Where can NICU parents turn to for support?
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These are just a few of the great organisations which support NICU or premature babies and their parents;
On instagram - our NICU community recommmend follows! (we asked them on insta)
@SuperDinkyUk
Firstly, us of course! We share a lot of other accounts content to direct people to what we think will help NICU families during and after NICU.
@Miraclemoonuk
Frankie, a Clinical Psychologist and Georgie (a graphic designer) are both NICU mums. They are passionate about bringing humanity, kindness, understanding and advocating for NICU parents. Their mission is to connect with as many people who have been through neonatal care as possible, to validate and support, so that no one feels alone in their feelings and experiences. Their reels can be enormously validating because they really 'get it'.
@theteaonbirthtrauma
Teela is a provisional psychologist and a birth trauma survivor. She talks about a lot of topics which may affect NICU parents, for example; flashbacks, grieving the birth experience you had, prematurity, PTSD, sex and intimacy. Her posts are helpful because they validate things which you may be experiencing ans she often explains the science of what is actually happening in your brain when you experience trauma.
@Mixing.up.motherhood
Illy is a mama, midwife & birth debrief facilitator, focusing on birth advocacy and birth trauma. She is not (to my knowledge) a NICU parent, she has experienced birth trauma in different ways. She knows and shares a huge amount about postpartum relationship shifts, parental overload, maternal mental load and intrusive thoughts.
During NICU
Looking after your baby on the neonatal unit
This leaflet is designed to give parents comfort and confidence in the care of their sick or premature baby.
Mental Health Support
Bliss - private facebook group
On facebook Bliss has a private group for NICU parents which is worth joining. Its a small group curently and any questions asked about NICU, mental heatlh, relationship changes etc are answered by a community of people who have been through similar situations.
https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/what-is-pnd/post-natal-depression/
FREE helpline number 0808 1961 776
(Side note; I have called this during a teary moment and spoke with a fellow mum who had experienced PND and she listened to me with kindness and understanding, it helped. Lorna x )
Becoming a new parent can be a very stressful experience. Finding ways to look after yourself that fit in with your responsibilities and needs can make a big difference to your mental health.
NewBorn care
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/support-and-services/tips-for-new-parents/
As a new parent, you're bound to have questions on everything from getting started with breastfeeding to washing and bathing your baby and changing their nappy.
Support for Dads
https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/free-parenting-app-for-dads
Download the free Dad focused parenting app, Baby Buddy, now, for all the best parenting advice, together with advice for dads on looking after their mental health. All in interactive bite size chunks using videos, games and images.