As Parents & Carers, you are the most important people in your baby’s life and you
know your baby best. But being on a neonatal unit can be a very worrying and
overwhelming experience. The neonatal team will help you to develop the confidence,
knowledge and skills to be involved in your baby’s care, looking after your baby day-today
on the neonatal unit as well as being involved in all of the decisions about your
baby’s care. This active involvement in your baby’s care, known as Family Integrated
Care or Family Centred Care, has been shown to lead to better outcomes for both the
baby and the family as it:
– Reduces parental/carer stress
– Reduces stress in your baby
– Enables more successful breastfeeding
– Helps you recognise your baby’s cues
– Results in fewer infections
– Improves baby’s growth & development
– Leads to earlier discharge
– Helps you bond with your baby

The Parent Advisory Group members care about families going through neonatal
journeys because we’ve experienced first-hand what a difficult environment it is and
recognise those things that can really support families during this time. We are
passionate about Family Integrated Care (FIC) because of its power to improve not only
the neonatal experience but also the lifelong benefits it brings for the babies and their
families.

Here are our top tips for families with a baby or babies on a neonatal unit:

1. Get involved in your baby’s care; this will help you bond with your baby and
   start to understand your baby’s cues
2. Talk to your baby as much as you can; your baby will be soothed and
   comforted by your voice. You could sing, read stories or even bring recordings of
   other family members such as siblings who may be unable to visit.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about your baby; it is your baby and you
   need to understand and be involved in their care
4. Trust your parental instincts; you are the experts of your baby and if you are
   worried about your baby, let the nurse or consultant know your concerns
5. Be kind & gentle to yourselves: it can be hard on a neonatal unit to think about
   yourself! But it is important to make sure that your needs are met too. Different
   families need different things to support themselves during a neonatal stay – do
   what feels right for you. But some things families find helpful are having snacks
   on hand, drinking plenty of water, taking some time away from the unit, getting
   some fresh air, talking to friends or family & talking to other families on the
   neonatal unit
6. Accept help from friends and family; this could be them offering to cook some
   meals, clean your house, prepare snack parcels, look after older siblings or give
   you lifts to the hospital
7. Mark your baby’s milestones; it is important to celebrate these moments such
   as baby’s first bath, baby’s due date or the day baby breathes on their own. Many
   families like to use milestone cards which units can provide – or you can get
   some free from Bliss.
8. Ask for support with your mental health; having a baby on a neonatal unit can
   be an incredibly difficult and worrying time for families. It is not unusual to be
   feeling scared, anxious, overwhelmed or depressed. Please know that you are not
   alone in feeling this way. If you are struggling with any of these feelings, it is
   important that you speak to someone. Some units have peer support groups and
   you might find speaking to someone with a similar experience who understands
   what you are going through helpful. Some units have dedicated counsellors and
   some have chaplaincy teams. Speak to a member of the neonatal team to ask
   what support is available on your unit. If you need urgent help with your mental
   health call your emergency GP service, go to A&E or call The Samaritans on 116
   123