Your baby’s NICU stay

What happens right after your baby is born?

Most sick babies and babies born preterm are taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) right after birth, though depending on their needs, some may be able to be held for a few moments. A team from the NICU may have been in the delivery room with you. This team takes care of your baby on the way to the NICU.

What can you expect when you first enter the NICU?

The NICU can be an overwhelming place. You may see many machines, small babies in incubators (clear plastic beds that help keep babies warm and protected), hospital staff, and other parents. During your first time in the NICU you may:

• Meet the healthcare providers and NICU staff taking care of your baby
• Learn about your baby’s health and the medical equipment and treatment they need to get better
• Find out when you can spend time with your baby and participate in their care

How can you care for your baby in the NICU?

There are many ways you can care for your baby during their NICU stay. When your baby is ready, you can bathe, feed, change, and hold them. You may be able to take their temperature and help weigh them. You may feel nervous at first, but your baby’s nurses can help you feel more comfortable.

You can also be an active member of your baby’s healthcare team. You are your baby’s best advocate. From the start, make it your goal to have a good working relationship with the NICU staff. Ask questions, let them know your concerns, and take part in making decisions about your baby’s care.

How can you touch and hold your baby when they’re in the NICU?

There are many different ways you can bond with your baby. Talk to the nurse about how you can touch, hold, and feed your baby when they’re in the NICU. Just by being there, you’re helping your baby. They will come to know your smell, voice, and touch.

How can you care for multiples in the NICU?

Having one baby in the NICU is challenging enough. So having multiples (twins, triplets, or more) in the NICU can be even more demanding. You may feel overwhelmed, like there’s not enough of you to go around. You may worry about which baby needs you more.

Here’s what you can do to help you take care of more than one baby in the NICU:

• Spend time with each baby. Each one has their own personality and needs. Spending time with each baby can help you learn their cues so you know what works to soothe each one. Cues are signals your baby gives to let you know how they feel and what they need.
• Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before and between touching each baby. Making sure your hands are clean helps protect your babies and other babies in the NICU from serious infections.
• Ask friends and family members for help, especially if your babies are in different rooms in the NICU or if one baby goes home before the other.
• One baby may be able to go home before the other. Check the NICU rules about bringing a baby back to the NICU when you’re spending time with a baby still in the hospital.

How can you stay connected to your baby after you are discharged from the hospital?

As a parent, it can be hard to leave your baby in the hospital. You may live far away or have to go back to work right after your baby is born. Or you may have older children at home to care for. You may not be able to spend as much time as you’d like with your baby. If you don’t live close to the NICU, ask the staff about free or low-cost hotels or housing in the area for NICU parents. Some NICUs have rooms for parents to sleep in. You can also call the NICU to check on your baby and receive updates when you can’t be together.

What can you tell people about your baby?

Many people may ask how your baby is doing. If you don’t know how to respond, you can always tell them that your baby is in intensive care. Or you can say that you are taking one day at a time. It’s also OK to thank people for their concern but tell them that you don’t want to talk about it right now.

Sometimes it can be difficult to take care of yourself and your baby while also keeping friends and family updated, especially when first entering the NICU. It can be helpful to choose one person, like a close friend or relative, to send out updates. A lot of parents use social media and blogs to update family members and friends about their baby. Do what feels best for you.

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Last reviewed: April 2025