Life in the NICU

Your baby's NICU bed, sometimes called an isolette or a warming bed, keeps her warm and safe. Watch as a NICU nurse explains how this medical marvel works.

You'll encounter lots of wires, tubes, and high-tech machines in the NICU. Find out what they do and how they help your baby.

Neonatal Nurse, Mary Bubbers, gives advice on how to prepare the home and other things to consider when a preemie is being discharged from the NICU.

Breast milk is the single best source of nutrition for your baby and will help him grow and thrive. Learn when your baby will be ready to breastfeed, why it's so important, and all about pumping.

Premature babies are often fed intravenously, or through tubes inserted into one of the baby's veins. This 'IV nutrition' is critical for helping your baby get stronger. Learn how this process works, and how you can keep your breast milk supply up so that when baby is ready he can make the transition to breastfeeding.

Preemie mothers describe their experience with pumping to provide breast milk for their babies, and fathers discuss ways to support the mother in this process.

Dr. Erin Hamilton Spence emphasizes the importance of sleep for the development of a baby's brain.

Learning as much as you can about the NICU can make it seem less scary and more reassuring. This glossary will help you understand the meaning of many of the terms you may hear in your prematurity journey. © NICU Parent Network: Graham's Foundation

Understand that being a NICU Dad is no easy thing, and in some ways it may be even more challenging than it is to be a NICU Mom. Learn how some dads cope with being a NICU dad while dealing with other aspects of life as well. © TWN