# Prematurity, NICU and birth complications

**How would we handle a premature birth or a NICU stay?**

Preparing for a baby who arrives early or needs intensive care. The NICU is the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. The choice is how much you talk through your preferences and leave plans, in advance.

In short: Parents choose between 3 main approaches: Not discussed; Preferences talked through; Written preferences and a leave contingency. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: during pregnancy.

- Area: Legal, financial and "what if" planning
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: During pregnancy
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/legal-financial-and-what-if-planning--prematurity-nicu-and-birth-complications

## Prematurity, NICU and birth complications: what are the options?

1. **Not discussed**: You have not talked about it.
2. **Preferences talked through**: You have talked about what each of you would want.
3. **Written preferences and a leave contingency**: You have written down your wishes and planned how leave would work if the baby stays in hospital.

## Prematurity, NICU and birth complications: what does the evidence say?

**Your call.** No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

AAP treats "Preemie" as a first-class baby topic; no couple-level sources

Sources:

- [HealthyChildren.org](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/Pages/default.aspx)

## What else is worth knowing?

Some babies are born early or need intensive care, usually without warning. Talking in advance about what each of you would want makes decisions easier under stress. Leave and work plans may need to change.

## Questions to ask each other

- What would we want to know if the baby were born early?
- Who would take care of work and other children?
- What are our preferences if there are hard decisions?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=legal-financial-and-what-if-planning&topic=legal-financial-and-what-if-planning--prematurity-nicu-and-birth-complications