SUPPORTING MAMS ON THE NEONATAL UNIT THIS MOTHERS DAY 

Mother’s Day can look very different for families on a neonatal ward. While many are planning breakfasts in bed and handmade cards, some mams in the North East and Cumbria are listening to monitors beep softly, holding hands through portholes, and learning new medical language they never expected to know.

For many mams, this isn’t the Mother’s Day they imagined and they may still be recovering themselves, travelling back and forth from home, looking after older siblings and navigating a journey which can feel daunting. That’s why this Mother’s Day, we want to make sure they feel seen and celebrated, whatever their current circumstance. 

For us, every day is Mother’s Day and you can support our work by donating to Tiny Lives so we can support mams spending time on the unit, today and every day. A small gesture can mean so much, it is a reminder that someone, somewhere, is thinking of them and tells our mams on the ward that while this early version of motherhood may not be what was expected, it is worth celebrating. 

1 in 7 babies will need Neonatal Care every year, so it’s likely that you will know someone who has been in this tough situation. Alongside creating little moments of kindness for mams on the ward, your generosity will also fund: 

• The vCreate video messaging service, which connects parents and babies who can’t be together, reducing separation anxiety. The baby’s nurse films and sends videos to the family through this secure service, documenting little moments that are so precious to Mams and Dads.

• Miniboo Bonding Aids, which allow mother and baby to bond even when they may not be able to touch (some babies who are born very prematurely cannot be handled or cuddled for some time after birth, so Miniboos offer a vital connection between parents and babies). The baby has one in the incubator, Mam keeps one down her top and they swap them at each visit so that they can be comforted by each others’ scent. Miniboos also aid with breast milk production too, as Mam can better visualise their baby when expressing.

• Mental health support for families, including funding a Clinical Psychologist on Ward 35. Having a baby born early or sick can be one of the most distressing experiences a parent can face, so this mental health support is essential to their wellbeing.

• Parking Permits for each family, meaning that no parent has to suffer financially because their baby needs to spend time on the Neonatal Unit. Tiny Lives funds a parking pass or public transport pass for every family on Ward 35, ensuring they can visit their baby without incurring these costs. Babies can spend months on a Neonatal Unit, and these costs really can stack up. By covering this, we hope to ease some of the stress faced by these new parents.

Support Tiny Lives this Mother’s Day 

Let’s work together to make this Mother’s Day extra special for those who need it most, donate here. 

Because every mam deserves to feel cared for, especially those spending Mother’s Day on the neonatal unit.