Our neonatal family care team provides practical support to you and your family whilst your baby is being cared for on the neonatal unit. Our team is made up of a family care nurse (senior neonatal nurse) and two clinical psychologists. We also have trainee clinical psychologists with us at different times. We work closely with the neonatal team and chaplaincy service.

How we can support you?

There are lots of different ways we can support families on the neonatal unit, including:

Antenatal counselling to families with a high risk pregnancy (for example our family care sister can join you in appointments with the fetal medicine team, or arrange to show you around the neonatal unit before your baby arrives)
Providing practical information and support
Emotional and psychological support
Financial support - there are a number of different local and national charities that may be able to offer some assistance. We can talk with you about the Neonatal Care (leave and pay) Act, 2023. This is a bill that makes provision for families where a baby is receiving neonatal care. Employed parents whose newborn baby is admitted to neonatal care will in the future be able to take up to 12 weeks paid leave in addition their usual entitlement. Some employers have signed up to this and are honouring the Act before this becomes statutory: Employer With Heart - About - The Smallest Things
Peer support (cake breaks and coffee mornings, see below)
Advocacy and follow up support - we can liaise with services in the community who can support you and your family, for example your health visitor, community nursing team, perinatal mental health teams and the maternity psychology service.

Peer support

Cake breaks: We run wellbeing drop in sessions for parents most Friday mornings, in the family lounge on the neonatal unit. These are facilitated by a member of the clinical psychology team, and cake is provided. Please look out for posters on the family lounge door for more information about this.
Neonatal coffee mornings: These run every Wednesday at Ronald McDonald House, from 10am to 12noon. All families with babies currently on the neonatal unit, or those who have been discharged within the past 6 to 12 months, are welcome to attend. These are informal coffee mornings and provide an opportunity for families to meet other neonatal parents, and also access support from members of the neonatal team.
Holding little hands: Holding little hands is a Facebook group for past and present families of babies cared for on the neonatal unit at Princess Anne Hospital. Our team often posts information about upcoming events and resources to this group
Birthing partners drop in: Rainbow Trust facilitate a wellbeing drop in session fortnightly on a Thursday evening 5 to 7pm in the family lounge on the neonatal unit. This is another opportunity for birth partners to meet other parents on the neonatal unit, access peer support and refreshments.

Resources for you and your family

Mental health support

Attachment and bonding on the nenoatal unit

Baby communication and understanding your baby’s behaviour

Getting to know your baby on the neonatal unit is really important. Spending time watching and learning about your baby will help you to know what they are trying to communicate with you, and how you can respond to help meet their needs. The neonatal team is here to help you on your journey. There is lots of helpful information available to support families with this:

Look at me – I’m talking to you | Parent resources | Bliss
Learning What Your Newborn Baby Is Saying – Brazelton Centre UK - this is not written specifically for neonatal families, but lots of the information here is very relevant

Siblings

Families are so important; babies do not arrive into the world alone, they are part of families. On the neonatal unit we are passionate about family integrated care, and consider parents as partners in their baby’s care. Siblings are part of this too. Babies will have heard their big siblings voices chattering outside the womb, and will be soothed by familiar voices on the neonatal unit. We have introduced a sibling heart project here on the neonatal unit to celebrate sibling relationships. Our hope is that all big siblings are offered a crocheted heart and letter, congratulating them on becoming a big sibling. Please speak to a member of the neonatal team if you would like to know more about this, or request one for your family.

There are lots of story books written for families when a baby is admitted to a neonatal unit. We often recommend ‘The Invisible String’ which is a lovely book that talks about how we are all connected to people we love by invisible string, and can help young siblings remember that they are loved, even when their parents are in the hospital with their baby sibling.

Online courses

There are some free online courses to support families whose baby is admitted to a neonatal unit. These courses were created in partnership with a clinical psychologist working into neonatal care. Online Learning (heiapply.com) (https://inourplace.heiapply.com/online-learning/course/98) – this course is for neonatal families whose baby is still in hospital. It covers topics such as understanding your feelings, understanding your baby in hospital and preparing for discharge home.

Get in touch with us

Call us on 07827 271166 or email neonatalfamilycare@uhs.nhs.uk.

We work Monday to Friday and are often on the unit supporting families, so may not always be able to get back to you straight away. Please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Family care service

How we can support you?

Peer support

Resources for you and your family

Get in touch with us