Tommy's and Bliss premature baby charities can offer great support to new parents
Having a premature baby can be a very stressful time. This can be heightened by the hormones flying around post-birth, and the desire to bond with your baby. The doctors and nurses on your NICU will help in every possible way, but sometimes you might feel like you need an ‘outsiders’ advice and support. There are a few premature baby charities that can support you and offer help to you and your family.
Bliss
Bliss was founded in 1979 by a group of concerned parents who discovered that no hospital had all the equipment nor the trained staff it needed to safely care for premature and sick babies.
Almost 40 years later, they have grown into the leading charity for premature babies in the UK. A lot of units have Bliss champions – who tend to be parents that have experience of the NICU and of premature babies. You can access online support from Bliss here: https://www.bliss.org.uk/parents/support/helpline-and-email-support
Tommy's
Tommy’s Baby Charity fund research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and provide pregnancy health information to parents. Tommy’s exist to save babies lives. The clever folk at Tommy’s have developed an app to help support the parents of premature babies – it’s the first of its kind in the UK, you can find it here: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/premature-birth/free-app-parents-premature-babies
Other charities offering premature baby advice
You can also find advice and social network support from Facebook groups, apps like Peanut and Mush Mums and forums on websites such as Mumsnet and Baby Centre. The Lullaby Trust (www.lullabytrust.org.uk) has loads of information and safe sleep advice for you once your premature baby is ready for home, and La Leche (www.laleche.org.uk) has advice and can offer support surrounding breastfeeding.