Being a new parent with a baby in the NICU is probably one of the scariest things you can experience. It can be an extremely stressful time (the NICU= Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Newborns go here when they experience medical emergencies), and can last days, weeks, or even months. I have a family friend who recently had to deal with her new son being in the NICU for a few weeks– and it was rough. You want to do whatever you can to help, but what can you do when all there is is to wait and hope? Well, during times like those, it’s extremely important to have close support network of family and friends. Read this post by Krissy at B-Inspired Mama for some great ideas on how to help out NICU parents and their babies:
-Don’t expect to visit- NICU limits visitation to only 1 or 2 people at a time
-Offer childcare for older children- so parents can focus on their sick one
-Wait on the baby gifts until the baby is home, give gas cards or cash to help out instead.
-Listen, don’t pry. Limit your advice unless you have experienced their EXACT situation
-Support the Children’s Miracle Network- they fund NICU hospitals