Blog
Hand to Hold Launches Season 6 of the NICU Babies, Parent Support Podcast
Season 6 of the NICU Babies, Parent Support podcast is here! This exciting new season will focus on life after a NICU admission, with honest and informative discussions about postpartum depression and anxiety, advocating for parental leave in your workplace,...
NICU Milestones: The First Bottle in the NICU
Milestones look very different for NICU babies and their families than they do for typical families who do not endure a NICU stay. For a NICU parent who isn't caring for their baby full time at home, feeding their baby that first bottle in the NICU is one of the...
NICU Milestones: The First Diaper Change was the Hug I’d Been Waiting For
In the NICU, I was told it was important to bond with my baby. But I did not know how to bond with a child I couldn’t feed, hold or bathe. One that weighed a little more than a pound and was clinging to life on a respirator. I was so scared to touch him because I...
The Importance of Prenatal Breastfeeding Support for Black Moms
in partnership with Mama Sana Vibrant Woman An important key to breastfeeding success for Black women is education and support, particularly in the prenatal period. Waiting until a problem or challenge arises to figure out what to do only increases a mom's chance...
The Breastfeeding Support Black Moms Need
in partnership with Black Mamas ATX. Black Breastfeeding Week is August 25 - 31. When we talk about disparities in breastfeeding rates between Black moms and white moms, we also learn about the challenges that befall many Black women when it comes to breastfeeding:...
The Roller Coaster of Breastfeeding in the NICU
Photo by: Jessie Threlkeld When my daughter was born eight weeks early, it was such a shock and surprise for my husband and me. I had always envisioned having a calm, peaceful birth and directly being able to breastfeed our daughter. That wasn’t our story. Bree was...
Breastfeeding, Donor Milk & COVID-19
How does COVID-19 affect breastfeeding mothers, those who want to donate milk, or those who need donor milk for their baby? When it comes to having a baby during the COVID-19 pandemic, many questions have arisen about breastfeeding. Is it safe to breastfeed if I...
{Professional Insight} The Benefits of Infant Massage
Infant massage cam help parents bond with baby in and out of the NICU. NICU Occupational Therapist Tracey Kondrasuk-Brander gives her tips for successful infant massage.
Prematurity, a Pandemic and a Second Pregnancy
When you’re planning out your life, you never think that having a premature baby could shake your confidence on all future choices, but it does. I knew that when I started my family I would want two kids, so they could grow up together and be best friends...
How NICUs Have Adapted During COVID-19
Having a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is difficult and stressful at any time. Having a baby in the NICU during COVID-19 only amplifies those feelings of fear and uncertainty as parents worry about what will happen if they get sick, or if they or...
Diaper Dermatitis in Preemies
One of the most common skin disorders for infants is diaper dermatitis, normally referred to as diaper rash. NICU babies are even more at risk for this condition since their skin is often not fully developed at the time of birth. It's a condition to take seriously...