Breastfeeding Challenges Made Easy for Late Preterm Infants: the Go-To Guide for Nurses and Lactation Consultants. Sandra Cole, $93.95

Evidence-based research underscores the importance of breastfeeding for the healthy development of late preterm infants, yet significant challenges can impede its success. This is a groundbreaking, problem-solving guide to the most effective techniques for breastfeeding this vulnerable population. Written for lactation consultants, NICU nurses, obstetrical nurses, and nurse-midwives, the book offers clear, simple, evidence-based solutions to the distinct breastfeeding difficulties affecting late preterm infants.

The guide describes the characteristics of late preterm infants and the physiological challenges-often invisible and overlooked by health care providers-caused by disturbances of respiratory, metabolic, neurologic, and immunologic functions. These problems are often exacerbated by poor breastfeeding and result in 13% of hospital readmissions by late preterm infants. The book examines maternal conditions that affect breastfeeding success and provides detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for the most effective breastfeeding techniques. It describes specific strategies health care professionals can take to overcome breastfeeding difficulties, including proper positioning and latch technique, the use of breast pumps and other helpful equipment, supplemental feedings, and more. Pictures that illustrate correct procedures clarify specific techniques, and user-friendly patient teaching guides further encourage successful breastfeeding. The book also supports the goals of many hospitals seeking to achieve Baby-Friendly Status.

Breastfeeding the Late Preterm Infant: Improving Care and Outcomes. Marsha Walker, $23.95

In this well-referenced monograph, Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC describes the late preterm infant, discusses contributors to late preterm birth, and explains the importance of the last six weeks of gestation. She discusses the impact of birth interventions on breastfeeding the late preterm infant and explains why mothers of late preterm infants may be at increased risk of delayed lactogenesis II. Includes:

• Breastfeeding management guidelines for the late preterm infant
• Issues such as hypothermia, hypoglycemia, respiratory instability, hypotonia, and immature feeding skills, and their impact on breastfeeding
• How to provide latch assistance, assess feedings at the breast, when to supplement, how to use bottles and artificial nipples, how to help others initiate and maintain maternal milk supply, and ways to optimize milk production
• Information on individualized feeding plans for moms to follow after discharge, including a sample plan.

Coming Home from the NICU: a Guide for Supporting Families in Early Infant Care and Development. Kathleen VandenBerg & Marci Hanson, $46.50

For families of an infant leaving the NICU, nothing’s more exciting — and challenging — than the critical transition to home life with their baby. Support the NICU-to-home transition with this accessible book, the complete guide to helping parents meet their baby’s special needs and promote optimal development in the first year after homecoming.

Invaluable for a wide range of professionals — including early interventionists, OTs, PTs, public health nurses, physicians, and social workers — this book is the key to providing family-centered, developmentally supportive guidance in the months after the NICU. Professionals will deepen their understanding of the emotional and physical challenges of the NICU experience, and they’ll get in-depth guidance on how to support parents effectively.

To illuminate the incredible strength of parents of premature infants, the book includes powerful stories of real families who share their experiences of supporting and loving their babies in the NICU and beyond. The book comes with a CD-ROM with printable handouts to share with families and lists of resources, websites, and organizations that provide additional information and support. With this definitive guide from two leading experts in infant development and early intervention, professionals will provide sensitive, effective support and guidance to new parents as they make a smooth transition to home life and develop strong relationships with their babies.

A practical handbook for healthcare professionals that covers all aspects of pre-term nutrition, using evidence-based information to promote safe and effective practice. Readers will discover problem-solving strategies, interventions, and information on meeting the nutritional requirements of pre-term infants.

Fragile Beginnings: Discoveries and Triumphs in the Newborn ICU. Adam Wolfberg, $19.00

This gripping medical narrative brings readers into the complex world of the newborn intensive care, where dedicated doctors and nurses do all they can to coax life into their tiny patients. As a specialist in high-risk obstetrics, and the father of a child born prematurely, Adam Wolfberg explores the scientific, ethical, and emotional questions raised by such fragile beginnings, from the frontlines of the NICU and cutting-edge laboratories — and from his own daughter’s bedside.

Human Milk in the NICU: Policy into Practice. Lois Arnold, $145.95

This unique text covers the use of banked, or stored, human milk in the hospital for premature and sick infants, and discusses the advantages of human milk feedings and the elements of hazard or risk introduced by the use of formulas, including rationales for the use of both mother’s own milk and donor human milk in the NICU.

This reference also highlights domestic health policies that impact the use of human milk for sick and fragile infants, international models and policies for milk banking, the history of donor milk banking and how it came into being and ethical issues surrounding the delivery of milk banking services and donor human milk in the NICU.

See the Table of Contents

Infant Massage: a Handbook for Loving Parents. Vimala Schneider McClure, $24.00

In this completely updated version of her renowned classic, Vimala McClure, founder of the International Association of Infant Massage, and its premier proponent in the United States, helps you master the techniques of infant massage so you can incorporate this joyful and wonderful healing art into your baby’s life. She shows you why a daily massage can be one of the greatest gifts you give your child... and yourself.  For generations, mothers the world over have known that the soft stroke of their hands soothes, calms, and communicates their love to their babies. Now scientific research proves that massage can do all that and more.

In Infant Massage, McClure shares how massage benefits children — easing discomfort, releasing tension, helping premature infants gain weight, even helping asthmatic children improve breathing function.  She explains each step of the massage process with simple easy-to-follow instructions and delightful photographs demonstrating each stroke. You’ll also find:

• Specific routines tailored to help relieve colic, fever, chest and nasal congestion
• Modified instructions for premature infants and babies with special needs
• Helpful hints on dealing with crying and fussing
• Lullabies, rhymes, and games to enhance the massage experience
• Guidance for teaching children about "good touch"
• A special chapter dedicated to fathers
• Compassionate advice for foster and adoptive parents

Intensive Parenting: Surviving the Emotional Journey through the NICU. Deborah Davis & Mara Tesler Stein, $23.95

INTENSIVE PARENTING focuses on the experiences, feelings, and relationship issues that families face when a baby is admitted to the Neonatal Intensive care Unit (NICU). While other books explain a baby’s medical conditions and treatments, this book explores the parents’ experience in the NICU. By focusing solely on the NICU parenting experience, this book offers a concise, accessible, and unique guide.

Juniper: the Girl Who Was Born Too Soon. Kelley and Thomas French, $34.00

Juniper French was born four months early, at 23 weeks gestation. She weighed 1 pound, 4 ounces, and her twiggy body was the length of a Barbie doll. Her head was smaller than a tennis ball, her skin was nearly translucent, and through her chest you could see her flickering heart. Babies like Juniper, born at the edge of viability, trigger the question: Which is the greater act of love — to save her, or to let her go?

Kelley and Thomas French chose to fight for Juniper's life, and this is their incredible tale. In one exquisite memoir, the authors explore the border between what is possible and what is right. They marvel at the science that conceived and sustained their daughter and the love that made the difference. They probe the bond between a mother and a baby, between a husband and a wife. They trace the journey of their family from its fragile beginning to the miraculous survival of their now thriving daughter.

Kangaroo Babies: a Different Way of Mothering. Nathalie Charpak, $28.95

Providing a history and a beautifully illustrated practical guide to kangaroo mothering, this book explains the approach that is changing the way mothers relate to newborn babies and improving the way hospitals treat premature babies and their parents.

Kangaroo Care: the Best You Can Do to Help Your Preterm Infant. Susan Ludington-Hoe & Susan Golant, $22.00

Based on research and techniques pioneered in leading neonatal centres worldwide, Kangaroo Care is an informative guide to the benefits of this special way of holding and nurturing the small infant. It explains:

• Why Kangaroo Care enhances the pre-term baby's development
• How to use the technique with infants who require a ventilator or incubator
• How to read the baby's signals - and how to respond
• How to work with the NICU staff
• How to involve fathers and grandparents as well as mothers

The Moment You Were Born: a Story for You and Your Premature Baby. Sandra Lane & Brenda Miles, Illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger, $14.50

The Moment You Were Born is a gentle and soothing story for you and your baby as you share moments in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Read about the doctors and nurses providing care, about the machines that beep and hum, and about life all around. Reading and talking to your baby are ways to provide a loving connection during your time in the NICU. Your voice can comfort and caress, and strengthen the bond between you and your baby. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers with more ideas about sharing the NICU experience and staying close to your baby.

My Brother is a Preemie. Abraham Chuzzlewit & Jos. A. Vitterito II, $22.95

My Sister is a Preemie. Abraham Chuzzlewit & Jos. A. Vitterito II, $22.95

Having an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is full of a flurry of emotions overshadowed by anxiety. An admission to the NICU is not anticipated and therefore can be a very trying experience. Explaining the hospitalization of the baby to the other children in your home can be challenging. The baby's siblings may be too young to understand, fearful of hospitals, or even upset that you are spending more time at the hospital than at home. This short book can serve as a light introduction to the NICU and foster further discussion with your other children or young relatives. It is best read together, ideally before a visit to the NICU. In addition to visiting the hospital, establish some routines and alone time with your children at home to help ease the transition as your new baby grows and heals in the intensive care unit.

Noah's Garden: When Someone You Love is in the Hospital. Mo Johnson, illustrated by Annabelle Josse, $19.00

A hospital courtyard garden — and a vivid imagination — are a haven for a young boy as he waits for his baby sister to be well enough to join him.

Noah and his family are living in The Children's Hospital because his new sister, Jessica, was born with a serious medical condition. Normal family life is suspended indefinitely for Noah, but in the true spirit of childhood, he spends his days in the hospital garden, creating an imaginary world, longing for the day when Jess can join him.

100 Questions & Answers about Your High-Risk Pregnancy. Elizabeth Platt, Betty Campbell, Andrea Tetreau, & Michael Pinette, $21.95

100 Questions and Answers about Your High-Risk Pregnancy provides authoritative, practical answers to the most common questions posed by at-risk expecting parents. The text covers topics such as testing, mother's health, fetal health, complications, prevention and treatment, and physical and psychological coping. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional turmoil of high-risk pregnancy.

There are many good books that explain your premature baby's medical or developmental conditions and treatments... this book is different. It focuses on your experiences, feelings and relationships around the delivery, hospitalization, homecoming and long-term parenting of your premature baby and child. Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child provides suggestions and support for coping, adjusting and finding your way."

Preemie Care: a Guide to Navigating the First Year with Your Premature Baby. Karen Lasby & Tammy Sherrow, $28.95

Having a premature baby can feel like an unexpected journey on rough seas. With up-to-date and extensive information about how to look after your little one, Preemie Care will be a life raft through these tumultuous waters and steer you confidently through the first year of your baby’s life. In Preemie Care, you will learn:

• How to care for yourself and your baby while in the NICU
• What to expect at the time of discharge, and how to prepare for the journey home
• Strategies to foster your baby's health and prevent illness
• Everything you need to know about feeding from the breast and/or bottle
• How to support and stimulate your baby at each key developmental phase
• Tips for self-care during this challenging year

Written for parents, but full of practical advice for healthcare professionals too, Preemie Care helps ease the unique preemie journey to health, with a comprehensive guide to the first year of life. Leading neonatal nurse specialists Karen Lasby and Tammy Sherrow draw on their decades of experience, empowering you with the knowledge and resources to give your little one the best possible start in life — in the NICU and at home.

Preemie: Lessons in Love, Life and Motherhood. Kasey Mathews, $19.95

With a two-year-old at home and a baby born four months early (weighing one pound, eleven ounces), Kasey Mathews was thrown into a world unlike anything she had ever imagined. PREEMIE chronicles the journey of one tiny baby’s tenacious struggle and the mother who grew with her.

The Preemie Parent's Companion: The Essential Guide to Caring for Your Premature Baby in the Hospital, at Home, and Through the First Years, Susan L. Madden, $21.95

Susan Madden invites parents to become an integral part of their preemie's medical care while in the NICU. In fact, she goes further to provide essential advice in regards to caring for your baby at home and gives a detailed look into the future at the long term effects of prematurity. She has succeeded in creating an encouraging and comprehensive guide for families meeting the special challenges of premature birth.  

"This book helps parents to meet the high needs of the premature baby and thereby enjoy the unique rewards of this special type of parenting." — William Sears, M.D.

The Preemie Primer. Jennifer Gunter, $21.00

A complete guide for parents of premature babies — from birth through the toddler years and beyond.

Preemies: the Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies. Dana Weschler Linden, Emma Trenti  Paroli & Mia Weschler Doron, $32.50

Preemies is a comprehensive reference that is both reassuring and realistic, delivering current and practical 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's hospitalization, to homecoming and the preschool years — imparting a vast, detailed store of knowledge in clear language that all readers can understand.

The Premature Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know about Your Premature Baby from Birth to Age One. William Sears, Martha Sears, James Sears & Robert Sears, $21.00

This newest guide from the Sears family focuses on the essential needs of premature babies and offers the tools and advice parents need to become comfortable with their often bewildering new role.

Understanding My Signals: Help for Parents of Premature Infants. Brenda Hussey, $6.25

The Understanding My Signals booklet provides information for parents on typical behavioral responses of premature infants. It was written to help parents understand how their young infant communicates. This User's Guide is written for individuals who work with premature infants and their families including nurses, and allied health professionals as well as professionals from the fields of social work, education, and psychology. The User's Guide provides guidance in communicating the information originally presented in the booklet to parents. It is the belief of the author that parents integrate and use information more effectively when they have the opportunity to discuss and process the information with a knowledgeable professional.

Understanding the NICU: What Parents of Preemies and Other Hospitalized Newborns Need to Know. American Academy of Pediatrics, $22.99

Most parents do not expect to begin life with their new baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). They often feel lost and powerless amidst this new world of medical vocabulary, technology, and numerous health care providers.

Understanding the NICU will guide parents through the NICU journey, help them communicate with members of the NICU team, and learn about their baby’s condition so that they can ask questions and participate as a valuable partner in their baby’s care. It will also provide them important information about how to care for their baby after they leave the hospital and head home with their little one.

Included in the book are inspirational stories from parents who have had their own NICU experiences, bringing hope and comfort to other parents with an infant who is hospitalized.

Understanding the NICU provides you with everything parents need to know about

• Common NICU equipment and tests
• Common medical problems for babies in the NICU
• Special health issues for premature infants
• Who's who in the NICU and how to work with the team
• Mother-baby factors: effects on newborn health
• Feeding their baby
• Parenting in the NICU
• Birth defects and surgery
• Heading home from the NICU
• Home at last
• Caring for their baby in the first year

Intensive care is stressful by nature and overwhelming at times. Reading this book and learning about what happens in the NICU will help parents gain confidence and feel more reassured about their baby’s care in the NICU — and at home.

Your Premature Baby: the First Five Years. Nikki Bradford, $19.95

The definitive guide to caring for a child born too soon, this compassionate and positive book draws on the medical expertise of the staff at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children; current research and the personal stories of parents. Full of hope and supportive guidance, Your Premature Baby takes parents from their baby's birth and into the first five years.

Your Premature Baby: the Practical and Reassuring Guide to Caring for Your Preterm Baby, Canadian Edition. Su Laurent & Maya Isaaks, $18.00

This accessible and informative book will guide you through what to expect in the NICU. The authors give you the information you need to work in partnership with your medical team, enabling you to ask the right questions and find the support you need.