Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child : The Emotional Journey

"An invaluable resource."--William Sears, MD The premature birth of a baby is both a medical and family crisis. Within the pages of this comprehensive guide, parents will find compassionate support, practical suggestions for coping and adjusting, and advice that empowers them to handle an array of emotions

about The Author:
Deborah L. Davis, Ph.d., Is A Developmental Psychologist And Writer Who Is The Author Of Several Books That Support Grieving Parents Including empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving The Death Of Your Baby (fulcrum, 1996) And Loving And Letting Go (centering, 2002). Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.d. Is A Clinical Psychologist In Private Practice. She Consults To Health Care Providers And Hospitals, Guiding Their Efforts To Improve The Level Of Psychological Support And Care To Families In Labor And Delivery And In The Nicu. Mara Is Also The Mother Of Twin Girls Born Prematurely. Both Debbie And Mara Specialize In The Emotional Aspects Of Coping With Crisis Around Pregnancy And Parenting, Parent Education, Child Development, And Family-centered Care. As Members Of The National Nicu Advisory Committee For The March Of Dimes Nicu Family Support Program, They Collaborated On Writing The Booklet parent: You & Your Baby In The Nicu (march Of Dimes, 2002). They Are Nationally Known Speakers Who Advocate For Developmentally Supportive Care For Babies And Their Parents.

library Journal

developmental Psychologist Davis (loving And Letting Go) Teams Up With Clinical Psychologist Stein To Offer Advice And Information To Parents Of Premature Infants. Much Of The Content Is Useful, In Particular, Advice On Learning How To Communicate With Hospital Staff And Debating The Viability Of Future Pregnancies, A Points To Remember Section, And The Experiences Of Parents On Issues Such As Feelings Of Grief When A Baby Comes Too Early And Managing Any Disabilities That Appear As The Child Grows. The Authors Devote A Section To Fathers, Who (we Are Reminded) Will Experience Different Yet Equally Significant Responses To The Premature Birth Of Their Child. However, Single Parents And Their Support Networks Are Notably Absent. At 900-plus Pages, The Book Should Approach Comprehensiveness, But It Falls Short And Often Repeats Itself. An Optional Purchase For Large Public And Hospital Libraries. Heather O'brien, Acadia Univ. Lib., Wolfville, N.s. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

There are many good books that explain your premature baby's medical or developmental conditions and treatments, and that guide you in caregiving tasks. This book is different. It focuses on your experiences, feelings, and relationships around the delivery, hospitalization, homecoming, and long-term parenting of your premature baby and child. It provides suggestions and support for coping, adjusting, and finding your way. While every family's journey is unique, you share many of the same hopes, fears, struggles, and triumphs with other parents of premature babies. It is our hope that you will find comfort, support, and strength in these pages. "[This book] focuses on your experiences, feelings, and relationships around the delivery, hospitalization, homecoming, and long-term parenting of your premature baby and child. It provides suggestions and support for coping, adjusting, and finding your way. While every family's jouney is unique, you ahre many of the same hopes, fears, struggles, and triumphs with outher parents of premature babies."--Page 4 of cover The premature birth of your baby or babies is a medical crisis. But more than that, it is a family crisis. When your baby* is born too soon, you must face not only the medical aspects of prematurity but also the many emotional aspects of parenting your premature baby. During hospitalization, after homecoming, and perhaps throughout childhood, there are three overarching, emotionally intense challenges you face