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Neonatal admission: what to expect?
What is preterm birth?
Neonatal care across the globe
Preterm birth: risk factors and causes
Modifiable lifestyle choices
Medical conditions
Sociodemographic factors
Preterm labour: signs and symptoms
Signs & symptoms
Prevention of preterm birth
Antenatal care and monitoring
High-risk pregnancy
How to prepare for the NICU
Clinic levels
Visit the neonatal unit
Connect with other parents
Pack your hospital bag
Find support
Delivery and neonatal admission
Vaginal delivery or caesarean section
Delivery of a preterm baby or multiples
Stabilisation and resuscitation
Immediate skin-to-skin care
Fathers’/partners’ role
Transfer to the NICU
Possible complications
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Heart
Brain
Temperature control
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Digestion
Blood glucose
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Another pregnancy
What is the NICU?
The parents' role in the NICU
Your role in the NICU
Feeding your baby
Changing your baby's nappy
Washing your baby in the NICU
Having a sibling in the NICU
Parenting multiples in the NICU
Support and self-care
In the NICU
NICU care team
NICU equipment
Tests and procedures
Feeding procedures
Vaccination
Uncertainty, loss, and bereavement
Making critical care decisions
Palliative care
Coping with loss
Coping with the loss of multiple babies
Preparing to go home
When can your baby go home?
Getting organised: what to expect
Checklist: Preemie clothing and supplies
Preparing siblings for the new baby
Transitioning from the neonatal unit to home
Preparing for discharge
Going home by car
Going home on oxygen
Follow-up appointments
Preemie care at home
Challenges & support
Feeding your baby at home
Bathing your preterm baby
Your baby's sleep
Signs that your baby might be unwell
Medical care and equipment
Suitability of the environment
Pets
Visits from family and friends
Follow-up care after the neonatal unit
Medical support when you come home
Early intervention
Immunisation
Stimulation
Physiotherapy and other therapeutic support
Preemie development
Adjusted age development
Preemie growth and weight
Preemie milestones
Preterm birth: long-term impact
Kindergarten and pre-school
Primary school and high school
Long-term health effects
Social experiences and relationships
Involving family and friends
Support groups and organisations
Coping with worry
How you might be feeling
What you can do to help
Follow-up visits after giving birth
Financial information
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Going home and growing up
Home  >  Going home and growing up

Preparing to go home

A newborn baby sleeping in their father’s arms.

Get ready for your baby’s NICU discharge with helpful information covering medical needs, home setup, and follow-up care.

Transition from the neonatal unit

A father carrying twin babies in car seats on a park path.

Learn about the transition process from the NICU to home and what support you can get during this time.

Preemie care at home

A mother breastfeeding her newborn with a healthcare professional’s guidance.

Read about caring for your preemie at home, from feeding to sleep and everything in between.

Follow-up care

A baby looking up while playing on a blanket outdoors.

Learn about the follow-up care and recommended check-ups your baby will need after leaving the NICU.

Preemie development

A toddler and baby sister laughing together while playing indoors.

Find out about how to track key milestones in your preemie’s development, from motor skills to social progress.

Preterm birth: long-term impact

A boy opening a box of crayons during a classroom activity.

Understand the potential long-term health and developmental impacts of preterm birth on childhood and adulthood.

Bringing your baby home after a long stay in the neonatal unit is a moment you have been waiting for – a time filled with joy, relief, and perhaps a bit of uncertainty. It is normal that while this new chapter is full of anticipation, it can also bring new challenges. The information on these pages is here to guide you through the transition from hospital to home, and to support you as your baby grows and develops in the months and years ahead. 

The information on this page was reviewed by Professor Nicholas Embleton, Professor of Neonatal Medicine, Dr Angela Gregoraci, Neonatal Paediatrician and NIDCAP Professional, and Dr Kai König, Specialist in Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Neonatology. Last updated in May 2025.
The information on this page was reviewed by Professor Nicholas Embleton, Professor of Neonatal Medicine, Dr Angela Gregoraci, Neonatal Paediatrician and NIDCAP Professional, and Dr Kai König, Specialist in Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Neonatology. Last updated in May 2025.

GFCNI

Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants

 

GFCNI works to improve newborn health by advocating for high-quality, accessible, and equitable care, long-term follow-up, and continuing care for both mother and infant in each region of the world.

 

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Neopedia is your neonatal care encyclopedia about prematurity, hospitalisation, and beyond. 

 

Neopedia offers information and advice of a general nature, which are not a substitute for professional medical consultation or treatment by healthcare professionals. Always consult your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. 

 

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