Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies

by Dana Wechsler Linden

The comprehensive “Dr. Spock”-like reference that is both reassuring and realistic—now updated to reflect the many advances in neonatology.

P reemies, Second Edition is the only parents’ reference resource of its kind—delivering up-to-the-minute information on medical care in a warm, caring, and engaging voice. Authors Dana Wechsler Linden and Emma Trenti Paroli are parents who have “been there.” Together with neonatologist Mia Wechsler Doron, they answer the dozens of questions that parents will have at every stage—from high-risk pregnancy through preemie hospitalization, to homecoming and the preschool years—imparting a vast, detailed store of knowledge in clear language that all readers can understand.

Preemies, Second Edition covers topics related to premature birth, including:

What are your risk factors for having a premature baby?

Can you do something to delay early labor?

What do doctors know about you baby’s outlook during her first minutes and days of life?

How will your preemie’s progress be monitored?

How do you cope with a long hospitalization?

Are there special preparations for you baby’s homecoming?

What kind of stimulation during the first year gives your baby the best chance?

Will your preemie grow up healthy? Normal?

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Reference, Medicine

656 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2013

Reviews

[Scott Oney · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister-in-law gave my wife and I this book when our son was born 10 weeks premature. This is an indispensable guide for parents of a preemie. Most parents are not prepared for a premature birth and extended NICU stay (why would they?). So when suddenly you are thrust into this world, you really have no idea of what is going on. This book covers all common occurences in the life of a preemie. We carried this book with us to the NICU for the entirety of our 9 week stay. Whenever the Doctors (or nurses usually) informed us of a condition, test or concern, we read about it in the book to help us better understand.

The book wisely states not to read the book completely from cover to cover, but rather to use it as a reference for whatever concerns your child is facing. Your child will not face every situation presented in this book and reading everything will only lead you to worry about conditions that you probably won't have to deal with. But when you are advised about something, you can be sure it is probably covered in this book and will help you better understand what you are told by the health care specialists.

This book is not a half full or half empty kind of book, but rather presents a realistic view of what to expect. This book helped us tremendously durin our life in the NICU and it is an absolute must have for the parents of a preemie.

P.S. Our son is now a healthy and vibrant 5 year old kindergartner now, despite some scary moments in the NICU which included a level 3 IVH, and concerns over Hirschprung's disease.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really helpful book written by 2 NICU moms and a neonatologist. It has perspectives from both parents and doctors on all preemie issues and as I was reading it, it was mostly really helpful in normalizing my feelings as well as further explaining things going on with my daughter. It did make me a little paranoid about things that may happen in the future and I kind of wish the whole preemie to preschool section would've been left out because there is a of potential for positive and negative things.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when my daughter (now 1.5 years old) was in the hospital. She was born 8.5 weeks premature and stayed in the hospital for 6 weeks. I found this book to be extremely helpful. I don't know what I would have done without it. I was prepared for almost every single thing that came up in daily discussion with doctors and nurses. I would recommend it to any parent that has a premature infant. I read this while I was holding her, sometimes reading out loud if she was awake. It was a hard time in our lives, needing to leave our baby at the hospital while we went home at night, but this book was definitely a comfort to me.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2001, my son was born at 25 weeks weighing just 1 pound 12 ounces. Feeling so helpless, I craved knowledge to help me underatnd what was going on. Out of all the books about preemies I read, this one became my most relied upon resource.

If you're the mom of an extremely premature baby, I recommend only reading the sections pertinent to your baby's current situation. No need to scare yourself by reading about all the possible things that could go wrong. You're dealing with enough of an emotional rollercoaster as it is.

My son is now an amazing and healthy 7 year old. My miracle baby.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm just about done with this. My husband and I are adopting twins (boy and girl) who were born at 25 weeks gestation. They are now 31 weeks and doing great. This book has been really helpful. I recommend it to any parents dealing with preemies.

[Benjamin Rubenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal book about the beginning of human development--both where it is supposed to happen, in the womb, and outside the womb when they come early. I think it's a must-read for anyone expecting a child rather than just parents who saw the birth of their preemie. It prepares for the chance that babies come early, informs you about the extraordinary development babies undergo in the womb (and the subsequent risks they avoid staying in there), and gives gratitude for who we are with our gazillion neural pathways and abilities to adapt. It's informative, gentle, and deep. It's what The Pregnancy Bible aka "What to Expect When You're Expecting" only wishes it could be--authentic, calming, charming, and absent of fluffy bullshit. Bravo to the author who writes at the intersection of clear information and depth and joy.

One of us will never forget how a motherly NICU nurse taught her with unmatchable patience to bottle feed her baby. Another nurse encouraged her to bathe her baby, in a basin no bigger than a man's shoe. If such a tiny sick baby could be bathed by his mother's inexperienced, trembling hands, it surely meant that better times could be expected. And they did come.

When you lose a baby, you learn that there is no greater trauma than the loss of a child, no matter how big, no matter how old. Love can't be calculated on the basis of ounces or years.

[Pretty.odd08 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enough information applicable to our situation to be helpful

[Erika RS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an thorough and practical primer on the hospital experience for premature babies and their parents. I took the advice in the introduction and only read the parts that I thought likely to apply to my baby, so I can't speak to all of the content. The content I read was high quality and valuable. Even as I've been having various appointments and having conversations about my upcoming delivery, I've been able to ask better questions and better understand the answers.

Probably the downside of this book is that many parents of preemies don't know they are going to end up in that situation. It's thorough, not concise, which may make it harder to read after the baby has been born and is already in the hospital. Since we're in the relatively fortunate position of knowing this is coming, I felt I was able to maximize the value I got out of this book.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a parent of a baby currently in the NICU, this book was essential to understand in layman's terms what the staff were saying. It also helped to answer questions I had but didn't want to ask as well as steer me towards the types of questions to ask. The most helpful information I gleaned from this book was about how preemies are developmentally different from term babies. For instance, preemie babies don't like to be caressed and instead prefer a firm hold or to be swaddled. I did not read the entire book, only the portions that pertain to my son, and would not recommend reading it in its entirety.

[Theo Kokonas]

It's a pretty thick almanac of a book. A really useful read and the info is nicely laid out. I wouldn't recommend reading it from beginning to end as it can be pretty dry (I did this); it's best dipped into. It definitely assists in putting a positive upswing to what is more than likely a turbulent time for the reader. There are other books on the market which are a quicker read that provide all the relevant info you need, however this is a good book to buy and keep as it's jam packed with info for now and later down the line.
Note that it's geared to US readership although as UK based I didn't find that much of a problem.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been indispensible to us as we deal with the ups and downs of having a baby in the NICU. For every question I have had, this book has had the answer in a user-friendly, yet thorough, format. I now consult this book before I even talk to the doctors because it helps me undrstand what is going on better and aids us in having informative discussions with the medical staff about our preemie's care.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn’t read it cover to cover, but about 75% of it was relevant to our situation and very helpful. I have already found myself going back to some sections after we hit different milestones or get an update on her heart, brain, or eye development. And the last few chapters will definitely be revisited as our little one grows. Our NICU nurses and doctors have kept us informed every step of the way, and this book has been a great supplement.

[Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a life-saver when our son was born 10 weeks premature. It explains all the procedures and complications of prematurity in a friendly, honest, and comprehensive way. I would say it is a necessity for any parent facing the challenge of a premature baby.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the pertinent chapters and skimmed the rest while pumping during my son's NICU stay. It has good, helpful information. It has sparked some questions for the doctors I didn't know to ask about.

[Amanda Packer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. It was so informational and helpful. I started reading this as soon as my girls were born and I was prepared for a lot of the information that the doctors talked with us about.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource! I wish I had started reading this book earlier in our journey, because there were some issues it really would have helped with. I will definitely keep it handy as our boys get closer to coming home and throughout their early years.

[Noel Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly reassuring and helpful for understanding, planning, and decision making around every preemie issue we have encountered and for acclimating quickly to a new complex and fast paced environment/experience.

[Julie Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the most valuable resource during our NICU stay. I read it from cover to cover but also referenced individual sections repeatedly. It is incredibly detailed and informative while still being sensitive to the emotional ordeal that is parenting a preemie!

[Pavitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

Good book for moms during hospital stay.. Most premie moms have done their research well. This book reinforces everything. The early intervention is probably one of the best advise given.

[Danielle Roux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bible of prematurity and essential reading for any 'preemie' parent. It covers it all (pregnancy, hospitalization, coming home), and answered questions I never even knew I had. I enjoyed the doctor vs parent perspectives which were educational (former) and comforting (latter). 5 stars from me!

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well organzied, so it was easy to read only the parts that were of interest or applicable to me.

[Arielle B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Book for parents with preemies!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book for families with preemies to read. Absolutely perfect.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful resource for parents of preemies.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend of my sister-in-law's sent this to me when Logan was in the NICU, really helped me better understand the medical side of things.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half is incredibly helpful/insightful for parents with babies in NICU and the second half is great for what to do when your preemie comes home with you. Highly recommend!

[Dawn]

excellent section on pda ligation,...I'll have to read the rest.

[Michline Fiordelisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reference. Organization seems a little random and pretty long winded so not great for reading through.

[Liz]

Only read sections that applied to me, and thought it was an excellent reference.