Preemie Care: A Guide to Navigating the First Year with Your Premature Baby - Softcover

Lasby RN MN, Karen; Sherrow RN MN, Tammy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1999044304 ISBN 13: 9781999044305

Publisher: Preemie Care Press, 2019

Synopsis

An essential resource for parents of premature babies.

The birth of a new baby is a time full of joy and wonder. But when your baby is born premature, that joy also comes with stresses and challenges.

Written for parents, but full of practical advice for health care professionals alike, Preemie Care helps ease the unique preemie journey to health, with a comprehensive guide to the first year of life. Leading neonatal nurse specialists Karen Lasby and Tammy Sherrow draw on their decades of experience, empowering you with the knowledge and resources to give your little one the best possible start in life—in the NICU and beyond.

In Preemie Care, you will learn:
· How to care for yourself and your baby while in the NICU
· What to expect at the time of discharge, and how to prepare for the journey home
· Strategies to foster your baby's health and prevent illness
· Everything you need to know about feeding—from the breast, bottle, tube, and spoon
· How to support and stimulate your baby at each key developmental phase
· Tips for self-care during this challenging year
· And much, much more, including stories from other preemie parents

Having a premature baby can feel like an unexpected journey on rough seas. With extensive and up-to-date information about how to look after your little one, Preemie Care will be a life preserver through these tumultuous waters and will help steer you confidently through the first year of your baby’s life.

About this title

About the Author

Karen Lasby's more than thirty-five-year nursing career includes NICU roles as bedside nurse, transport nurse and educator, pediatrics, pediatric intensive care, and community health. Karen leads a specialized nursing team in post-discharge follow-up of extremely premature infants and their families, the only team of its kind in Canada. She has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on the topics of premature babies, neonatal oral feeding, and NICU-to-home transition. She has been the co-investigator in several research studies examining outcomes for very low birth weight infants and has published several professional articles on maternal work in the NICU, neonatal transition, and gastroesophageal reflux. An educator for nearly thirty years, Karen has taught, written instructional material, and produced online courses for neonatal nursing programs. Formerly the president of the Canadian Association of Neonatal Nurses, she served on this national board for twelve years, and on the board of the Council of International Neonatal Nurses for three years. Karen has a master's degree in nursing and a neonatal nursing specialty certification with the Canadian Nurses Association and her work has been recognized by the Canadian Institute of Child Health and College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta.

Tammy Sherrow has a bachelor of science degree and a master's degree in nursing. During her thirty-three years as a nurse, the majority of her clinical experience has focused on the premature population, both in the NICU and in the community, as a staff nurse, educator, manager, and researcher. Tammy spent five years working with a specialized neonatal team following very low birth weight preemies and their families at home and knows firsthand the challenges they can face, especially during that first year. Tammy has published professional articles on the topics of parenting a preemie and gastroesophageal reflux management and has been a co-investigator in neonatal research projects on oral feeding and post-discharge outcomes. She has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on the topics of premature babies and NICU-to-home transition. She is an associate professor at the School of Nursing & Midwifery at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta.

Review

“Lasby and Sherrow have produced an incredible resource—a go-to reference for families experiencing the birth of a preemie. The intimate vignettes from those who have walked this path will be of great comfort to preemie parents. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs clarity on their journey through the NICU and support in the transition home.”
—Dr. Michael Narvey, neonatologist and creator of All Things Neonatal

“This book is a must-have for every preemie parent preparing for discharge from the NICU. Too many of us have walked the halls in those final days and hours prior to discharge, wishing we could bring home one of our nurses. This is a great way to do exactly that. Well done!”
—Deb Discenza, coauthor of The Preemie Parent’s Survival Guide to the NICU and CEO/publisher of www.preemieworld.com

“Having a premature baby is a life-changing experience full of fear, stress and uncertainty. Written by two highly experienced NICU nurses, Preemie Care provides a lifeline to guide parents through this challenging journey.”
—Deb Fraser, neonatal nurse practitioner and editor of Neonatal Network: Journal of Neonatal Nursing

“In the NICU nurse’s toolbox, this book will be an excellent resource to offer parents, providing them the opportunity to explore what they’ll encounter during and after their NICU stay; describing the NICU environment and a typical preemie’s medical journey; and giving practical tips for healthy coping. Fellow NICU colleagues will applaud them both for meeting this need and supporting our families.”
—Amy Wright, president, Canadian Association of Neonatal Nurses; assistant professor, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto

“This is a very comprehensive, practical book filled with advice for all who care for NICU babies. With their wealth of training and unique experiences, Lasby and Sherrow have provided the most important information around the NICU stay and the time beyond the NICU doors. They present complex information in a straightforward and personable way. As an NICU physician for more than 40 years, I have heard many families and colleagues ask questions that are clearly answered and explained in this book.”
—Dr. Reg Sauve, physician, professor emeritus, University of Calgary

“This book is just what parents have been waiting for to support their transition home from the NICU. It provides answers to questions that many parents may not think to ask themselves. I highly recommend Preemie Care to all NICU parents.”
—Deb McNeil, former NICU staff nurse, educator, clinical nurse specialist and manager, and current maternal child health scientist and professor, University of Calgary

“As a neonatal nurse practitioner, I help coordinate very complicated discharges as these very fragile babies go home with their families for the first time. Despite weeks of preparation and hours of practice, these parents often voice how overwhelming it feels on the day of discharge. Preemie Care will be an invaluable resource for families as they navigate that first complicated year.”
—Jeanne Scotland, RN, MN, NNP-BC

“A powerful, well-written book with heartfelt stories and excellent data from incredibly educated authors. This is a must-read for any parent or family member dealing with a NICU experience. This book brought tears to our eyes, as nothing is off limits and the content is raw and invaluable.”
—Heather and Jason Manna, parents of 29 week twin boys

 

Edition details

• Publisher: Preemie Care Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1999044304
• ISBN 13: 9781999044305
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 314