Resources
Discover a wealth of guides, articles, and tools to support NICU parents.
Downloadable Resources
Explore valuable resources for parents in the NICU
NICU
Things you may need if you're planning to pump
If you're planning to pump milk whilst your baby is in NICU and cannot feed for themselves, this list of things you may need could be worth taking a look at. Collated from responses from our community of NICU parents, the list is made up of things people who have been in your shoes have used and found important.
NICU
NICU Stay Packing List
If you know you're going to need a NICU stay in advance, this packing list collates responses from our community who have been there of what they would pack if they were going to NICU. If you're already in NICU you may still find it useful to know what you might need further into your stay.
NICU
Supporting Friends & Family During their NICU Journey
When your friend or loved one has their baby, it is meant to be a happy occasion, where you wrap them up in love and cuddles and celebrate their little one coming into the world. It may not be that way when their baby ends up requiring a NICU stay. Know that there is a lot that you can do, but the person likely can’t tell you what they need because they probably don't quite know themselves.
What's on the blog
Read article and stories from experts and fellow NICU families
Podcast
A couple’s experience of NICU and how it made their relationship stronger
This week on the podcast we talked to the wonderful Danielle and Tyler Morris, a couple who had their son at 24 weeks and 4 days, which makes him a micropreemie. Their journey inspired Danielle to set up @nicu_experience on Instagram
Your Stories
Machair’s Story - Nuances of NICU
I was thrust into the NICU world at 100 miles an hour without a chance to pause and catch my breath. My baby was born premature. I knew that babies could be born early but never did I ever even pause to think that MY baby would be born prematurely.
Information
Having a full term NICU baby: It is more common than you think
Most people don't know that a large majority of NICU admissions are babies who are born at full term. It is necessary to shed light on this, as there are often misconceptions that only premature babies need neonatal care, which is not the case.
Podcast
Navigating Medical Parenthood: A conversation with Amanda Griffith Atkins on Parenting a Child with a disability
Amanda Griffith Atkins' journey through parenthood offers a poignant look into the world of raising a child with a disability. Her honesty and compassion shine through, providing a community for parents facing similar challenges.
Dr Frankie Harrison
Frankie’s Breastfeeding Story - Breastfeeding Awareness Week
“My breastfeeding story felt like a full on novel, it took me 3 and a half months before I was able to solely breastfeed and it felt like it took all of me to commit to it. I feel lucky I have been able to continue.”
The NICU Space Podcast
Check out our latest podcast episodes
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Starting school with your NICU child. With SENCO, Carolyn and safeguarding lead, Abbie | S3E30
Worrying about how to handle your NICU kid starting school? Feel like you aren’t getting enough support? SENCO Carolyn and safeguarding lead Abbie share their advice in today’s episode.
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S2E27 | How my own NICU experience inspired me to set up The Smallest Things Charity - Catriona Ogilvy
This week on the podcast, we talk to Catriona, the Founder of The Smallest Things, a UK premature baby charity that supports families in their journey after neonatal care and seeks to improve the long term outcomes of premature children.
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S2E26 | Exploring NICU Parental Support: Insights from the EXPAND Study with Katie Sabin
In this episode, we speak with Katie Sabin, a dedicated PhD student at King's College London, who leads the 'EXPAND Study'. Her research sheds light on the emotional support needs of NICU parents, addressing important gaps in support.
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S2E24 | Lady Sarra Hoy: My journey through NICU to becoming a Bliss Ambassador
In this episode, Lady Sarra tells us all about her time in NICU, how she coped with her baby being in a hospital far away from home and how all of this has driven her to become a Bliss Ambassador.
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S2E22 | A couple’s experience of NICU and how it made their relationship stronger
In this episode we talk about Danielle and Tyler’s experience of fertility struggles, of having a micropreemie in neonatal care during the pandemic and the impact this experience had on them as a couple adjusting to life as parents.
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S2E21 | Infant Reflux and Tongue Tie: A Conversation with Faye from Rockabye Hub
In this episode, we talk to Faye, a nurse and advanced tongue-tie practitioner who is on a mission to support parents in uncovering the root causes of their babies' reflux. Reflux is a common challenge for parents of premature babies.
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S2E20 | IVF, Baby Loss and Growing Your Family: with Jade @themindsetmumma
In this episode we have a heartfelt conversation with Jade, as she shares her deeply personal journey through parenthood. Our discussion covers essential topics, providing valuable insights into fertility, birth, and baby loss.
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S2E17 | Being a NICU nurse: A Conversation with Beth of Superdinky
Beth talks about her multitude of experiences: from her personal experiences with postnatal depression and complex PTSD following the loss of her son to her role as a neonatal nurse and co-founder of Superdinky.
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S2E16 | Preparing for Neonatal Care: Lizzie's NICU Story
At the time of recording, Lizzie was currently pregnant and knows that she is going to be spending some time in neonatal care with her baby. Lizzie reached out to me and asked if it would be helpful to share her story.
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S2E14 | Navigating the World of Medical Parenthood and Rare Conditions: Insights from Madeline Cheney
In this episode we discuss Madeleine's experience of finding out at 20 weeks that her child would have medically complex needs and would need a neonatal admission when they were born, and the feelings she underwent during this.
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S2E13 | Advocating for Change: Improving NICU Parents' Experience in Maternity Wards
In this episode, we talk about the rollercoaster of emotions that came with giving birth prematurely and underscoring the incredible impact of seemingly small adaptations in maternity wards.
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S2E11 | Navigating Medical Parenthood: Amanda Griffith Atkins on Parenting a Child with a Disability
Amanda will be talking about her personal journey into parenthood and her experience raising her first child with Prader-Willi syndrome. We discuss her time in the NICU and the challenges of raising a child with complex medical needs.
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Beyond the Beads | Kayla & Jess | NICU in the UK & Canada
Kayla and Jess talk to us about how they coped with their long and traumatic hospital stays living in Canada, and how they want to help other mums of sick children to raise awareness and let families know they aren't alone.