The Preemie Parents' Companion: The Essential Guide to Caring for Your Premature Baby in the Hospital, at Home, and Through the First Years (Paperback)

by Susan L. Madden M.S. (Author), William Sears MD (Author), Jane E. Stewart MD (Author) "FEW PARENTS ARE prepared for the premature birth of their baby..." (more)
Key Phrases: preemie development, breastfeeding preemies, including preemies, American Academy of Pediatrics, Good Start, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
For parents of the nearly 300,000 babies born prematurely each year, Susan L. Madden has written The Preemie Parents Companion .

About the Author
Susan L. Madden holds a masters degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. The mother of three children, including a son born prematurely, she lives with her family in Newton, MA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 393 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press; 1st edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558321357
• ISBN-13: 978-1558321359
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,863 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Keep Your Sanity During an Especially Tough Situation, July 27, 2001

By	"holdenchp" (Harbor City, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Preemie Parents' Companion: The Essential Guide to Caring for Your Premature Baby in the Hospital, at Home, and Through the First Years (Hardcover)

Our son was born at 26 weeks (3 months early) and was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) until one day past his due date. We were given this book after he'd been there one month. Let me tell you what a life-saver it was! We had been given a "crash course" in the care delivered to a premature infant... very scary stuff. Wires, machines, noise, drugs -- and in the middle of it all this unbelievably tiny human being who is your child. This book took much of the fear away and instead educated us. Preemies don't stop being preemies when they come home! This book gives the technical data in an easy to understand format that is not condescending and also focuses on the emotional as well as physical needs of the baby. Additionally, it gives contacts and information on potential problems, how to spot them early, and how to handle them. There is also a good referal list in the back. I would recommend this book not only to preemie parents, but to anyone in contact with a preemie and their family. PS. As of this writing, our son is one year old and doing great!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Guide for parents of a preemie baby, September 20, 2000

By	Anne Serrell-Jones "agjones" (Newton Centre, MA United States) - See all my reviews

There are numerous books written for parents of babies born at the normal and expected time, on or around the due date. Parents-to-be start reading about what life with a new baby will be like long before that anticipated date. But imagine never going through the last trimester, suddenly and unexpectedly giving birth months too early, having a newborn who weighs about one third the weight of many "normal" newborns. Susan Madden weaves her own personal account of such an experience and from the beginning chapter, "First Questions", her writing speaks directly to the parents who find themselves in this frightening situation. Her book is extremely well researched and the information is clearly communicated to the reader. The writer conveys empathy and compassion for the parents who are in such a predicament; she addresses common concerns of the first few days in the hospital, coming home with the preemie, and what to expect as the child grows. It is almost as if there were a reassuring, yet very knowledgeable friend trying to coach you through a difficult time. The way the book is organized makes it an excellent reference. Each chapter is divided into short and manageable sections. You can scan the pages to quickly locate the part that is most relevant to you at any point in time. There is also an excellent index, as well as a set of appendices and a glossary of terms. If you need real support- to feel that someone else understands and can address your myriad concerns - you will be reassured and heartened by reading her informative book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Guide through preemie parenthood, January 28, 2002

By A Customer

I am both a physician and a mother of a son who arrived 11 weeks early. This book has helped in every facet of my premature parenthood from breastfeeding (or, in my case, my ongoing attempts) to just feeling I was not the only preemie parent out there. In addition, the explanations of the various medical problems premature babies may face are excellent. Truly, a book that every premature parent would benefit from having.