Leaving NICU for Home

Learn how to make the move from the hospital to home easier.

A Joyful Yet Stressful Time

Leaving the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with your baby is joyful, emotional and exhausting, especially if you have other small children at home. You might be anxious about leaving a place where you knew your baby was watched very carefully and where there were plenty of skilled nurses and doctors to take care of him. You may have to arrange for medical equipment  to help your new baby at home. How will you manage?

Support and resources for going home

Home after the NICU, also from March of Dimes, gives you an overview of what to do and tips for when you need to call the doctor. This page has links to many other useful topics, such as feeding your baby, dealing with medications, how to handle visitors, and more.

NICU Resources from Texas Parent to Parent offers links to information to help families make informed decisions about their preemies’ treatment and care. Several of these resources focus on caring for the premature baby at home. Many of the publications are available in English and Spanish.