Pumping is breastfeeding. Say it loud for the people in the back. Pumping is breastfeeding. Though breast milk is given to your child through a bottle, your baby is being breastfed. 

Not every mother and child has the same breastfeeding experience. There are many reasons why breastfeeding directly is not an option, sometimes babies have trouble latching on, or the parent or the child has a medical issue preventing them from feeding directly from the breast. Whatever the case, pumping your milk to feed your baby is a form of breastfeeding. 

When it comes to breastfeeding, and after a couple of kids and much reflection, I finally realized that I should not hold myself to standards out of my control and that the most crucial thing was feeding and nourishing my children.

Passing Moments

Oh, the many things that happened during my first birth. The baby was overdue, I had complications during delivery, and she had health issues resulting in a painful NICU stay. I couldn’t hold her after birth or physically breastfeed her until a week after that. However, the nurses quickly focused on pumping milk so she could benefit from the colostrum and I could be prepped for direct breastfeeding.

I personally was not looking forward to breastfeeding, but I was open to it. I knew breastfeeding would be good for the baby and me, and I was prepared to do it in the months leading up to her birth. But having missed the moment to feed and hold her directly after birth, I began to sink into an intense guilt and feeling of failure that further deepened my sadness and pain due to my daughter’s health.

Negotiations

When I could finally breastfeed my daughter, I found myself surrounded by the lactation specialist and the nurses, all doing their best to get my little one and me to come to an agreement. After a week of strictly bottle-feeding breast milk, she told me she was not having it. Let’s just say I learned a toothless bite still hurts a lot. The look on her face was of frustration and hunger. 

I’m pretty sure if she could have spoken at that moment, she would utter what her eyes said: “I don’t want to work so hard for my food.” Despite the support around me, I was starting to settle into the idea of being incapable. My mom, who formula-fed us, toggled between supportive and encouraging words while declaring that formula feeding was okay (which it is!)

A pumped-up approach

Though my daughter would not latch on, I kept pumping away at home and in the hospital daily to help her get better. It also helped me cope with having my baby stay in the hospital while I got to go home. With my daughter in the NICU, I looked at breastfeeding as one way I could try to break her out of that joint. So I took on pumping like a champ and crushed it. My husband even joined in, sometimes pumping manually for me while I tried to eat, was too exhausted or depressed.

I pumped in the hospital. I double-pumped. I would have triple-pumped if I could find a way to grow another breast. She thankfully got better, I took her home, and she’s now a whole adult. 

Embracing the reality

When my son was born a few years later, he also had some complications and did not latch on. I was once again wondering what was wrong with me. I realized that nothing was wrong with me. I breastfed my little buggers with purpose. I breastfed like a champ. The milk was coming from me. It was just delivered differently. I also stopped thinking about what was “right” and started understanding what was best for my child.

I learned that I did not have to define my motherhood by other people’s standards but by my unique experience as a mother. 

There are a few things that the NICU staff have to take into account before they can let parents hold their preemie. On the one hand, if a baby isn’t ready, their health could be at risk. On the other hand, preemies benefit from spending some time in a parent’s arms. So, what’s an eager parent to do?

The different ways to hold a preemie 

• Comfort holding: This is where a parent reaches into the incubator with clean hands and arms and cradles parts of their baby’s body with their hand. Sometimes babies like to wrap their hands around the parent’s finger, too. Comfort holding has been shown to calm preemies down, soothe them during certain procedures, and improve their responsiveness.
• Kangaroo care: Also called ‘skin-to-skin contact,’ kangaroo care involves nurses placing a preemie (wearing just a diaper) directly on their parent’s bare chest for a certain amount of time. Sometimes parents are allowed to begin kangaroo care right after their baby is born, but other times babies aren’t quite ready; it really depends on the individual situation. Kangaroo care improves breastfeeding abilities, regulates babies’ heart rate and temperature, decreases rates of infection, and improve sleep patterns, among other things.
• Touching and holding your baby in the ‘classic’ way: Such as holding them in your arms, rocking them, changing their diaper, and breastfeeding them, among others. It might take some time for a baby to be healthy enough to be held in this way.

Signs of readiness

• A baby might be ready when they is in stable condition, has recovered from any recent surgery, and doesn’t need the humidity of an incubator to regulate their temperature.
• A parent might be ready when they are healthy, up to date on vaccines, and emotionally ready to hold their baby. It’s important to remember that many parents in the NICU have mixed feelings about holding their baby at first – and that’s okay. What’s important is that you’re there for them.

Staying in touch with your preemie

The NICU staff knows just how much you want to hold your preemie. Ultimately, they’re the ones who will let you know when it’s safe to for all of this to happen. Don’t be afraid to ask your baby’s nurses and doctors when they think you can hold them, though – it’s totally normal to be eager and anxious to get your preemie in your arms.

More information about premature babies

Ovia won’t deliver more articles about premature babies to your timeline, but if you’re interested in reading more articles about your premature baby, you can find them by tapping the three stacked lines in the upper left corner of your app, selecting “Articles,” and typing “preemie” into the search bar.

Sources

• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Premature baby? Understand your preemie’s special needs.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, August 30 2014. Web.
• “Kangaroo care.” Cleveland Clinic Children’s. Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2015. Web.
• “Holding Your Baby Close: Kangaroo Care.” March of Dimes. March of Dimes, 2016. Web.

• Try to schedule your NICU visits: This means waking up, getting ready, leaving your house, and then leaving the NICU around the same time every day. Many parents find that creating a schedule helps them feel more in control of the situation. On the off-hours of your visits, consider scheduling some time to exercise and express your feelings in some way, perhaps  in a journal, or by talking to a friend or family member on the phone, or even seeing a therapist. Feeling refreshed can improve your time in the NICU, and when you’re with your baby, you’ll want to be able to focus on them emotionally.
• It’s okay to be intimidated by the NICU: Babies in the NICU are growing bigger and stronger by the minute. That said, the unit can feel overwhelming for a new parent. It’s filled with unfamiliar sounds and sights, and it can be hard for people to adjust to the environment. Don’t be embarrassed if you or your partner feel disoriented and uneasy in the NICU. In time, you’ll get more comfortable.
• Breastfeed if you’re able: Breast milk has health benefits that can be helpful for preemies. Pumping and sharing breast milk with a preemie can help parents feel like they’re able to do something concrete for their babies, too. Consider renting a hospital-grade breast pump, which can stimulate your breasts and help produce milk.
• Know that you might not be able to pump – and that’s okay: Not all new moms can pump breast milk. If your body is struggling to produce enough breast milk, remind yourself that this is nothing to feel shame or guilt about. Your presence at the NICU alone is helping your baby, and the hospital staff will make sure your child is getting all of the nutrition they needs.
• Get involved with the nurses and doctors: Learn the rules of the NICU, especially the visiting hours, how many people you can bring to the NICU, and what you can bring into the room with you. Get to know the staff in the NICU, especially the primary nurse assigned to your preemie, because he or she will be learning your baby’s specific habits and preferences. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; they’ll be happy to help you out.
• Get involved with your preemie: Kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin contact between parents and their preemie, is a way to encourage bonding with preemies. Many hospitals encourage kangaroo care between parents and their babies, so don’t be afraid to ask when and how that can happen. You may also be able to take on some of the aspects of your baby’s care, like helping to change their diaper, take their temperature, or breastfeed them skin-to-skin.
• Don’t be afraid to advocate for your baby: You are your baby’s voice in the NICU, so it’s up to you to let the hospital staff know concerns or preferences you have for your preemie. If you have a request, just ask; the worst that happens is your baby’s doctor or nurse says they can’t do it.
• Bring hand lotion: Parents wash and sanitize their hands repeatedly while they’re in the NICU. Your hands might get uncomfortably dry, so consider bringing some moisturizing lotion along.
• Take pictures: Many new parents feel that they shouldn’t or don’t want to take pictures of their preemie while they is growing in the NICU. This makes sense, but a lot of parents also say that they later regret not taking pictures during this time. If this seems like something you’re interested in doing, know that many parents eventually do appreciate having these pictures.
• Know that leaving the NICU will be hard: For some women, leaving the hospital without their newborn baby can trigger intense feelings of depression and emotional pain. However, at some point, your team will probably advise you to leave the hospital to sleep and get some time away. It might not be easy to leave at first, so if you have a hard time leaving, remind yourself that most new parents of preemies struggle with this, and that you’re not alone.

As the parent of a preemie, you’re going to find that deep inside, you have an incredible amount of strength, resilience, and hope. Some days will be harder than others, but try to find the positives about the NICU. Remember that the NICU is the safest place for a preemie to be, and that every day that a preemie spends in the NICU is one day closer to coming home with their parents.

Sources

• “7 ways to stay involved in your baby’s care in the NICU.” NICU Awareness. Project Sweet Peas, July 17 2014. Web.
• “Becoming a parent in the NICU.” March of Dimes. March of Dimes Foundation, 2016. Web.
• “How to bond with your baby in the NICU.” Penn Medicine. The University of Pennsylvania Health System, Oct 1 2015. Web.
• “How you can participate in the care of your baby in the NICU.” Healthy Children.  American Academy of Pediatrics, Nov 21 2015. Web.
• Anne Smith. “Breastfeeding the premature baby: breastfeeding in the NICU.” Breastfeeding Basics. Breastfeeding Basics, 2016. Web.
• Melinda Caskey, Bonnie Stephens, Richard Tucker, Betty Vohr. “Adult Talk in the NICU With Preterm Infants and Developmental Outcomes.” American Academy of Pediatrics,  Vol 133 Issue 3. Web. 2014.

• Understand that your emotions might change a lot: It’s completely normal to feel all kinds of emotions while your baby is in the NICU. Some common ones include fear, anger, confusion, and helplessness. The first step to parenting in the NICU is to understand that it’s okay to have conflicting thoughts and feelings about the NICU, and that these emotions don’t say anything bad about you as a parent.
• Get to know the staff, and ask questions as often as you need to: The staff in the NICU aren’t just here to help your preemie; they’re here to help parents, too. By learning who’s who in the NICU and who’s taking care of their baby, parents can feel more comfortable making requests, helping out when possible, and understanding what’s going on with their baby’s care.
• Pump if you can: Not every new mom can breastfeed, and this might be especially true for mothers of preemies. If you aren’t able to pump yet, you’re not alone! But if you are able to, pumping while you’re in the NICU can help keep your supply up. More than that, though, since babies in the NICU can be bottle- or gavage-fed breast milk, your body can get a head-start on feeding your baby. Breast milk is an incredible source of nutrients for a newborn, and it’s something that only a mother can provide. Pumping while in the NICU is one very concrete way for new moms to focus on what they can do for their babies while they’re in the NICU.
• Talk or sing: Parents don’t need perfect pitch to sound perfect to their preemie. Your baby will love every second of your off-tune rendition of Hamilton, and will appreciate all the things you have to say about the world outside of the NICU. Many parents report feeling a little ‘on display’ while in the NICU, so know that if you feel awkward the first few times you talk or sing out loud, that’s completely normal, and will go away with practice.
• Use your magic parent touch: To a newborn, a parent’s touch feels like warm rays of sun on a summer afternoon – only a hundred times better. The NICU staff will do everything they can to help you make a physical connection with your baby, including something called ‘kangaroo care,’ or skin-to-skin contact between a baby and their parent. Sometimes this is delayed until a baby is in stable health, so talk to your NICU staff about their policy. In the meantime, take every opportunity to make that physical connection with your preemie. It isn’t just good for them – it’s good for parents, too.
• Help out whenever possible: Your ‘magic parent touch’ extends beyond holding or cradling your baby. The NICU staff can teach you how to do bathe and change your baby, as well as take their temperature. If you haven’t started helping out in the NICU, ask one of the nurses when you can begin to learn. Never underestimate the skin-to-skin value of a diaper change!

It isn’t easy to start your parenting career in the NICU. There are all kinds of challenges, both physical and emotional, that make it one of the hardest things parents ever go through. No matter what, though, one of the best things you can do right now is to start practicing your parenting techniques in whatever way you can in the specific environment of the NICU. It’s good for your baby, and it will definitely help you. Your baby isn’t the only one who gets stronger in the NICU, after all. You’re getting stronger, too!

Sources

• “Becoming a parent in the NICU.” March of Dimes. March of Dimes Foundation, 2016. Web.
• “Common parent reactions to the NICU.” Healthy Children. American Academy of Pediatrics, Nov 21 2015. Web.
• “Parenting in the NICU.” CHOC. Children’s Hospital of Orange County, 2015. Web.
• Jill Baley. “Skin-to-skin care care for term and preterm infants in the neonatal NICU.” American Academy of Pediatrics. 136 (3) 596-599. Web. Sep 1 2015.

• Doctors: The attending doctor, also called a neonatologist, has completed years of education and training specifically in neonatal care. He or she leads the entire NICU team, is usually the most knowledgeable about preemie care, and is in charge of major medical decisions. The neonatologist is the person to talk to about ‘kangaroo care,’ or skin-to-skin contact.
• Doctors-in-training: Other types of doctors you might see in the NICU are fellows, residents, or medical students. These are medical professionals who haven’t yet completed training to become a doctor.
• Medical directors: Medical directors lead and supervise all of the doctors and doctors-to-be in the NICU. Sometimes, a doctor might not be available right away when you need to ask question. In those cases you can speak to the medical director.
• Neonatal nurse practitioners: These nurses have advanced degrees and are extensively trained to care for newborn infants who need special attention; they are experts in neonatal care and help come up with care plans for the babies in the NICU. Parents can ask these nurses any questions about their baby’s health and tell them preferences they might have regarding their baby’s care.
• Physician assistants: A neonatal physician assistant (NPA) has the same training as a physician assistant, except that his or her education is specific to infant care. The NPA works under the physician to help design care plans and assist with certain medical procedures; he or she can usually prescribe medication, too.
• Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses: You’ll probably interact with these nurses the most. They interact a lot with the babies in the NICU, and will get to know your preemie very well. They’re also probably a parent’s best source of up-to-date information about their baby’s care.
• Charge nurse or shift coordinator: This staff member is in charge of scheduling shifts for the nurses and checking patients in and out of the hospital. If, for whatever reason, you have a problem with a member of the NICU team who is caring for your baby, you can share this with the shift nurse.
• Other staff members in the NICU: Some other people that you’ll probably meet are certified nurse assistants (CNAs), health care coordinators, social workers, respiratory therapists, dietitians, lactation consultants, case managers, and parent support coordinators.

The NICU can be an overwhelming place for a parent, and at times, you may feel out of your element. The staff of the NICU understand that having a baby who needs extra medical care is a major life event, and can be traumatic for parents. They want to help you feel as comfortable and informed as possible, so don’t hesitate to use them as a resource!

Sources

• “A Guide to the Newborn Intesive Care Unit (NICU).” Intermountain Healthcare. Intermountain Healthcare, 2011. Web.
• “Is a Career in Neonatal Nursing Right for You?” National Association of Neonatal Nurses. National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Web.
• “NICU Medical Team.” HealthyChildren. American Academy of Pediatrics, November 21 2015. Web.
• Lori Ives-Baines. “Parents’ Involvement and Role in the NICU.” BabyFirst. Dragerwerk AG & Co., 2014. Web.

1. The baby can breast or bottle-feed on their own: The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that a baby shouldn’t be released from the NICU until he or she has either successfully breastfed or bottle-fed two times (or more). Since preemies are often born before their digestive systems are fully developed, it can take some time to get to this point.
2. The baby can keep him or herself warm: It’s important for a baby to be able to maintain their body temperature for at least 24 to 48 hours without the use of an incubator.
3. The baby is gaining weight at a consistent pace: Some hospitals require that a baby not be discharged until after they weighs a certain amount – 4 pounds or more, according to March of Dimes. Other hospitals don’t have this exact requirement, but it is important for all babies in the NICU to show signs that they’re growing bigger and stronger every day.

Other criteria

• Healthy vital signs: A baby needs to have a normal body temperature and heartbeat.
• Ability to breathe on their own: Many preemies need machines to help them breathe during their first few weeks or months of life. Being able to breathe without the assistance of a machine is a significant step for a preemie in the NICU.
• Ability to urinate and pass stool: Every parent deserves to experience the joys of changing a diaper in their own home.
• The baby and mother have received necessary vaccinations: These include hepatitis B, tetanus, and influenza vaccinations – essential for keeping mother and baby safe.
• The mother/caregiver has been trained in infant care: It’s a little harder to learn to care for a preemie when the baby is in the NICU. Nurses teach parents all kinds of skills like how to breastfeed or feed their baby, how to keep their infant safe while sleeping, how to administer medication, what symptoms may indicate an illness, and how parents can keep their baby safe and healthy in general.
• Travel safety: The caregivers have an appropriate car seat and know how to put their baby in it.
• Healthcare provider: The family has a designated nurse or doctor to bring their baby to for check-ups. 

For many parents of preemies, the NICU becomes a home away from home, with compassionate caregivers and the medical equipment needed to help babies grow and get healthy. Of course, despite its good side, every parent with a baby in the NICU is counting down the days until they can take their baby home!

There are a lot of things that providers look for before that day comes. While the list may look far too long for your liking, it’s the best way to determine that a baby is healthy and ready to leave the NICU.

Sources

• “AAP Issues Recommendations on Newborn Hospital Discharge Readiness.” American Academy of Pediatrics Press Room. American Academy of Pediatrics, April 27 2015. Web.
• “Getting ready to leave the NICU.” Healthy Children. Academy Academy of Pediatrics, Nov 21 2015.
• “Leaving the NICU.” March of Dimes.  March of Dimes Foundation, Aug 2015. Web.
• “Preemie milestones.” Healthy Children.  American Academy of Pediatrics, Nov 21 2015. Web.
• “Preterm Birth Fact Sheet No. 363.” World Health Organization.  World Health Organization, Nov 2015. Web.
• “Taking your preemie home.” Kids Health. The Nemours Foundation, March 2015. Web.

Communicate with friends and family in the way that you want 

Self-care is vital, and keeping yourself healthy needs to be a priority

Call the hospital to check in

Not everyone can – or wants to – be at the NICU all the time, and that’s okay

Be wary about how much you research

Things might not seem fair or straightforward right now, but focus on the things that you can control, especially when it comes to your life outside of the NICU. In a way, you’re getting to know your baby sooner than other parents get to know theirs, and soon enough you’ll take them home for good.

Sources

• “Becoming a parent in the NICU.” March of Dimes.  March of Dimes Foundation, 2016. Web.
• “How to bond with your baby in the NICU.” Penn Medicine.  The University of Pennsylvania Health System, Oct 1 2015. Web.
• “How you can participate in the care of your baby in the NICU.” Healthy Children. American Academy of Pediatrics, Nov 21 2015. Web.
• Anne Smith. “Breastfeeding the premature baby: breastfeeding in the NICU.” Breastfeeding Basics. Breastfeeding Basics, 2016. Web.
• Melinda Caskey, Bonnie Stephens, Richard Tucker, Betty Vohr. “Adult Talk in the NICU With Preterm Infants and Developmental Outcomes.” American Academy of Pediatrics, Vol 133 Issue 3. Web. 2014.

In general, a preemie can leave the NICU when they can keep themselves warm, can breastfeed or bottle-feed, and is growing at a healthy rate. Having standard signs of readiness doesn’t mean that all preemies need the same kind of care once they’re home, though. Some need a lot of care, some need just a little bit more than any other newborn, and others are somewhere in the middle. But no matter what, there are some things to know about taking care of a preemie once their time in the NICU is finished.

• You might need to bring medical equipment home with you: It’s not uncommon for preemies to be sent home with certain kinds of equipment to support them until they’re developed enough to safely breathe or feed on their own. Equipment you might need could be oxygen, breathing monitors, or feeding tubes. Your baby’s caregivers will talk to you about this equipment before your baby is officially discharged from the NICU.
• You might not get out too much: In their first weeks of life outside the NICU, preemies are at higher risk of developing infections, so it’s best to keep them away from lots of people at first. You may not want to take your preemie to public places, although this depends on your doctor’s advice. With check-ups, if you get the first doctor’s appointment of the day, and try to not sit in the main waiting room, your baby will be exposed to fewer germs.
• Be careful with visitors: Before you have anyone visit your baby, it’s important to make sure your baby’s doctor approves visitors. Once your doctor says visitors are okay, it’s still important
  make sure that anyone who visits is healthy, up to date on shots, and that they thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap before touching your baby. This goes without saying, but no one should smoke when they’re near your preemie.
• Don’t be surprised if your baby has a hard time falling asleep: Babies are adaptable – it’s one of their many talents! But this can make it hard for them when they’re in a new environment. Many parents of preemies report that their baby had a hard time falling asleep in the quiet darkness of their room, after getting used to the sounds and lights of the NICU. If this happens with your preemie, try putting a white noise machine in their room and keeping a dim light on at night to help their adjust.
• Don’t feel bad if discussing your preemie with other people is tough: In the weeks following your baby’s discharge, you could hear a lot of the same questions over and over again. It’s possible that people will make comments that come across as rude or inconsiderate. Unfortunately, many people don’t understand what it’s like to have a preemie, and while they’re trying to be kind and understanding, it might add more to your plate. How you deal with this is really up to you, but don’t be afraid to decrease your amounts of social time if you find yourself not wanting to deal with the comments right now.
• Take care of yourself: Unfortunately, this one’s a little too easy to put on the back burner, but it’s just as important as the advice above! In the days following your baby’s discharge, you’ll likely be a little on edge and scared of being in charge, especially if your preemie needs a lot of extra care at home. All of these feelings are completely normal, but an important part of coping with these huge changes in your life is to try to make time to relax, and appreciate all the hard work that you’ve done so far (and so well!). As time goes on, your perception of what’s normal will change, and soon enough this will all be second-nature.

Sources

• “Home after the NICU.” March of Dimes. March of Dimes, 2016. Web.
• “Taking Your Preemie Home.” KidsHealth. Nemours, 2016. Web.

Music plays a central role in so many people’s lives, and for quite some time researchers have been studying whether or not it can be practically helpful as well as emotionally.

One example involves premature babies in the NICU. As the theory goes, music just might be powerful enough to help preemies breathe, sleep, and self-soothe more effectively while in the NICU. But just how much of this theory is true?

The benefits

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that three sounds are particularly helpful for premature babies and their parents during their stay in the NICU.

• The sounds of an ocean disk, which is an instrument that has metal balls inside it that move and make a ‘whoosh’ sound
• Sound from a gato box, a wooden instrument which, when plucked, mimics the soft sounds of the mother’s heartbeat
• A lullaby sung out loud by one or both of the baby’s parents

Normally, the ocean disk and gato box are played live in the NICU by trained music therapists, who can match the instrument’s rhythms to the baby’s heartbeat. Researchers found that on days when babies were exposed to these sounds, babies had better success with feeding, longer and deeper sleep patterns, fewer and shorter crying episodes throughout the day, and better oxygen intake than on days that they weren’t exposed to music. There definitely seem to be some positive health benefits from exposing babies to any of these three sounds in the NICU.

The limits

Even with those benefits, not all sound in the NICU is created equal! Too much sound can damage a baby’s hearing, and it’s very important to protect a baby’s hearing at this age. It’s possible that other kinds of musical intervention, especially loud ones, would be bad for a preemie’s hearing.

There also isn’t enough evidence to support the idea that music can help all babies in the NICU. Some sick babies in the NICU haven’t been shown to benefit directly from music.

So while certain sounds have been proven to be beneficial for babies in the NICU, there are limitations to the kind of sounds that should be played for preemies. More research is needed before researchers can safely use music as therapy for all preemies in the NICU.

The bottom line 

Certain types of sound and music have been shown to have positive effects on many preemies in the NICU. Lullabies sung by parents are especially helpful and encourage bonding between babies and their caregivers. Sounds from instruments like the ocean disk and the gato box can help soothe some babies and improve their sleep and feeding patterns.

More research is needed to determine whether or not music soothes all preemies, and unfortunately, you won’t be able to get your preemie hooked on your favorite artist directly while they is in the NICU. Only certain music and sounds are safe! But overall, it looks like there are some solid benefits to exposing a preemie to certain sounds and music in the NICU.

Sources

• “Music therapy can comfort and soothe premature infants and parents.” American Academy of Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics, April 15 2013. Web.
• Ashley L Hodges, PhD, WHNP-BC, Lynda Law Wilson, RN, PhD, FAAN. “Preterm infants’ responses to music: An integrative literature review.” Southern Nursing Research Society. Southern Online Journal of Nursing Research, Sep 2010. Web.
• Joanne Loewy, Kristen Stewart, Ann-Marie Dassler, Aimee Telsey, Peter Homel. “The effects of music therapy on vital signs, feeding, and sleep in premature infants.” American Academy of Pediatrics. (5): 902-918. Web. May 2013.
• Kathi J. Kemper, M.D., M.P.H. and Craig Hamilton, Ph.D. “Live Harp Music Reduces Activity and Increases Weight Gain in Stable Premature Infants.” Journal of Alternative and Contemporary Medicine. 14(10): 1185–1186. Web. Dec 2008.
• S. Amon, A. Shapsa, L. Forman, R. Regev, S. Bauer, I. Litmanoviz, T. Dolfin. “Live music is beneficial to preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit environment.” Birth. 33(2): 131-136. Web. May 2006.
• Susan Hatters Friedman, MD1, Ronna S. Kaplan, MA, MT-BC, NMT2, Miriam B. Rosenthal, MD1,2, and Patty Console, MT-BC2. “Music Therapy in Perinatal Psychiatry: Use of Lullabies for Pregnant and Postpartum Women with Mental Illness.” Music and Medicine. 2(4) 219-225. Web. Sep 2010.
• Suzanna A. Peczeniuk-Hoffman. “Music Therapy in the NICU: Interventions and Techniques in Current Practice and a Survey of Experience and Designation Implications.” ScholarWorks at WMU. Western Michigan University, Dec 2012. Web.