The Premature Baby Book: A Parents Guide to Coping and Caring in the First Years

by Helen Harrison

The Premature Baby Book is the result of seven years of intense research into medical literature, and of interview with neonatologists, intensive care nurses, social workers, therapists and hundreds of parents of prematures. From her research and personal experience, Helen Harrison knows exactly what parents want and need to know to deal with the emotional, medical, and practical issues facing them after the birth of a premature baby.

Proceeds from the sale of The Premature Baby Book will be donated to organizations that help premature babies and their families.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was twenty when I gave birth to my son. Because I was barely out of my own childhood at that age, to say that I was unprepared for the trials of giving birth to a premature child is an understatement. Normal pregnancy and child birth would've been difficult enough, but my world was immediately filled with medical terms no new mom should ever have to know.

This book helped me make sense of it all.

I was afraid and overwhelmed, not to mention completely unqualified to parent a preemie -- or so I thought. Without this book, I would've been. Thankfully, the NICU nurses shared this book with me and I didn't feel so out of my league. Some of the stories didn't pertain to me, but being a person who wants to know all the facts and the possibilities of what could happen, this book was vital in understanding what was going on in my son's world.

And in the last seventeen years, I was able to share that knowledge with other new moms-of-preemies to help put their minds at ease.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the time Chris was born, this was the only book out there. But it absolutely terrified me. The book didn't even mention babies who were born before 27 or 28 weeks...it was good to have the book, because it was better than nothing. But it scared me to death.

[Sharon Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for my work in early intervention. Extremely helpful in understanding the medical and emotional issues related to premature birth and its impact on the family.