September is NICU Awareness Month, a time to recognize the unique challenges faced by families with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The NICU quickly became our second home in early 2018 when Sam was born at 25 weeks. For five months, our family lived through this experience with our son Sam. Those months were some of the most difficult, emotional, and stressful times in our lives. The journey was not only hard on us as parents but also incredibly challenging for our young children who were at home.Whether a baby is born prematurely, like Sam, or with a medical condition, or after a high-risk pregnancy, the NICU experience can be extremely overwhelming and emotionally draining for both parents and loved ones.
While every family’s journey in the NICU is different, there are a few common threads: uncertainty, fear, hope, and resilience. For those outside the NICU bubble, it’s important to understand how you can extend your support to these families when they need it most. Small acts of kindness can make a world of difference during this difficult time. I am often asked what helped us the most during his 5 month stay and here are a few meaningful ways to help a family who has a child in the NICU:
1. Provide Meals or Snacks
During Sam’s NICU stay, we often found ourselves skipping meals or grabbing unhealthy snacks because we were so focused on him. Offering a meal train for the family members at home as well as gift cards for meals to be delivered to the hospital or eaten on the go is so helpful. Homemade meals packaged for easy re-heating or grab-and-go snacks are especially helpful. If you’re not sure what they like, ask for preferences or dietary restrictions.
2. Offer Emotional Support
Sometimes, the best way to help is by simply being there. Reach out to listen and offer words of encouragement. NICU parents can feel isolated, and knowing that friends and family are available for emotional support can provide comfort. Sending a thoughtful card, text, or small care package can also be a great way to show that you care without overwhelming them. Sometimes, it’s not about having the right words, but about showing you’re there and thinking of them. If you don’t know what to do, just listen.
3. Help with Daily Tasks
Families with babies in the NICU often spend long hours at the hospital, making it hard to keep up with day-to-day responsibilities. This is especially true if they have older siblings at home. Offering to help with chores such as grocery shopping, yard work, laundry, or walking the family dog can take a huge load-off their minds. You can also offer rides to and from the hospital, especially for families who rely on public transportation or have other children at home. If you are a close friend, chances are you already know the areas you can help out in- so instead of asking, just say “I am going to the store to get you ____, is there anything else I can grab for you?" We don’t want to burden anyone and they probably won’t ask for that help, so in my experience it is best to just do it. The last thing I wanted was to make another decision- I just didn’t have the mental capacity at the time.
4. Support Siblings
Our other children struggled with the separation while we spent so much time at the hospital with Sam. Maddie and Noah received a lot of care packages while Sam was in the NICU and that was so very thoughtful. NICU parents may feel torn between caring for their hospitalized baby and their other kids. Leaving Maddie and Noah at home those days were some of the hardest days of my life. I can still hear their cries for me to stay. The parents are going to feel torn between the two places so offering babysitting, organizing playdates, or even taking siblings to school or extracurricular activities can give parents peace of mind, knowing their other children are well cared for.
5. Contribute to a NICU Care Package
Creating or donating to NICU care packages can offer much-needed comfort to families. These packages can include things like cozy blankets, water bottles, journals, and toiletries—items that are useful during long hospital stays. Many organizations provide NICU care packages, so you could also donate to a charity that provides this service if you’re unable to assemble one yourself. My favorite organization to donate to is Preemie Parents Co
NICU Awareness Month is a time to honor the strength of babies like Sam and the families who stand by their side. While the NICU journey is a challenging one, acts of kindness and support from friends and loved ones can lighten the load. Whether it’s through providing meals, offering emotional support, or helping with everyday tasks, your thoughtfulness can make an enormous difference in the lives of families facing the NICU journey.
If you have a child in the NICU right now- just know I am rooting for you. I know it feels impossible, and that’s because it is. But you are doing the best you can in an unimaginable situation.
Did you have a NICU stay with your little one? What was the most helpful for you during this time? I would love for you to share below. Rooting for you,
~ Sara
NICU awareness, NICU support, premature birth, NICU families, NICU challenges, neonatal care, NICU experience, NICU journey, NICU emotional support, preemie parents
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