Having a baby with health problems at birth

There are many things that can cause health problems in newborn babies. These can include:

• a premature birth
• a difficult birth
• a genetic condition (Opens in new tab)
• something that happened during your pregnancy
• a congenital condition or other health problem

Sometimes, it's not known what causes a health problem, or a diagnosis can take time. This uncertainty can be difficult to cope with.

If your baby has a health problem, they may need special care in hospital. They may go to a special care nursery or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Your baby will be cared for by a paediatrician (a doctor who cares for babies and children).

The hospital where you gave birth may not have the facilities to care for your baby. If so, your baby may need to go to a different hospital. Your baby may be transferred to a specialist hospital. This may be by road or by air, depending on where you live.

It may be possible for you or your partner to travel with your baby to the new hospital.

Bonding with your baby is important both for you and your baby. You should try to do this as soon as you can after the birth. If your baby is receiving special care, being separated from them can be difficult.

Ask your doctor or midwife if you will be able to cuddle your baby in the delivery room. If your baby is moved to a special care unit, ask about kangaroo care.

Kangaroo care lets you have skin to skin contact with your baby. Skin to skin contact is good for both your wellbeing and your baby's health. It can also help with breastfeeding for when your baby is well enough.

You may wish to express breastmilk if your baby is not well enough to feed from your breast. Hospital staff can help you do this.

You may also be hesitant to touch or handle your baby at first if they are unwell. The hospital staff will understand your feelings and support you.

It's normal to find it difficult to take in everything that doctors and nurses say. You can always ask for the information again.

It's important for healthcare staff to help you understand what is happening with your baby. You should be involved in choices about your baby's health — this is called shared decision making.

You may find it helpful to:

• get a friend or family member to come with you to appointments
• take a pen and paper and make notes
• ask as many questions as you want

You may want to learn more about your baby's condition, to help you take part in their care and treatment. You can ask your doctor or midwife to suggest reliable resources and support groups.

There can be a lot to learn about your baby's condition and the care they may need. There will be plenty of support to guide you during the early weeks after birth.

Finding out your baby has a health problem can be stressful and scary. It is natural to feel:

• grief (Opens in new tab)
• anxiety
• disbelief
• guilt

These feelings can be hard to cope with.

Before the diagnosis, you may have thought about life with your new baby. Depending on your baby's diagnosis, these thoughts about the future may have changed. This can be a challenging time for parents.

Do not blame yourself. It's important to be kind to yourself and seek help if you need it. That way, you can have the capacity to care for yourself and your new baby.

It may help to talk to:

• your midwife, doctor, or hospital staff
• a social worker (Opens in new tab)
• a counsellor (Opens in new tab)

Your doctor can also refer you to a mental health professional (Opens in new tab) if you need more support.

In some cases, it may also help to talk with a genetic counsellor. They can help you understand genes and medical conditions that run in families, and how they can affect your health and your baby's health.

Caring for a newborn baby can be very rewarding but a challenge. If your newborn baby has health problems, it can be more difficult.

Having a strong support system will also help you cope with some of the challenges ahead. Your healthcare team are there to help you. Surround yourself with family and friends.

You can also talk to parents of babies and children with the same condition. Ask your midwife, doctor, hospital or community health centre to put you in touch with organisations or support groups. They can supply information and support for you and your family.

For support and information about babies born with a health problem or premature, you can visit the Miracle Babies Foundation website (Opens in new tab). You can also call their 24-hour family support helpline, Nurtureline, on 1300 622 243.

The Tresillian website (Opens in new tab) has general resources for new parents. You can also call their free helpline on 1300 272 736.

If you are a new parent and you are struggling, you can find support and information through:

• Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) (Opens in new tab) — call 1300 726 306
• the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) website (Opens in new tab)
• the Beyond Blue website (Opens in new tab) — or call on 1300 22 4636

For advice and to get connected to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health (Opens in new tab) on 1800 595 212. Check the operating times (Opens in new tab).