Blog
Celebrating your NICU Dad on Father’s Day + Free Printable for Dad
On a Saturday we sat in the NICU conference room listening to a doctor tell us our son would likely never walk, talk, or cognitively develop past the age of a five or six year old. The next day was Father’s Day. I did nothing to celebrate my husband. I was embarrassed...
Everything is Together, Why Am I Falling Apart?
Cake – check. Party napkins, plates, cups – check. Cute invitations – check. Everything is together, so why am I falling apart? The first birthday of any child is reason for celebration, but when a baby is born preterm or with a special health care need, the first...
Is This Normal? How the NICU Impacts Your Emotional Health
Having a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit is a traumatic experience. No one is ever really prepared. You have probably felt emotions during your baby’s NICU stay that you never imagined feeling. You have celebrated things you never knew you would and seen...
A 3-Step Guide to Recruiting a Primary NICU Nurse
Essential Baby Gear for Preemies
Planning and preparing for the arrival of a new baby is an exciting time. Many expectant parents spend a great deal of time and money stocking their homes with the latest and greatest gadgets to make caring for a little one easier. But when the birth of a baby...
Answering Your Children’s Questions About a Baby in the NICU
Having a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit is a difficult time in any parent’s life. Trying to balance your need to be with your baby in the NICU with responsibilities at home and work is challenging under the best circumstances. But when you have other...
Hand to Hold Named 2019 Groundfloor Fellow
Everyone needs to get in on the ground floor, right? Hand to Hold is thrilled to announce that we have been accepted as a 2019 fellow into the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas's GroundFloor program. GroundFloor is a mentor-driven social innovation fund and impact...
Occupational Therapy, Art & Drumming
I have the benefit of looking back over a decade to see what part of occupational therapy (OT) made a strong impact. At first, it was confusing. I did not understand why it was called “occupational,” as if it has to do with one’s job. Much of what we do with fine...
Kangaroo Care: Give a Helping Hug
We all remember the first time we held our baby. For some it was with in the first few moments after birth and for others it might not have been for a few days to weeks. For me it was three days - the longest three days ever. It was on that third day that one nurse...
5 Reasons to do Kangaroo Care with Your Baby
If you're in the NICU, chances are your medical team will encourage you to participate in skin-to-skin care with your baby, also known as kangaroo care. Kangaroo care has many positive benefits for both parents and babies, could result in a shorter NICU stay, and...
Dark Days of Depression After the NICU
I first read Dr. Seuss's My Many Colored Days last year when my then 4-year-old son brought it home from preschool and requested I read it to him. My Many Colored Days is children's book to help children understand the wide range of emotions all of us experience....