Hand To Hold

Should you have another child after a #NICU stay? While it’s a common question, there is no easy answer. Special needs mom Stephanie Goley shares how her family weighed the decision of adding to their family, how they focused on joy instead of fear and how to be at peace with the decision. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the conversation on YouTube. → https://lnkd.in/gEnhWsQ5

The holidays can be especially challenging for #NICU parents. While many gather in celebration, families with babies in the NICU often face long days filled with uncertainty, exhaustion, and the unique demands of pumping breast milk for their fragile newborns. This season, we’re proud to partner with Milk Stork, to share their innovative product, the Milk Cubby, a high performing breast milk cooler powerful enough to refrigerate up to 24 ounces of freshly pumped breast milk on the go. ?? Through December 24, 10% from each Milk Cubby sale will go directly to Hand to Hold. ?? Find yours at https://lnkd.in/gR39ehKC. MilkStork is dedicated to making breastfeeding an easier choice for parents. Each purchase of a Milk Cubby not only provides practical support for individual NICU parents but also contributes directly to an organization offering vital resources, guidance, and encouragement to NICU families across the country. #NICUmom #Breastfeeding

In the latest episode of the NICU Heroes podcast, we're chatting with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Bohl of Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates about spinal deformities in children. In this episode we'll cover: ?? What’s the difference between what a spine surgeon treats and what a neurosurgeon treats, and how does a patient know which specialist to see for their child’s spine condition? ?? The difference between scoliosis and spinal deformity ?? New advances are being made that may improve patients’ standard of living and more. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the conversation on YouTube. → https://lnkd.in/gJ28Bg44

?? Hand to Hold provides NICU & bereaved parents with early-intervention mental health support through counseling, support groups led by certified peer mental health specialists, educational resources, and community. When parents are given the hand of a fellow NICU parent to hold, NICU staff are able to dedicate more time and attention to the babies in their care. This partnership ultimately enhances the NICU experience, fostering better outcomes for both families and babies. As we approach a new year, we’re more dedicated than ever to providing families with the compassionate support and resources they need. With your help, we can connect even more families to essential resources that strengthen the parent-baby bond and provide critical tools for caring for their medically fragile babies after discharge. Please consider making a donation today to help us reach our goal of 100,000 sessions of support in 2024. Donate at handtohold.org/give. #NICU #NICUnurse #NICUsupport #Nonprofit

?? Join Us on World Prematurity Day ?? Today, we stand with families facing the challenges of premature birth. ?? Each year, millions of babies are born too soon, and your support can make a world of difference. ?? Donate today to help provide vital NICU resources for families in need. ??? Share this post to raise awareness and spread hope. Together, we can help give every preemie a chance to thrive. ?? handtohold.org/give

?? New Position Paper: Continuous Family Presence in NICUs NICU Parent Network and partners have released a Position Paper advocating for Continuous and Uninterrupted Family Presence in the #NICU. This document outlines why #parents should be considered primary caregivers, integrated as essential members of the care team for optimal health outcomes. Download a copy of the paper at https://lnkd.in/giJmYzMr Help us spread this important message by sharing with your network! #NicuFamilyPresence #FamilyCenteredCare

Twenty-four years ago, Kelli Kelley unexpectedly gave birth to her son, Jackson, at just 24 weeks. Weighing only 1 pound, 8 ounces, Jackson spent months in the NICU. Kelli felt isolated, despite the support of family and friends. Her need for connection led to the creation of Hand to Hold, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring no NICU parent feels alone. Each year, thousands of parents face the emotional and physical trauma of having a baby in the NICU. The experience is filled with fear, isolation, and exhaustion, as parents watch their newborn fight for survival while coping with overwhelming stress and uncertainty. Since 2009, Hand to Hold has been providing personalized support to NICU families before, during, and after their NICU stay. Our goal is simple: to ensure every NICU parent has the emotional support and resources they need to thrive. Your end-of-year gift helps us reach more families, provide more peer support, and ensure that no NICU parent faces their journey alone. Give today at handtohold.org/give. ??

A huge THANK YOU to all of our attendees, speakers, and sponsors for the 2024 #NICU #MentalHealth Conference. Nearly 600 NICU professionals and #parents joined us this year representing 152 hospitals, 42 states and 5 countries - that's pretty amazing! Your participation showcased a true passion for learning and connecting with others. We appreciate the time our speakers and attendees dedicated to advance and elevate the conversation around mental health support for NICU parents and professionals to ensure better outcomes for babies and their families. We can't wait to see you next year!

During a #NICU stay, there’s often a population that gets overlooked: the siblings. #Parenting expert and child development specialist Dr. Siggie Cohen, known as the "Child Whisperer," helps #parents get to the heart of conflict, develop positive sibling relationships and find confidence when you’re surrounded by chaos. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the conversation on YouTube! https://lnkd.in/gBd5EPUR

We are proud to announce the Hand to Hold NICU Hero Award Team winner for 2024, presented by AngelEye Health: The team at El Camino Health in Mountain View, CA! The Hand to Hold NICU Hero award recognizes #NICU Professionals and NICU Units that deliver outstanding Family Centered Care. Under the leadership and guidance of Malathi Balasundaram, MD, attending neonatologist, Family-Centered Care Committee Chair at El Camino Health NICU, and Founder and Co-Chair of the Family-Centered Care Taskforce, El Camino Health has built and sustained a successful and highly impactful Family-Centered Care program leading to better outcomes for babies and families. In 2017, El Camino Health recognized the need for better family engagement and integration in the care of their babies. the team brainstormed and identified the stakeholders to support the formation of the Family-Centered Care Program. Initial brainstorming sessions with veteran NICU parents focused on identifying the specific needs of parents in the NICU, an enlightening experience for the healthcare professionals, as it allowed them to hear firsthand the expectations of the families and past shortcomings in meeting their needs during their NICU stay. Because the El Camino Health NICU embodies the core concepts of Family Centered Care by listening to and honoring family perspectives, knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds in the planning and delivery of care we honor them today with the Hand to Hold NICU Hero Unit Award! In addition to a beautiful plaque they can display in their NICU, El Camino Health also received a $1000 gift card they can use in the Hand to Hold online store where they can purchase educational resources for their unit.