Facebook Group

We have a closed Facebook group where parents on and off the unit can chat, ask questions, share their stories and discuss worries.

Wherever you are on the NICU journey - from new arrival to many years down the line, there are people like you within the group.

Click here to join.

On the Unit

Being on the unit can be a stressful time. There are a variety of ways of getting emotional support available on the unit:

• Weekly coffee mornings for parents (currently on a Wednesday morning in the parents' lounge) hosted by a senior nurse.
• Jo Fraser, the local BLISS champion. Jo visits the unit on a Monday and Wednesday, 1 - 3pm to chat to parents. Her little girl was cared for on the unit for many weeks in 2011 so understands the roller coaster journey parents often experience during neonatal care.
• Jenny White, the  Family Support Nurse. Jenny is a trained nurse and counsellor. Her role on the unit is solely to provide confidential support to families who need it.

For more information about any of these sources of support, please speak to the nurse looking after your baby.

Outside the Unit

Once you leave the NICU it can sometimes feel that few people understand the unique circumstances of your child's early weeks. Regular baby groups can feel isolating, especially if your child is developing at a different pace to others. 

For this reason, many local parents have sought to set up groups just for ex-NICU babies. However, it can sometimes be difficult to sustain these when children get older and parents return to work.

At present we are not aware of any local groups currently meeting. As an alternative, our Facebook group can be a great way to make contact with parents at a similar stage to yourself .
Other sources of virtual support include forums such as Mumsnet (premature birth board) or BLISS/Netmums (discussion board). 

BLISS also provide written information available to download and telephone support.