It's pretty scary to see a new sibling wrapped in a glass box instead of a soft blanket. In this gentle story about a baby who arrives too soon, Sarah can see that Mommy and Daddy are worried, and that tiny Amy is sick. But her parents help her to see that God is with the family no matter what, even its newest, littest member. A special section at the end written by R. Scott Stehouwer, Ph. D., professor of psychology at Calvin College and clinical psychologist, provides suggestions for parents and caregivers of hurting children.

It's pretty scary to see a new sibling wrapped in a glass box instead of a soft blanket. In this gentle story about a baby who arrives too soon, Sarah can see that Mommy and Daddy are worried, and that tiny Amy is sick. But her parents help her to see that God is with the family no matter what, even its newest, littest member. A special section at the end written by R. Scott Stehouwer, Ph. D., professor of psychology at Calvin College and clinical psychologist, provides suggestions for parents and caregivers of hurting children.

Having a new sibling in the NICU can be frightening. Disrupted routines. Strange tubes and machines. This coloring book is meant to help explain why the baby has to stay in the hospital for now and what all those big machines are doing. Understanding the situation can make it less frightening.

A reassuring and realistic comprehensive guide to preemie medical care—now updated to reflect the many advances in neonatology. Preemies, Second Edition is the only parents’ reference resource of its kind—delivering up-to-the-minute information on medical care in a warm, caring, and engaging voice. Authors Dana Wechsler Linden and Emma Trenti Paroli are parents who have “been there.” Together with neonatologist Mia Wechsler Doron, they answer the dozens of questions that parents will have at every stage—from high-risk pregnancy through preemie hospitalization, to homecoming and the preschool years—imparting a vast, detailed store of knowledge in clear language that all readers can understand. Preemies, Second Edition covers topics related to premature birth, including: -What are your risk factors for having a premature baby? -Can you do something to delay early labor? -What do doctors know about you baby’s outlook during her first minutes and days of life? -How will your preemie’s progress be monitored? -How do you cope with a long hospitalization? -Are there special preparations for you baby’s homecoming? -What kind of stimulation during the first year gives your baby the best chance? -Will your preemie grow up healthy? Normal? Comprehensive and reassuring, Preemies provides the answers to questions that any concerned parent might have.

A mother’s moving and honest memoir about the premature birth of her daughter—and the strength and grace that can be found in the midst of life's greatest challenges In her early thirties, Kasey Mathews had it all: a loving husband, a beautiful two-year-old son, and a second baby on the way. But what seemed a perfect life was shattered when she went into labor four months early, delivering her one-pound, eleven-ounce daughter, Andie. The first time Kasey was wheeled into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), nothing prepared her for what she saw: a tiny, fragile baby in a tangle of tubes and wires. All at once, Kasey was confronted with a new and terrifying reality that would test the limits of love, family, and motherhood. In this riveting, honest, and often humorous memoir, Preemie chronicles the journey of one tiny baby’s tenacious struggle to hold on to life and the mother who ultimately grew with her. From hospital waiting rooms to the offices of alternative practitioners, from ski slopes to Symphony Hall, Kasey tries to make meaning of her daughter’s birth and eventually comes to learn that gifts come in all sizes and all forms, and sometimes... right on time.

This major new addition to the Sears Parenting Library is a comprehensive, authoritative, and reassuring guide for parents of premature babies. 20 line drawings & photos.

Visiting a neonatal intensive care unit can be an overwhelming experience, especially for a young child during sibling visitation. The sibling will see monitoring equipment, breathing machines, intravenous pumps and incubators. They will hear alarms ringing and sometimes babies crying. Preparing children for the NICU environment is crucial so they are not as fearful and can focus on bonding with their new sibling.

For Kate Hopper, pregnancy is downright unpleasant. She is tired and heavy and worried, and she wants her wine and caffeine back. But then, at a routine checkup, her doctor frowns at her chart and says, "I'm worried about a couple of things"--and unpleasant suddenly seems like paradise. What follows is a harrowing, poignant, and occasionally hysterical journey through premature motherhood, from the starting point of "leaking a little protein" to the early delivery of her tiny daughter because of severe preeclampsia and the beginning of a new chapter of frightful, lifelong love. Half a million babies are born prematurely in the United States every year--almost one every minute--each with a unique story, and Hopper eloquently gives a voice to what their parents share: the shock, the scares, the lonely nights in the neonatal intensive care unit, the fierce attention to detail that makes for sanity and craziness, the light of faith, the warmth of family, and the terrifying attachment. Through it all runs the power of words to connect us to one another, as Hopper draws on her gifts as a writer first to help her navigate this uncertain territory and then to tell her story. With candor, grace, and a healthy dose of humor, she takes us into the final weeks of her pregnancy, the this-was-not-part-of-the-plan first weeks of little Stella's life, and the isolated world she and her husband inhabited when they took their daughter home at the onset of a cold Minnesota winter. Finally, frankly, Hopper ventures into the complicated question of whether to have another child. Down-to-earth and honest about the hard realities of having a baby, as well as the true joys, Ready for Air is a testament to the strength of motherhood--and stories--to transform lives.