After a period of hospitalization, most preterm babies are discharged from the NICU to go home. Depending on their physical condition, they may be transferred to another hospital, or most go directly home to their families. Discharge from the NICU can also be a source of concern; many parents worry that their child will still need care in the NICU. This concern is understandable. When babies are first admitted to the NICU for treatment, parents are often intimidated by the variety of equipment available. After a while, parents get used to the equipment and the staff. Later on, they become comfortable with the equipment and care, and feel that the equipment and staff in the NICU are essential to their child’s improvement. While this full range of care is fundamental to the recovery of preterm infants, the majority of infants can maintain their health over time and it is time to “cut the other cord”. This does not mean the umbilical cord, but rather that the care in the NICU is no longer necessary. Sometimes it is not necessary to wait until the baby has fully recovered before leaving the NICU. The infant may be transferred to another unit in the hospital or to a hospital closer to home for full recovery because the infant no longer needs the care in the NICU at this time. For example, until the feeding regimen or antibiotic treatment is complete. However, as a parent of a premature baby, it is best for you to take steps to prepare your baby to go home. The hospital staff, especially those responsible for transferring babies from the NICU and the follow-up clinic, can help you prepare for your baby’s discharge if they are available. Parents of preterm babies may feel stressed and worried when they have to be with their baby. They may feel that because the baby was born prematurely and spent time in the NICU, he or she may be more susceptible to illness or minor accidents. While these concerns are understandable, in the vast majority of cases, these things do not occur. Parents will be informed of special precautions to take if necessary. Parents need to remember that all babies (including full-term ones) get sick at some point. Simply being born prematurely does not indicate that she is weaker or more prone to minor accidents or injuries, etc. than other babies. Discharge from the hospital Ending your hospital stay is a major step forward for both your baby and your family. The goal of treatment was to allow your family to live a normal life, and now it’s finally done. Find an opportunity to celebrate your baby’s and your family’s success. You may need a transition time to really get back to a normal daily life. It’s no surprise that parents have mixed feelings during this time. Anxiety and worry may be accompanied by a sense of joy and relief that treatment is over. You may need to take action to regain a sense of security and help. Stay in touch with the treatment staff. Make sure your baby is getting the proper medical treatment and attending all tests at the follow-up clinic in the hospital. Learn about each symptom and event you need to watch for and what to do if such an incident occurs. It may be helpful to get in touch or stay in touch with a community or online parent support group, using the end of treatment as the beginning of a new family life. Parents should think about the following questions before their baby comes home from the hospital: Do you have a car seat for a small infant? There are special fixings for infant car seats that may be used on the way home for premature babies. The staff at the hospital should tell you where to get these and also help you strap the baby into the car seat. Some babies (especially those with breathing problems) need to be tested to make sure they can sit in a car seat for long periods of time without any problems. Did you bring your baby home from the hospital by car or train or plane? Caring for your baby When your baby comes home from the hospital, it will take a lot of time and effort to care for her. If you have other children at home, you may need the help of others. Please think about the following questions: 1. Who will take care of your baby when she comes home? 2.How will your partner help you take care of the newborn and other children? 3.Do you have other family members or friends to help you when you need it? You will need someone to help you with daily necessities, cleaning, laundry, etc. Medications Some medications may be prescribed when your baby leaves the NICU. Here are some things to keep in mind: Pick up your medications before you go home. You can pick up your medications at the hospital pharmacy or at any pharmacy recommended by your healthcare provider. Medical facilities If your baby is being sent home in certain medical facilities, you will need to know how to use them and how to set them up (taking into account your home’s space, power, maintenance, etc.). Ending treatment in the NICU is a big step forward for your baby and your family. Find an opportunity to celebrate your baby’s and your family’s success. Also take this opportunity to thank your other children for taking care of their baby brother/sister. Future health It is normal for parents to worry and want to know what their baby’s life will be like in the next few years and during childhood. It is often not possible to have a very thorough understanding of the long-term effects of preterm birth. What happens later in life also depends on your baby and your family’s environment. But we can give a general description of the effects your baby may experience and give you an idea of ways to detect, manage and treat these disorders. This is where it is important to take your baby for regular check-ups at a follow-up clinic in the hospital during her childhood. Depending on your local situation, you can go to the follow-up clinic at the hospital where your baby was discharged from, or at another hospital. If there is no follow-up clinic in your area, find a pediatrician, but make sure he/she knows what happened to all babies at birth. Some children may have conditions that have long-term effects on their health or ability to learn. Some problems develop during the course of treatment. Some appear months or even years later. These are called late effects. Some long term effects are very dangerous. Early treatment, care and intervention can minimize these effects and encourage your baby to function to the best of his or her ability. Effects on parents It can be difficult for some parents to recover from the anxiety of seeing their preterm baby in the NICU. Even after the baby goes home and is healthy, parents can be nervous, although there is no immediate or obvious reason for this. Some parents may even experience stress disorder after seeing their baby in the NICU. Gradual adaptation and adjustment should be made with the assistance of family members and physicians.