The Premature Baby Book: A Parents' Guide to Coping and Caring in the First Years

by Helen Harrison

Book Overview

"The Premature Baby Book" is the result of seven years of intense research into medical literature, and of interview with neonatologists, intensive care nurses, social workers, therapists and hundreds of parents of prematures. From her research and personal experience, Helen Harrison knows exactly what parents want and need to know to deal with the emotional, medical, and practical issues facing them after the birth of a premature baby. Proceeds from...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312636490
• ISBN13: 9780312636494
• Release Date: July 1983
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 273 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.4" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

In memory of my first baby, born in my 24th week, weighing 1 pound, 35 years ago.

In February of 1987, a single mother, I gave birth to my first child, a daughter born to me in my 24th week of pregnancy weighing 1 pound. At birth after two slight exhales and no pushing my littlest one was born to me. I saw her for a brief 2 seconds as she fit inside the doctor's hand, her cry reminiscent of a baby kitten's mew. This was 7 A.M. Immediately she was rushed to the N.I.C.U and I was not able to see her again until 1:30 that afternoon. Overcome with a myriad of emotion I was petrified, wondering if she were still alive and wanting desperately to be with her. When I finally saw her in the incubator with all of her life support tubes I knew I had to do something on my end to help me understand all she was experiencing. When she was two months of age she had gained just one more pound and at 2 months of age and 2 lbs the doctors performed heart and lung surgery on her--but not before enduring one spinal tap after another the weeks before. The day after she was born I took myself to the bookstore and purchased the "Premature Baby Book" which was truly an immense help as I would research each night all of the treatment and care given to my daughter including the surgeries and put together any questions and concerns I so needed to ask the primary care doctors and nurses about each procedure. My daughter passed away at 7 1/2 months after her birth and on my 27th birthday, Sept 17th 1987 just one week before a scheduled brain surgery due to stage 4 Hydrocephalus. I recently turned 62 and my birthday, 35 years ago is the day God took my little one to be with Him. She will always, always be with me and thanks to this book I was able to be there for her.

An excellent tool for the Preemie baby journey

As a mother of two micro-preemies (1 pd 11oz & 1 pd 14oz), this book helped to educate me, and it helped me through the emotions. Becuase it was such an asset to me I have recommended it or purchased it for other preemie moms for the past 17 years. It details all of the preemie medical language; identifies the ominous equipment and assisted me with the myriad of emotions that accompany this journey. It is an excellent book, well-written and easy to follow.

Mom to a former preemie that was one pound, eleven ounces

I am a Mom to a former preemie. My daughter was born nine years ago and this book helped me understand with what was going on with our little girl. This is a great book and I give a lot of credit to Helen Harrison, Ann Kositsky for writing such a great book.

Premature Baby Book - Great Guide

I agree with the other two reviewers regarding this book. A friend of mine recommended this book to me after I had my son prematurely. It answered alot of questions that the doctors didn't or couldn't sufficiently answer. I would recommend this book to anyone who has had a premature baby. The information is clear, understandable and written for the parent-not a medical clinician. My only fault with the book is that some of the information is outdated because it was written in the '80s and there have been great advances in the care of premature babies since the book was published.

The Preemie Bible..

This book is considered the NICU/preemie bible. Anyone with a child born prematurely would find the information in this book helpful -- although the book is rather old, it contains information that can lead you to ask the right questions, to ask for the right tests, etc. etc. My son was born prematurely but I didn't find this book until months after he was released from NICU. The moment I got it I absorbed everything I could and wished I'd had it when my son was still in NICU. It answers questions that doctors tend to dance around. The author is a very nice woman -- I've talked with her online in preemie support groups and I understand she is working on an updated version. The stories of various "outcomes" of preemies was especially moving for me. If you know someone who has a child in NICU or who recently had a preemie, this is an excellent book to recommend. I think every NICU should have a copy to loan to parents.