When your baby's born premature
I spent years studying the trauma of pregnancy loss, stillbirth and infant death. I know the history of reproductive healthcare and what can happen in neonatal units. So when I went into labour at 28 weeks, I needed to forget everything I’d learned.
Sasha started bleeding when she was 25 weeks pregnant. In a panic, she rushed to her OB/GYN's office. They were able to stop her labour, but she had to go on bedrest. This is her premature birth story.
"After an hour of pushing, a couple dozen contractions, and it was all over. I was the mother of two tiny pink girls, each weighing the equivalent of a couple cans of soup."
In her first year of life, my daughter had multiple stays in the NICU. Those visits saved her life—and reminded me just how precious life is.
Baby Nathan was born at 24 weeks and six days. His mom shares what it's like to have a micropreemie baby. Plus, a nurse shares the ups and downs of working in the NICU.
Inside the NICU
Baby Keira was born at 26 weeks and 5 days, weighing just 1.5 pounds. Her mom never expected that she wouldn't make enough milk to feed her baby. Thankfully moms like Kareen donate breast milk to help preemies in the NICU.
A SickKids nurse takes us on a tour of the NICU, where she cares for premature babies who fit into the palm of her hand. Plus, a mom shares the story of her sweet baby boy who was born at 24 weeks and six days.
A unique approach to preemie care, pioneered by a Toronto doctor, puts the care of the smallest babies in the hands of their parents.
Intensive care sounds, well, intense, but it provides the best care for premature babies. Three neonatal nurses share tips for making your NICU stay the best experience.
What you need to know
If your baby is born between 34 and 36 weeks gestation, he or she is considered "late preterm." Here's what to expect in the weeks ahead.
Hospitals are redesigning their NICU rooms to help parents spend more time with their babies—and the health benefits to infants are incredible.
It can sometimes take a little longer for preemies to catch up to their peers and reach developmental milestones.
Here’s what you need to know about the risks preemies face in the NICU, how they’re treated, and when they might turn into longer-term problems.
