An Ultimate Guide to Choosing an Infant Care Centre in Singapore
Choosing a child care centre for your little one is an important decision. If you are putting your child into ...
Read MoreImportant notice to customers — product packaging changesLearn More
NEW FOOD PACKAGING IN STORE NOW
From August 2018, customers will notice our rebranded food packaging start to appear on shelf in all major stockists.
We are excited to announce our new packaging will start to appear on shelf from August 2018. This transition to new packaging will occur over a number of months. During this time there will be a mix of current and new packaging on shelf.
There are no major changes to these products, in some instances there is a small name change or slight recipe improvement, see below for the full details.
Products purchased via the website will be delivered to customers in our old packaging until the end of October. From November, products ordered from the website will be delivered in the new packaging.
Please note, our Infant Formula packaging will not be rebranded until later in 2019.
For any questions, connect with our team of accredited practising Dietitians on +61 3 6332 9200
Product name changes
Preterm birth is a stressful event for families. Having a baby and taking your baby home is something all parents look forward to, whether you’re a first time parent or not. When things don’t go to plan and your baby starts their journey in the NICU it can be very overwhelming.
NICU stands for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – a specially designed part of a birthing hospital that’s suitable for even the tiniest of patients. It contains equipment that caters for preterm birth and it’s manned by staff specially trained in neonatal care.
Not every hospital has a NICU and therefore some babies needing specialist care will need to be transferred to a hospital that does have one. The first thing you’ll see is a series of taps or antibacterial gel dispensers at the entrance. You need to wash your hands with sterilising soap for several minutes before going in as babies in NICUs can easily catch infections.
Inside you’ll find incubators and cots under heat lamps which help to regulate small babies’ body temperature. Lights are dimmed and it’s quiet, as babies in the NICU can be overwhelmed by too much noise and light.
Depending on what medical support your baby needs there might be:
All of this technology and machinery keeps your baby comfortable, with as little extra handling as possible. It monitors them and lets medical staff know when your baby needs extra care.
Other large machines are brought into the NICU when they’re needed. These might include machines to:
The NICU is usually a calm place, with nurses and doctors quietly looking after the babies and other specialists coming in and out. Monitors will sound to alert the staff if a baby’s breathing or heart rate is out of the normal range.
NICUs have highly trained medical and nursing staff and specialist equipment for premature babies and sick newborns. Each baby is closely monitored by an individual bedside nurse and other specialists, including a:
NICU team members work together with parents to create a plan of care for high-risk newborns. As well as the NICU team there are parent support groups and other programs designed to help you manage what can be a difficult and stressful time.
All NICUs care for babies who need special help but not all NICUs are equal. There are different levels of care for different NICUs and it’s important you choose the right one.
There are other factors to consider also, such as:
In Singapore, both the private and public sectors are typically safe and reliable. Deciding between both is generally a matter of choice, as both systems deliver top-of-the-line medical care.
The largest benefit of going public is the affordability factor. Costs are generally lower than those in private hospitals, as public hospitals are subsidised by the government for Singaporean citizens. Another advantage is that public hospitals are usually better equipped to deal with birth and delivery complications. Singapore’s public hospital NICUs are all Level 3, while only some private hospitals offer Level 3.
The largest benefit of going private is less waiting times, more comfortable amenities and a greater sense of luxury. You can relax in beautiful waiting rooms and enjoy smoother administration and billing processes.
As a guide…
Some parents know well in advance that their baby will likely spend time in the NICU but for others it can come as a complete shock. Either way, it pays to understand what support is available.
A good way to start your supported journey to parenthood is with prenatal classes. Prenatal classes are a great way to get ready for childbirth and will help to ease many of your concerns as you approach the big day. If it’s your first pregnancy you will no doubt have many questions about your body, diet, exercise, hospitals, and health. Even if it’s not your first child, you may still have questions, or may wish to have a different experience this time and going to a prenatal class can be a great way to learn more and feel as prepared as you can.
Another thing you might like to do is take a tour of the NICU and build a rapport with NICU staff. Learn what to expect should your baby be admitted there. Talk to other parents too. The NICU can feel like a lonely place for parents, even though it’s a bustling hive of activity. Connect with other parents of NICU babies through support groups and talk about your experience. Communicate your feelings and be sure to give yourself some downtime when you can.
Many couples say they will ‘go with the flow’ when it comes to childbirth but we say it pays to be prepared. ‘Going with the flow’ takes the pressure off parents to “perform” and have the “perfect birth” but it can also be detrimental to your baby’s health.
Childbirth can go to plan and sometimes it doesn’t. The right research can pay dividends, but flexibility is key. Remaining flexible with a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C means letting go of concrete plans but knowing enough to not be stressed by the unknown. By doing your research you can make informed and timely decisions so that the ‘flow’ doesn’t lead you somewhere you don’t want to go.
Find out your options, inform yourself, and then should NICU become a reality, you’re prepared and ready for the situation. This includes understanding nutritional needs, which Bellamy’s Organic can help you with. Our team of experts are dedicated and passionate about creating high quality, nutritionally balanced and delicious organic baby food and formula so that you can give your baby the purest start to life.