Helpful Articles

Miles, Photo Courtesy Beverly Demafiles Photography Our online repository of articles is designed to support you no matter what stage of the journey you are on with your child now. Whether you’ve been placed on bedrest, have a child currently in the NICU, have a child who has graduated from the NICU years ago or are grieving a loss, we hope this information, organized by topic, will provide timely information and perspective to help you move forward in the care of yourself, family and your precious child. You may also be interested in interviews with health care providers. If you would like to contribute an article or suggest a topic, please contact us.

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EXPLORE OUR LIBRARY OF ARTICLES:

High-Risk Pregnancy and Bed Rest

Caring for Your Mental Health During Your High-Risk Pregnancy While on Bed Rest by Dawn K. Gibson, LCSW
Questions Every Pregnant Mother Should Ask About Preterm Birth by Darline Turner-Lee
Words of Wisdom from Mamas on Bed Rest by Darline Turner-Lee
Pregnancy After Preterm Birth or Loss by Dr. Felicia Nash

While You’re in the NICU

How to Communicate with Your Baby’s Care Team: 10 Tips to Help You Get What You Need by Deborah Dinsmoor, RN, BSN (NEW)
What is NICU Family-Centered Care by Dr. Patrick Hodges, MD (NEW)
New to the NICU? 10 Questions to Ask! by Kathryn Whitaker
Bonding with Your Medically Fragile Baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by Dawn K. Gibson, LCSW
How to Survive the NICU: Top 10 Tips for NICU Mom’s Health by Kathryn Whitaker
Balancing Work and a NICU Stay by Samantha Pridgen
Finding a Balance Between NICU and Home (PDF) by Erika Goyer
The Day I Became a NICU Dad by Joel Brens
Answering Your Children’s Questions about a Baby in the NICU by Laura Romero (NEW)
Don’t Forget the Siblings: Ways to Support the Entire Family During a Hospital Stay by Khris Ford
Grandparent Perspectives on Life in the NICU by Kelli Kelley
Nana in the NICU by Mary Dudley
The Night I Met My Son by Mike Kelley
How to Pay for Your NICU Stay (Texas Edition) by Erika Goyer
How to Pay for Your NICU Stay (National Edition) by Erika Goyer (en Español) PRINT
Navigating Claims, Explanation of Benefits and Insurance Companies by Kathryn Whitaker

Coming Home

Coming Home from the NICU: 10 Things to Tell Your Friends and Family
A Letter for Family and Friends – We’re Coming Home from the NICU: 10 Things We Want You to Know PRINT
When Your Friend Has a Preemie by Afton Mower
Balancing Work and a NICU Stay by Samantha Pridgen
Keeping My Respiratory-Comprised Child Healthy During RSV Season – One Mom’s Story by Shelley Colquitt (NEW)
NICU to Home: A Perspective on Feeding Difficulties by Anne Boon
RSV 101: What Every NICU Parent Needs to Know (Includes Video) by Kelli Kelly and Amy Carr
Tips to Stay Well During RSV Season by Dr. Sel Unite
Tips to Creating a Safe Sleep Environment by Erika Goyer & Amy Carr
Advocating for Your Kids: How to Win Friends and Influence Providers by Erika Goyer
What Does a Pediatric Home Health Provider Do? – Skilled Nursing Care at Home
A Parent’s Guide to Home Health Services by Marty Barnes

Emotional Support

VIDEO Parents Share the Power of Peer Connections Hand to Hold shares testimonials from several mothers of preemies who share their experiences having a child born early in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the benefits of connecting with a peer who has shared similar experiences.
More Children After Prematurity? by Samantha Pridgen
Coping with Developmental Assessments by Katrina Moline
Answering Your Children’s Questions about a Baby in the NICU by Laura Romero (NEW)
For the Love of Cameron – Siblings and Their Needs by Laura Romero
Redefining a Special Needs Child by Bea Smith
Change of Plans by Melissa Haber
The Day I Became a NICU Dad by Joel Brens
Balancing Work and a NICU Stay by Samantha Pridgen
How to Survive the NICU: Top 10 Tips for NICU Mom’s Health by Kathryn Whitaker
Breathing In Well-Being and Renewal by Rhonda McMahon
Everything is Together, Why am I Falling Apart: Jackson’s First Birthday by Kelli Kelley
The Agony of a Deep Freeze Thaw by Carol Ramsey
The Edge of September by Kasey Mathews
The Four Areas of Self-Care by Rhonda McMahon
The Night I Met My Son by Mike Kelley
What About Healthy Siblings? by Neven Simpson

Support for the Siblings of a NICU Baby

Answering Your Children’s Questions about a Baby in the NICU by Laura Romero
What Causes Children Stress: Understanding Children’s Developmental Stages and Common Stressors by Laura Romero
Growing Together: Ways to Involve Siblings in a NICU Experience and After by Laura Romero
We’re a Family Now: Setting Sibling Expectations by Laura Romero
For the Love of Cameron – Siblings and Their Needs by Laura Romero
Don’t Forget the Siblings: Ways to Support the Entire Family During a Hospital Stay by Khris Ford
I’m Special Too: Ways to Help Siblings Feel Important by Laura Romero
BONUS: Download a list of books we recommend for children. PRINT

Caring for Your Mental Health

Knowing the Signs of Postpartum Depression by Dr. Felicia Nash (NEW)
Understanding PTSD: When the Stress of the NICU Persists by Dr. Blaine Carr (en Español)
VIDEO Understanding PTSD after a NICU Stay Hand to Hold’s Kelli Kelley shares information about post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after the hospitalization of a child born early. Learn about the symptoms of the PTSD. Also interviewed are therapist Paula Griggs, Dr. Michael Hynan, and preemie parent Katrina Moline.
Caring for Your Mental Health During Your High-Risk Pregnancy While on Bed Rest by Dawn K. Gibson, LCSW
Finding a Professional Counselor by Erika Goyer
Re-Entry by Kasey Mathews

Feeding & Nutrition

A G-Tube is Not a White Flag by Michelle Hensel
Human Milk Saves Babies, Reduces Complications by Neven Simpson
The Gift of Human Milk by Kelli Kelley
NICU to Home: A Perspective on Feeding Difficulties by Anne Boon
Nourishing Your Premature Baby in the NICU by Amy Gates, RD, CSP, LD
What Does a Dietitian Do?
Let Them Eat Cake: Working with Food Allergies by Bea Smith
VIDEO Preemie Nutrition: Nutritional Needs & Fortification is an educational video for parents of preemies, low birth weight newborns, and fragile infants that describes the unique nutritional requirements of small babies and how fortification may be required to help them with catch-up growth. Pediatric Dietitian Leslie Ivey, LD, RD, with Austin’s First Steps High-Risk Follow-Up Clinic is interviewed.
Picking the Formula that is Right for Your Child’s Unique Nutritional Needs – Formula Comparisons and Details – by Leslie Ivey PRINT
What Does a Lactation Consultant Do?
VIDEO Preemie Nutrition: Increasing Your Milk Supply is an educational video for parents of low birth weight, premature, or fragile babies that describes the benefits of breastfeeding and gives tips about increasing mom’s milk supply. Kay Needles, an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant and NICU Nurse at St. David’s Medical Center is interviewed.
Tips for Increasing Your Milk Supply and Improving Your Pumping Success – by Kay Needles Gregorio PRINT

Your Child’s Health

Keeping My Respiratory-Comprised Child Healthy During RSV Season – One Mom’s Story by Shelley Colquitt (NEW)
Now I Know – An RSV Story by Kasey Mathews
RSV 101: What Every NICU Parent Needs to Know by Kelli Kelly and Amy Carr
VIDEO Protect Your Preemie from RSV Kelli Kelley from Hand to Hold shares information about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the leading cause of rehospitalization for children less than 12 months old. Preterm babies and children with specific medical diagnoses, such as heart or lung disease, are at highest risk of complications from this virus. Dr. Sarmistha Hauger, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Dell Children’s Medical Center, explains how to prevent exposure to RSV, who is at highest risk and treatments which are available, such as a protective injection (Synagis) that is available. Kasey Mathews, whose daughter was born at 25 weeks and was re-hospitalized at age 2 with RSV shares her story. This video was graciously underwritten by St. David’s Foundation and MedImmune.
Tips to Stay Well During RSV Season by Dr. Sel Unite
Safe Sleep and Your Baby by SafeKids Austin and the Travis County Medical Examiner
Plagiocephaly: The 411 by Kathryn Whitaker
Summer Health & Safety: Baby! It’s Hot Outside by Priya Shankar and Veena Krishnan
Tips to Creating a Safe Sleep Environment by Erika Goyer & Amy Carr
What Does a Pediatric Home Health Provider Do? – Skilled Nursing Care at Home
A Parent’s Guide to Home Health Services by Marty Barnes
Have Preemie, Will Travel (Eventually) by Melissa Haber