Blog

Breastfeeding Basics in the NICU
Breastfeeding can be challenging under the best of circumstances, but when your baby is in the NICU, a whole new set of challenges presents itself. Every family’s feeding journey looks different. Feeding your baby may not look the way you imagined it, but feeding...
August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month
UPDATED AUGUST 2022 The month of August marks Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a campaign funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which hopes to empower women to commit to breastfeeding. Breast milk is especially important for premature and...
BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month Resources
July is nationally recognized as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (also referred to as BIPOC Mental Health Month) and was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental...
How to Practice Self Care (When You Feel Like You’re Drowning) with KC Davis
The following article was created from our NICU Community Conference session with KC Davis, How to Practice Self Care (when you feel like you’re drowning). Listen to episode 36 of the NICU Now podcast to hear KC’s full session. To learn more about our annual NICU...
Preeclampsia 101
May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month. Preeclampsia can strike any time. Keep yourself and your loved ones aware of these most frequently asked questions about this often life-threatening pregnancy disorder. What is preeclampsia? Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific...
Hand to Hold Expands Virtual Support Groups for NICU Parents
Hand to Hold launches NEW Virtual Support Groups for NICU dads, Spanish-speaking parents, high-risk pregnancy and more! The NICU is hard. We’re here to help. When babies need the specialized attention of a NICU, it can be emotionally traumatic to the parent and...
How to Set Boundaries During & After the NICU
As many states lift COVID precautions in favor of a “new normal,” many folks are left wondering how to navigate the pandemic. “How do I protect myself? How do I protect my family? Is it safe to no longer wear a mask?” On top of the many questions around COVID...
Join Us for #Miles4MentalHealth!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Did you know that 1 in 7 babies will spend time in the NICU? When babies need the specialized medical attention of a NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), it is emotionally traumatic to the parents and disruptive to traditional...
Tummy Time with Your NICU Baby: How to Do It and Why It’s Important
by Eliana Cutler, Hand to Hold’s Occupational Therapy Intern, occupational therapy student and doctoral candidate at Midwestern University’s College of Health Sciences. Tummy time is a great way to interact with your baby while helping them improve strength,...
Occupational Therapy in the NICU and Beyond
by Eliana Cutler, Hand to Hold's Occupational Therapy Intern, occupational therapy student and doctoral candidate at Midwestern University's College of Health Sciences. What is occupational therapy? According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (2021),...
Why You Should Set Intentions Instead of Resolutions
Setting intentions can feel kinder to yourself. It’s 2022. We’ve all entered into a new year on the tails of 2021, an ongoing pandemic, and the expectations of New Year’s resolutions. New year, new me. Most of us are still balancing the idea that we’re actually in...