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A's and B's

Short for apneas and bradys. "He had a few A's and B's overnight" is the most common sentence in the NICU.

Apnea

A pause in breathing that lasts too long, often counted as twenty seconds or more. Lots of preemies have "apnea of prematurity" because the part of the brain that runs breathing isn't finished yet. Most outgrow it.

Apnea monitor

The machine some babies go home on. Wires on the chest, an alarm if breathing pauses or the heart rate drops. You will learn to love it and hate it at the same time.

Bili lights

Blue lights used to treat jaundice, which makes a baby's skin look yellow. The baby wears little eye shields that look like sunglasses. Julius looked like a tiny movie star.

BPD

Short for bronchopulmonary dysplasia, also called chronic lung disease. Lung trouble in babies who needed a lot of breathing help early on. Some go home on oxygen, like Julius did. It usually gets better as the lungs grow.

Brady

Short for bradycardia. The heart rate drops below a set number for a while. Often it comes with an apnea, and often it fixes itself, or with a little pat or a jiggle from the nurse.

Caffeine

Yes, really, like in coffee. Doctors give it to some preemies to help remind them to breathe. Julius got his first caffeine before I'd had mine.

Car seat test

Before going home, a preemie sits in his car seat for a while with monitors on, to make sure he breathes fine sitting in that position.

Corrected age

Also called adjusted age. Your baby's age counted from the due date instead of the birthday. Used to check development, usually until about age two. See my explanation.

CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure. Gentle, steady air pressure through little prongs in the nose or a small mask, to keep the lungs from collapsing between breaths. Usually the step after the ventilator.

Desat

Short for desaturation. The oxygen level in the blood drops, and the number on the pulse oximeter goes down and the alarm dings. You will watch that number more than you've ever watched anything.

Gavage feeding

Feeding through a thin tube that goes in through the mouth or nose and down to the stomach. Babies too young to suck and swallow get their milk this way.

Gestational age

How far along the pregnancy was, counted in weeks. Julius was born at 26 weeks. A full-term baby is about 40.

Hand hug

What you can do before you can hold your baby: one hand cupped gently around the head, one around the feet, very still. Preemies don't like stroking. They like being held still and snug.

Isolette

The clear plastic box your baby lives in at first, also called an incubator. It keeps him warm and the air moist. It has portholes on the sides so you can reach in.

Kangaroo care

Holding your baby skin to skin on your bare chest, under a blanket. It helps his breathing, heart rate and temperature, and it helps you more than I can say. Ask about it as soon as the nurses think he's ready.

Nasal cannula

A soft little tube that sits under the nose and gives a small flow of oxygen. Some babies go home with one.

Neonatologist

A doctor who specializes in caring for newborns, especially sick and premature ones.

NICU

Neonatal intensive care unit. Everybody says "NICK-you."

Preemie

A baby born before 37 weeks.

Primary nurse

A nurse who takes care of your baby whenever she's on shift. Not every NICU does it. If yours does, it's wonderful.

Pulse oximeter

The little sensor taped around a hand or foot with a red light. It measures the oxygen level in the blood and the heart rate. "Pulse ox" or "sat monitor" for short.

Rooming in

A night or two before discharge when the parents stay at the hospital in a room alone with the baby and do all the care themselves, with help down the hall.

ROP

Retinopathy of prematurity. The blood vessels in the back of a preemie's eyes aren't finished growing, and sometimes they grow wrong. An eye doctor checks with regular exams. Most mild cases, like Julius's, go away on their own. Some need treatment, so don't skip the exams.

Rounds

When the doctors, nurses and others go baby to baby and make the plan for the day. Ask if parents can listen in. Bring your notebook.

RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus. A virus that is just a cold for most people but can be serious for preemies. See RSV season.

Surfactant

A substance that keeps the tiny air sacs in the lungs from sticking shut. Very premature babies don't make enough yet, so it can be given through the breathing tube.

Synagis

A shot of antibodies against RSV, given once a month during RSV season to some babies at high risk. Approved last year. Ask your pediatrician.

TPN

Total parenteral nutrition. Nutrition given through an IV while the baby's gut is too young to take all his food.

Ventilator

A breathing machine connected to a tube in the baby's windpipe. "The vent." Coming off it is a very big day.

Did I miss a word that confused you? Write me and I'll add it: [email protected]