility, placing this book above the rest. This second edition most notably includes a "Where are They Now?" section for parents who shared their stories about their infant's hospitalizations in the original version. It is wonderful to hear about the incredible progress made by these resilient children over time and see pictures of their families.

Doody's Review Service