They have a ten minute check up with the eye doctor before being discharged from the hospital and then are sent on their merry way. .
The parents of this healthy baby think it is tuff when she/he gets up every four to six hours for a bottle of formula or to be breast fed. Whenever the healthy baby wants something, she or he will cry and let it be known. Around two months the precious infant will start making vowel sounds and around six months will begin to imitate speech sounds. These parents can leave their baby on the floor to crawl or play with toys without worry while the parents do dishes in the next room. They can use a baby monitor in the nursery and can sleep in their own room. These babies usually do not see hospitals, frequent shots, breathing treatments or any medical equipment unless grandpa or grandma falls and needs treatment during recovering. .
The parent of a healthy infant probably would not know what heart rate their baby should have or even thought about how much oxygenation is in their child's blood, circulating throughout their body. Life of a healthy baby is simple, and has the occasional crisis like choking on a piece of a hot dog, in comparison, the life of a special needs baby is more complex and daily tasks can quickly become daily chores. .
Before delivery many woman know that they are having a special needs baby. Until delivery many problems are only suspicious because of signs or pictures from ultrasounds. Knowing these suspicions makes the delivery of a special needs baby fast pace, very emotional, and most of all stressful for everyone. If the baby is stable the parents may get a quick picture and maybe a hug, then the new joy is rushed off to the NICU. There the baby is introduced to a room full of other critical babies and tons of nurses and doctors. They will experience x-ray's ultrasounds, more detailed hearing tests, specialists of every kind including anesthesiologists and pediatric surgeons.
