It's National NICU Awareness Month

Supporting NICU Families

September is Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Awareness Month to honor families who have experienced spending time in the NICU and to celebrate the healthcare experts taking care of them.

Babies born early or with health conditions are admitted to the NICU to receive specialized care until they are ready to be discharged. Some babies are only in the NICU for a few hours or days. Some babies are in the NICU for months. There are even babies who sadly never get to go home with their parents.

The NICU journey is stressful and can be devastating. Families need support during and after their NICU experience. Here are some wonderful organizations that provide support to NICU families:

Project Sweet Peas: is a nonprofit organization that is run by volunteers. They have various NICU support gift baskets, memory boxes, bereavement support, food and fuel assistance, a Facebook forum, educational materials, etc.

Hand to Hold: is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides support groups and counseling sessions at no cost to NICU families. They also have a mobile app, a podcast, gifts, etc.

NICU Helping Hands: is an organization that started in Texas but now serves NICU families nationally. Several programs are available to support families during and after their NICU journey.

March of Dimes: for over 80 years, this company has been advocating for healthy mothers and babies through research, education, and support.

Lily’s Hope Foundation: is a volunteer organization that provides "packages of hope" and other packages to support families in the NICU. They have a Facebook Family Support Group.

Happy National NICU Awareness Month! Remember to hug your NICU nurse. They are there for your baby every tiny step of the way.