Doctors say when the tiniest and sickest babies are sent to a Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit in this day and time - they usually survive. That's good news, but it may not reassure a worried parent.
In this month's Pregnancy 101 Report, find out how NICU nurses at Methodist Women's Hospital are preparing some high-risk moms.
When a baby's small at birth - they usually end up at a Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit.
Dr. Thomas Seidel said, "There is usually an initial period in the first few days of life where the parents are wondering 'what's going to happen next? How sick is my baby?'"
To help ease those emotions, Methodist Women's Hospital offers NICU tours to high-risk mothers. Lindina Jide Jubilee is one of them. She has had 10 unsuccessful pregnancies.
"It's stressful at times," she said. "You got them days where you're just thinking, is she going to move in there?"
So far so good. But she's taking the tour just in case. It gives parents a chance to see the private rooms and find out about the 24-7 monitoring that tracks the baby's heart rate and breathing.
Just looking into the room can be pretty intimidating. That's why nurses say the tours are a good idea so parents won't be overwhelmed if their baby ends up there.
Dr. Seidel said, "They can see the people. They can see the physical surroundings and that takes that bit of surprise away from them and they can concentrate on their baby."
Parents also get answers and some peace of mind.
"I feel a lot better. It's really comfortable, " said Jide-Jubilee. "My real hope is that she doesn't have to go to the NICU and I get to my due date and everything is successful and she comes out screaming."
A sound she is eager to hear.
More than 500 babies a year come through the NICU at the Methodist Women's Hospital.
Pregnancy 101: NICU Tours