Resources

BOOKS

Living Miracles: Stories of Hope from Parents of Premature Babies
Edited by Kimberly A. Powell & Kim Wilson; 288 pages, St. Martin’s Press, 2001.

Stories of premature babies and their struggles, written by their parents, in an effort to give emotional support to other parents who have had babies born prematurely.

 

Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies
By Dana Wechsler Linden, Emma Trenti Paroli and Mia Wechsler Doron MD; 592 pages, Pocket Books, 2000.

Dana Linden and Emma Paroli, both moms of preemies, joined forces with Mia Wechsler Doron, a neonatologist, to produce the book they wish had been available when their children were in the NICU.

 

Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child: The Emotional Journey
By Deborah L. Davis, Ph.D. & Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.D.; 928 pages, Fulcrum Publishing, 2004.

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. This book helps you face the emotionally intense challenges of coping with your feelings, developing your identity as a parent, and managing your relationships.

 

The Premature Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Premature Baby from Birth to Age One
By James Sears, Martha Sears, Robert Sears & William Sears; 256 pages, Little, Brown and Company, 2004.

The authors address parenting a preemie in the hospital and at home, all the while providing an astute combination of statistics, Q&A’s and first person notes from “Dr. Bob”.

 

Your Premature Baby- The First 5 Years
By Nikki Bradford; 208 pages, Firefly Books, 2003.

An emotional yet uplifting journey of preemies including what to expect, coping mechanisms and growth for both the parents and babies.

 

What To Do When Your Baby is Premature: A Parent’s Handbook for Coping with High Risk Pregnancy and Caring for the Preterm Infant
By Joseph A. Garcia-Prats & Sharon Simmons Hornfischer; 384 pages, Three Rivers Press, 2000.

Topics include: the first 24 hours after delivery; coping with insurance; your preemie’s growth and maturation; how to be a good NICU parent; bringing your preemie home; and later-life development. Filled with the voices of dozens of parents who’ve been in your shoes, this reassuring guide will help you make the best choices for yourself and your baby.

 

Newborn Intensive Care: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Edited by Jeanette Zalchkin; 471 pages, NICU Ink Book Publishers.

An easy to understand and comprehensive book on prematurity and the care of your child in the NICU. The editor, a registered nurse with more than 20 years experience in the care of newborn babies, has pulled together the comments of a number of nurses to provide guidance for families of premature babies. The chapter on taking your baby home from the hospital (Homeward Bound) is particularly good.