Blog
Katrina Moline Named Executive Director of Hand to Hold
AUSTIN, TX– Hand to Hold, a national nonprofit that provides early intervention mental health support for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) parents before, during and after the NICU, has named Katrina Moline as executive director. As a NICU parent and key member of...
7 Ways to Thank a NICU Nurse: Gifts for NICU Nurses
Whether you're currently in the NICU, ready to be discharged, or you've been out of the unit for months (or years!), showing appreciation for the NICU nurses who cared for your baby never goes out of style. These gift ideas for NICU nurses can be used year round to...
NICU Nurses: We Save Babies
Neonatal Nurses Day is a celebration of the nurses that care for our babies born premature and babies with complications. The theme for 2017 is special. The theme “We Save Babies” came from the voices of our NICU Nurses at the National Association of Neonatal...
Supporting NICU Families in the Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey
So many families in Southeast Texas have been impacted by the destruction of Hurricane Harvey. Thousands evacuated; thousands still stayed. NPR reports that over 100,000 homes have been affected by the storm and resulting flooding. In the days leading up to the...
Celebrating NICU Heroes
NICU professionals hold the lives of our precious babies in their hands - literally making life and death decisions every day. To NICU parents, they are often seen as everyday heroes for their tireless commitment to a very challenging profession. They are the ones...
Free Resource: NICU Nurturing and Nutrition
This month Hand to Hold is proud to release a comprehensive FREE resource to the NICU community, courtesy of Prolacta Bioscience®. Our latest free resource, NICU Nurturing and Nutrition, was developed for parents currently in the NICU who may have questions about...
Preemies and Eye Health
August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month, which is fitting because this August is the one-year anniversary of my ex-27 week preemie, Theo, getting his glasses. Parents of preemies are all too familiar with eye exams. Babies born under three pounds or before...
NICU Nutrition: Increasing Your Milk Supply
It is not uncommon for moms of preemies and NICU babies to face challenges with milk production while their baby is in the NICU. The overwhelming amount of information give each day, coupled with the pressure to produce milk for baby can be stressful. Kay Needles,...
4 Lessons on Breastfeeding in the NICU
Breastfeeding in the NICU is a daunting task, but it can also be an amazing achievement. When we entered the NICU at 27 weeks and 6 days, I knew there was very little I could do to care for our newborn. Yet, there was one thing I knew could do more than any doctor...
Kindergarten Readiness & Redshirting Your Preemie
One preemie mom shares her thoughts regarding the tough decision of academic redshirting your preemie.
Finding a Professional Counselor: Seeking the Help You & Your Family Deserve
As a parent, the range of emotions you experience are vast. When you become the parent of a medically fragile child, the experience becomes even more complex. While it is normal to have a range of feelings, you might find that these emotions become overwhelming and...