Empowered Parenting in the NICU
If you have found me because your baby is currently in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unity), SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) or a LNU (Local Neonatal Unit) or you know that you baby will require this level of care after birth, I am sorry that you are going through such an unexpected and difficult time.
Please know you are not alone. Every family’s NICU/SCBU journey is unique, there is no right way to feel or behave, and every baby follows their own path. You, your baby and your family matter during this difficult time .
Caring for you premature or sick baby in the NICU/SCBU, or planning for your baby’s future care in these settings, is an overwhelming and challenging start to your parenting journey. Feelings of shock, overwhelm, loss of control and grief for your birth and early parenting experience are all very normal. I am here to validate you, to listen to what you need, and to support you. I believe you and your baby are worthy of a positive NICU/SCBU experience, despite the many challenges you may face.
Finding your feet, your voice and building the confidence to care for, and to advocate for your baby in the NICU/SCBU may feel overwhelming, but you have the strength within you. I am here to support you to find your power and confidence as your baby’s parent and nurturer, so you can lay strong and healthy foundations for your baby and your family.
As a NICU doula, there are so many ways in which I can provide you with informational, physical, emotional and advocate support during your time in the NICU/SCBU. Support can be offered in person or virtually.
How I Can Support You
- Recognizing trauma responses and how these may impact your ability to process information, feel safe in the NICU/SCBU environment, and interact with and bond with your baby.
- Strategies to minimize your response to stress, so you can take care of your own health and needs, to be able to care for your baby.
- Slowing things down, listening to what you need and holding space for all of your thoughts, feelings and emotions.
- Incorporating your belief systems about healthcare or any cultural or religious practices into your expectations of care for your baby.
- Ensuring you have the information you need to make informed decisions about your baby’s care.
- Exploring your baby’s care options and supporting your informed decision making in collaboration with your baby’s medical team.
- Advocacy communication support during your baby’s medical rounds or meetings with your baby’s medical team.
- Ensuring you understand your baby’s medical needs, their care plan and the medical language being used by your baby’s medical team.
- Supporting the needs of your partner and other significant people in your life as they navigate their own feelings and experience of your baby being in the NICU/SCBU.
- If a NICU/SCBU stay is predicted for you baby, support to tour these settings, to plan your birth (with in person birth support if desired) and to support you, and your baby’s transition into the NICU/SCBU environment.
- Ensuring your postpartum needs are met.
- Support to familiarise yourself with the NICU/SCBU environment and the medical equipment being used to care for you baby.
- Support to build and establish a daily visiting routine, addressing any barriers or fears that may impact your ability to visit and care for your baby.
- Support to explore your baby’s feeding options and to become confident in feeding your baby in collaboration with your baby’s care team and feeding specialist.
- Support to build your confidence in bonding with your baby using a sensory approach, and to have skin to skin time with your baby.
- Ideas to personalize your baby’s NICU/SCBU environment and to make memories of your baby’s time there.
- Support to build your confidence in carrying out your baby’s “cares” in collaboration with your baby’s care team e.g. changing nappies, bathing routine, changing their clothing or linen in their incubator etc.
- Linking you with resources and services in your community or virtually that you identify you need to meet your emotional and educational needs as you navigate your baby’s NICU/SCBU stay e.g. NICU organizations, peer support, mental health or counselling.
- Support as you prepare for you baby’s transition home in collaboration with your baby’s care team.
- A listening session to enable you to debrief your NICU/SCBU experience without retraumatization.
- The 3 Step REWIND Programme to enable you to process any trauma that may be persisting and impacting your life after your NICU/SCBU experience.
My NICU Doula Fees
My support during your baby’s NICU journey is charged at £75 per hour – return travel costs to/from my home in the Scottish Borders to your baby’s NICU/SCBU is charged at 45p per mile.
Please see “My Doula Fees” for more information. My NICU support can be combined within my birth doula package if required. Please do not hesitate to chat with me about any financial difficulty you may be facing in accessing my NICU companioning support, there is always a way forward!