Caring for your Baby in the Neonatal Unit

This book is for all parents who have babies in newborn intensive care or special care baby units (we will call them neonatal units). It gives you information that will help you to get to know your baby and to care for him during his time in hospital*. Some of you may want to read all of it, others may find the 'practical tips' and 'quick look sections', marked with a star, a good place to start. Most books for parents of preterm infants are crammed with information but do not get to the heart of the parents interests, which is how to feel close to their baby, and how to offer their baby love and comfort when they need hospital care. Our book guides parents step by step through their baby s stay helping them to understand their baby and to be involved safely and confidently in his care. It is written in easy to read language and makes practical suggestions. It is designed to be aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eye, not to overwhelm parents. Its approach is unique; it will be an inspiring book for them to treasure rather than just a reference book, and as such it will supplement rather than replace what is already available. Parents and professionals who have had a preview are very enthusiastic. In fact readers who have had healthy babies with no need of hospital care have said they would have found it useful too. *We hope you do not mind but for the sake of simplicity we have referred to the baby as he and the caregiver as she throughout this book.