When a child is born prematurely, parents endure an emotional rollercoaster – feelings of joy, excitement, guilt, fear and sadness are common – and that's just during the hospital stay! Once an infant is given clearance to go home, these emotions can cycle through yet again. Alongside the relief of leaving the hospital is the fear and frustration of caring for this tiny creature by yourself. So how can you prepare for the homecoming of your preemie?

"Discharge planning should begin at birth," says Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, chief of neonatology and medical director of the Level III NICU at the Medical College of Georgia Health System. "This way the improvements that occur and bring the baby closer to home don't catch parents by surprise."

Dr. Bhatia says it's normal for families to feel anxious and confused about the prospect of caring for a preemie. But with the help of the nursing staff, parents can start gaining confidence in their caregiving abilities. The first step is to understand your child's medical problems and needs.

"If possible, read about any possible medical problems and practice any necessary care with the staff until you're comfortable," says Dr. Bhatia. "Start being the mother in the NICU – participate in the feeding, bathing, etc. Become comfortable in your role of caring for the baby. 'Rooming in' for a night or two and caring for your baby under a remote but watchful eye of the nurses will help build your confidence."

If discharge planning is done properly and parents participate earnestly, they should be able to comprehend the medical problems, special needs, feeds, medications and equipment, if any, their child will need upon homecoming, says Dr. Bhatia. "If medical equipment is sent home, parents should insist on appropriate training with demonstrations. A nutritionist can go through feedings, a pharmacist can talk about medications and all care steps should be covered by a nurse and doctor."

Angela Ardolf's daughter was born seven weeks premature, and it was another eight weeks before she was allowed to bring her home. For this Minneapolis mom, the hardest part about bringing her daughter home was giving up the safety of the highly trained nurses and doctors.

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