A premature birth is the birth that occurs that happens before the 37 weeks of the pregnancy or the birth that happens at more than three weeks before the baby’s due date. Preparing for a premature birth, both physically and mentally is important, so that the baby can be properly taken care of. 

Premature birth: Mental and emotional preparation

For the parents, premature birth brings a tough time and with range of emotions- joy, worry, helplessness, fear that how to overcome the situation or take care of the baby. They will also have to stay in the hospital until the baby is discharged with the good health and lesser risks of any other health problems.

In that situation, the parents shouldn’t hesitate to seek support and encouragement from friends, family, another parents, who’ve gone through the same situation, online forums. Reading books and resources on premature babies to gain more knowledge and asking questions to the doctors on that will also prove to be a great aid. 

It is advised to the parents remain calm under such tense atmosphere to manage the overwhelming emotions by doing some breathing and mindfulness exercises, going on a walk or listening to the music, focusing on the positive aspects like what can they do today or their future life with the baby.

Premature birth: Practical preparation

Some parents might know that their baby will be born ahead of its estimated due date due to signs of medical problems or risk factors during the pregnancy. In that case, it will be best to talk to their doctors about it and doing the proper preparation to face that situation effectively. 

Parents after the premature birth, have to stay in the hospital for their new born in NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). In that case, they can do advance planning about the groceries stocking, they’ll be needing after coming home with the baby and cooked meals for the other children. It will be best if the parents can seek help from their friends and relatives for taking care of their other children and for organisation of home and its chorus like cleaning, cooking or shopping for the essentials. 

For the needed hospital stay, there will also be the requirement of packing a hospital bag with all the necessities. If there is no time, they can contact their friend and families to bring it to them.