HDYDI: You (or a friend) is in the NICU. What do you do?
The NICU sucks eggs.
Most of my readers know that we endured a 44-day neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay with our fifth child, Luke. While we were there, so many beautiful people reached out to share their stories, their help and their prayers.
It was the most humbling thing I’ve ever experienced. Hands down.
It also ignited a fire in me to never let another mom I knew to navigate the NICU road alone. Surely God wanted us to use that knowledge to help someone else carry the cross. Because sometimes, it’s mighty heavy.
If you or a friend is in the NICU, here are a few things that I hope help ease the burden.
For the NICU Momma
Top Ten: How to Survive the NICU {things I learned along the way}
Dear NICU Momma {the letter I wish I’d read before our NICU stay}
When Friends and Family Just Don’t Get the NICU {finding community among preemie moms}
A NICU Parent’s Social Media Survival Guide {finding solace through the social}
New to the NICU? 10 Questions to Ask {this list saved me, it really, really did}
For the Friend of a NICU Momma
A NICU Parent Survival Bag
Know Someone in the NICU? 10 Things You Can Do.
God bless you for doing this! You will definitely help at least one mom (or friend of a NICU mom).
These are fantastic resources – thanks for sharing them! I will be sure to tell my NICU families about it for all the great suggestions.
I would love to add that we’ve created a brand new specialty store, EVERYtinyTHING, that is 100% devoted to NICU babies and their families, so we have a great selection of gifts and products that make the NICU just a little better, just a little more hopeful. It’s great for NICU mommas to find goodies for themselves, as well as their friends to find thoughtful and appropriate gifts. Created by a NICU nurse, it’s filled with some one of a kind products, and other time tested and widely loved items.
Thanks again for sharing your wisdom as a NICU mom to help others – it’s wonderful.
[…] Take me with a grain of salt and then read much better tips for NICU stays. First stop should be Kathryn Whitaker’s index and the posts she links to from […]
Thank you for this! I found this post on Pinterest after we’ve already been in the NICU for 78 days but still helpful! God bless you and your family! And that door sure looks familiar! 🙂 We had fun decorating ours.
Oh, I pray your stay is short and your complications few. Bless you and your sweet baby 😉