How to Be a Lifeline for NICU Moms and Dads
Have you ever been moved to tears by a NICU parent’s story, felt compelled by a statistic you saw on social media, or impacted by a family member’s preterm birth, but weren’t sure how to help?
With social media on the rise, there is more awareness than ever about the challenges premature infants and their families face. More and more people are learning about the mental health toll, the high hospital bills, and the physical health complications that come from having a child in the NICU.
Still, many people aren’t sure what to actually do about it.
It can seem like a helpless cause. Surely, we can’t do anything about insurance costs or the complex mental health needs of moms and dads in the NICU. It would be a decades-long battle–-one that very few of us have the time and resources to fight.
Well, I have some good news. Contrary to what we might think, there are a ton of short-term, lower-commitment ways to be a lifeline for NICU parents. Even for those of us who are busy and on a budget.
In fact, one small effort can go a lot farther than you think. That’s why, as a preemie mom myself, I’m going to share four simple ways you can give back and provide support to parents in the NICU.
Create Care Packages for Hospital Staff or NICU Families
Imagine sitting in the hospital for hours on end. Part of the time, you’re holding your baby doing skin-to-skin, and the rest of the time you’re watching the nurses do their rounds, adjusting oxygen levels, monitoring vitals, and checking IV lines.
You sit there, watching your baby’s chest rise and fall with each breath, listening to the rhythmic blip on the monitor. Your stomach rumbles, but you live forty-five minutes away from the hospital and, after looking at the medical bills, feel reluctant to spend more money eating out. You feel like brushing your teeth, but you don’t want to go home and leave your baby. Your eyes strain with exhaustion, but the hospital lights are bright and unrelenting.
What could you use most in that moment? A home-cooked meal? A restaurant gift card? A self-care bundle with a toothbrush, mouthwash, and a soft, silk eye mask?
A simple care package might seem like something trivial, but it means everything to the parents who are sitting in that NICU all day.
You can buy premade packages through organizations like Project Sweet Peas and Today is a Good Day, create your own packages and donate them to your local hospital, or donate money to organizations that send care packages like Project NICU, Hand to Hold, and Miracle Babies.
Additionally, you can create care packages or cook homemade meals for the hardworking doctors and nurses who are working around the clock to ensure preemie babies are getting the best care possible.
Donate or Raise Funds for NICU Equipment
You might be thinking, “Why would a hospital need me to donate equipment, don’t they have enough money as it is?”
Contrary to popular belief, there are all kinds of barriers hospitals run into when trying to get the best equipment for their NICU. Budget constraints, specialized needs, and an inability to keep up with the rapid advances in technology, to name a few. Hospital resources also vary from zip code to zip code.
Donating equipment allows hospitals to support new research efforts, expand their services, and ensure quality care for all of their patients. Naturally, the better the tools, the better off families–preterm or not–will be.
Many hospitals have wishlists with specific NICU equipment you can purchase for them, or you can set up a fundraising page to dedicate to a facility of your choosing. Either way, your support can make a substantial difference in the well-being of preemie babies and families everywhere.
Volunteer Your Time to Help Support NICU Parents
Of course, if you’re looking for non-monetary ways to help NICU parents in your community, there is always the option to volunteer your time.
I recommend contacting a local NICU in your area and asking them about any volunteer opportunities, but here are a few other ways you can get started:
Become a hospital volunteer
Volunteer at a local preemie or NICU support group in your area
Donate blood
Cook meals for NICU families
Knit hats for babies in the NICU
The nice thing about volunteering is that it can be a one-time thing or a lifetime collaboration, it all depends on how much you want to be involved. You may be in a season of life where you can dedicate a lot of your time toward helping NICU moms and dads, or you might only have time to provide one homemade meal a month.
Whatever it is you can do is more than enough.
Help Spread the Word
Perhaps the simplest way to help support NICU parents is by spreading the word on social media.
You’d be surprised by just how many people don’t know the statistics around preterm birth and how it’s affecting families everywhere. Something as simple as sharing a NICU fact or video can inform someone and create a butterfly effect of change. The more people are educated, the less stigma there will be around preterm birth, and the more people can become advocates for NICU families everywhere.
You can also spread the word by supporting NICU pages like my own on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Tiktok. Your engagement supports our platforms and pushes our content out to more people!
For more information about how to get involved, you can go to my website or reach out to me personally. And if you’re a preemie parent looking for their own lifeline, check out my Services. Page for resources and support. We offer one-on-one coaching, audio courses to help guide you through the NICU and beyond, state-by-state therapist lists, and more.
Click here to book a free 15-minute consultation call to get started. Based on your needs, I’ll connect you to the services that are the best fit for you and your family.