Author Archives: Rachel Hardwick
Today is #InternationalDayOfCharity but every day we are blown away by the dedication of individuals and organisations in the North East who lend their time and expertise to raise money to support the work we do here at Tiny Lives. From plant sales to Tough Mudder challenges and FUNdraising weeks, the creativity of our supporters never ceases to amaze us.
Rachel Hardwick, Fundraising and Engagement Manager at Tiny Lives said, “Every penny that our amazing fundraisers donate goes towards supporting premature and poorly babies and their families from the moment they are admitted to the ward all the way through to post-discharge support. We’re always blown away by the creativity and time that our supporters put into their fundraising activities and love seeing pics of everyone’s achievements.”
Here are just some of the amazing people who have been fundraising recently…
Winn Group – Tough Mudder 2024
13 members of the Winn Group team took on Tough Mudder this summer in aid of Tiny Lives. Winn Group has chosen Tiny Lives as its charity of the year, and as part of that, they took on the notoriously difficult Yorkshire course together, raising an amazing £3094 for neonatal families here in the region. Ross Jackson, Winn Group CSR Team Member said, “It’s great to announce our chosen charity for the current financial year. Tiny Lives does incredible work in the toughest times for families dealing with a difficult start to life for a little one. “We’re kicking off our fundraising for the cause by taking on the entertainment sponsorship for their charity ball later in the year, as well as entering a team in the Tough Mudder event this summer. Credit to our colleagues who took part. I certainly wouldn’t fancy some of those obstacles, but never mind the 10-mile run-in-between! “This is the first of several events across the year that we will deliver to our staff as they fundraise for this worthy cause.”
Jackie Pucci and Hylton Castle Working Men’s Club
Jackie and everyone at Hylton Castle Working Men’s Club raised an incredible £12,837 for Tiny Lives through their fundraising efforts. Jackie’s granddaughter, Mia, spent time on the unit when she was born, and we were thrilled to receive the cheque from Mia and her younger brother Theo. Their dedication and commitment has made a big difference to babies and families spending time on Ward 35.
Tom, Grace, and the Gosforth Allotment Crew
Tom, Grace, and the Gosforth Allotment Crew raised over £1000 to support premature and sick babies and their families by kindly growing and selling delicious veg on the allotment. The group has supported Tiny Lives for over five years now and we also want to say thank you to Plants Plus who donated a range of plants to sell on the stand too!
Richard Coats Primary School
Richard Coats Primary School chose Tiny Lives as their charity of the week and the whole school got involved with activities throughout the week to raise funds to support our work! Our Louise went to speak at the school assembly at the start of the week to share more information about everything we do to support babies and parents spending time on the neonatal unit. They raised an amazing £727 for Tiny Lives and we couldn’t be more grateful.
If you have a fundraising idea for Tiny Lives we would love to hear from you! Contact louise@tinylives.org.uk or call 0191 230 2112.
A Tiny Lives-funded project focused on ‘Lactation after Loss’ has been launched for NHS staff.
Recently we funded ‘Lactation after Loss’, a free online eLearning course designed to support RVI staff to better support bereaved parents following baby loss, specifically the management of lactation and we are over the moon that this project is now live and available for medical professionals to use.
‘Lactation After Loss: Choices for Bereaved Parents’ is a free, high-quality, endorsed e-learning for NHS staff to explore critical concepts surrounding lactation following baby loss, from the physiological processes to the practical options available for families. It is here to:
Support mothers in the face of loss with actionable lactation guidance
Understand the impact of baby loss, from lactation physiology to breast milk donation options
Guide mothers with compassion through sensitive discussions to find supportive lactation solutions
As a charity, we are committed to funding research to further support better health outcomes for premature and poorly babies and their families in the North East and North Cumbria. This is just part of our extended service to allow us to support more families as they navigate their unique version of the neonatal journey.
The project was led by, Nicholas Embleton Professor of Neonatal Medicine with over 25 year’s experience in a large NICU, including research programmes in neonatal nutrition & work with parents
In a video speaking about the project, Prof. Nicholas Embleton said, “I only found out about the idea of lactation after baby loss only around two or three years ago and when I first heard about it I was a bit surprised or confused, I had never really thought about it if I am honest. Over my career, I must have sadly looked after hundreds of families who had babies who died and I hadn’t stopped to think about the choices that women have to make when their baby died. Even though I don’t look after women who have had a stillbirth, as I’m a neonatologist, not an obstetrician, I hadn’t stopped to think about how women might want to make choices that are different from the standard offer of just taking drugs to suppress lactation.
You can watch Prof. Nicholas Embleton discuss the project in more detail here.
If you would like to find out more about the kinds of projects we fund and how you can support our work please email info@tinylives.org.uk or call 0191 230 2112.
When you arrive on the ward with your baby it can feel overwhelming to suddenly hear lots of new words and phrases that you have never come across before.
Remember that no question is a silly question and it is absolutely ok to ask staff on the unit to clarify what certain terminology means so you can feel as empowered as possible in the care of your new arrival, everyone is there to support you caring for your baby. The Tiny Lives team is with you every step of your journey we may not know all the answers, but we can help you find out. As part of that support, every mam and dad that arrives on the unit receives a parent pack which is full of useful bits and pieces to help make the initial transition to the Neonatal Unit a little easier, including a notebook and pen so you can jot down any questions you might have or make a note of specialist words or medical terms relating to your specific situation. Some of the words may sound scary when you first hear them, but to ease some of the anxiety that parents may be feeling, we wanted to put together a handy guide of just some of the things that you might hear when you are spending time on the neonatal unit.
Apnoea
An apnoea is a pause in breathing. This is common in preterm babies as they have to learn to control their breathing but can happen in term babies too if they are unwell.
Anaemia
A low number of red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body.
Blood gas
This is a type of blood test taken by a heel prick or special catheter already in the baby which tells the medical team how well the lungs are working. It can help doctors and nurses know whether to offer or adjust breathing support.
Bradycardia or ‘brady’
This is a different way of talking about a slow heart rate.
Breathing tube or Endotracheal Tube / ET Tube
This is a soft plastic tube that goes in the windpipe (also referred to as ‘trachea’) to connect the baby to the ventilator. It usually goes through the mouth but you might see it through the nose sometimes. When this breathing tube is put in it is called ‘intubation’ and ‘extubation’ is the process of taking the tube out if they are ready to come off the ventilator.
Central Line / Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) line
This is a thin tube (sometimes called a catheter) that is placed into a vein to help with feeding, and giving fluids or medicine to your baby.
CT scan
A special type of X-ray that uses a computer to take pictures of different parts of the body. CT scans can be used to get a detailed image of your baby’s brain so doctors can understand how they are developing.
Congenital
This means something that your baby has been born with or is present at birth, for example, ‘congenital heart disease’.
Culture
A sample of blood, urine, or other bodily fluid that is collected to be tested in the lab. This helps the medical team decide on the best medicine or support for your baby.
Desat
This is when the baby’s oxygen drops lower than the medical team would like.
High-frequency oscillating ventilators
You might also hear these called oscillators or HFOVs. This type of ventilator blows small amounts of air into a baby’s lungs very quickly so they are gently ‘wobbling’. When you first see this it can look a little odd so ask the nurses if you have any questions. With this type of ventilator, your baby can still take normal breaths if they wish.
Kangaroo Care
We love Kangaroo Care at Tiny Lives! It refers to skin-to-skin contact which is a great way to promote bonding with your new addition, helps soothe baby, helps stabilise the baby’s oxygen levels, mams and dads are encouraged to do Kanagaroo Care but for mams it also can encourage breast milk production, it is a very important part of the Neonatal experience.
Low flow
Low flow provides a small amount of oxygen directly to your baby through small prongs in their nose with no machine to help the ‘work’ or breathing. Some babies, especially pre-term babies, may go home with low-flow oxygen. Other babies may need a sort of machine to help – these are called CPAP and High Flow. A CPAP machine helps keep baby’s lungs inflated and makes breathing easier as they take all their own breaths while a High Flow machine provides warm, moist air to baby through soft prongs in their nose, giving a small amount of pressure to make breathing easier.
Meconium
A medical term for the first poo that a baby does! Meconium is thick, sticky, and dark green to black in colour, this is nothing to worry about.
Nitric oxide
This is added to the ventilator to help babies who need a lot of oxygen. It helps to relax the blood vessels in the lungs to help blood flow into the lungs and pick up oxygen.
Oxygen
Some babies can do all of the ‘work’ of breathing but need extra oxygen added to the air they breathe.
Saturations or Sats
This tells the medical team how much oxygen is in a baby’s blood. You’ll see it being measured by a special probe in the hand or foot. Monitoring this helps the team understand how much oxygen to give. You might hear beeping from this machine – this can happen if your little one is moving around, even when oxygen is at the correct level.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound is used to take pictures of organs like the brain, kidney, and heart. It isn’t painful and uses very fast sound waves to get the image of the area that doctors need to see.
Ventilators
This machine gently blows air into your baby’s lungs through a tube in their nose or mouth, inflating their lungs to make breathing easier. This can be adjusted so your baby is getting exactly what they need.
If there are any words and phrases that you would have found helpful to know before you spent time on the neonatal unit please do let us know either via direct message on social media or by email at info@tinylives.org.uk
World Prematurity Day is taking place on November 17th, 2024 and this year we are inviting schools, clubs, and community groups to participate in a special challenge…
World Prematurity Day brings global attention to the significant impact of premature birth, which affects 1 in 10 babies worldwide. In celebration and support of those born prematurely and their families, Tiny Lives is launching an exciting new initiative – ‘Take on 10 for Prem!’
‘Take on 10 for Prem’ is an easy, ten-minute online workout designed to get children and their friends active while raising awareness and educating young minds on the challenges and stories of premature birth while raising vital funds for Tiny Lives.
As well as being loads of fun, ‘Take on 10 for Prem’ is also an important way to teach children about important health issues while encouraging physical activity and team work – all key parts of children’s learning and development. Registration now is open for schools and groups here and we’ve even created a downloadable toolkit so you can spread the word to family and friends about why you’re taking part in the challenge.
Rachel Hardwick, Fundraising and Engagement Manager said, “Here at Tiny Lives we want all premature and sick newborn babies and their families living in the North East & North Cumbria to have the best possible chance to thrive, and if your school or group ‘Take on 10 for Prem’ you can help us do this. We would be thrilled to have you and your friends and family on board, making a difference and celebrating the strength and resilience of those born prematurely. As well as raising vital funds for the neonatal community from the North East and North Cumbria.
“Individuals and groups are invited to join in the online workout at a time that suits them in the lead up to World Prematurity Day and every group that takes part will receive a certificate to celebrate their achievement, and every individual will get a sticker to take home to show they took part in the event.
We would be thrilled to have you on board, making a difference and celebrating the strength and resilience of those born prematurely. As well as raising vital funds for the neonatal community from the North East and North Cumbria.”
To find out more about ‘Take on 10 for Prem’ and receive your downloadable fundraising tool kit please get in touch with Louise at louise@tinylives.org.uk or call 0191 230 2112. Or you can sign up here
Arriving on Ward 35 is a daunting and often a completely new experience and it can be difficult to take everything in and know the right questions to ask. Lots of parents enter the unit in the middle of the night which can be disorientating and we know it can also be a difficult time for family and friends who would like to visit new parents and babies on the ward. Visitors often don’t want to add to an already stressful experience by asking logistical questions about where to go and what to do when they arrive, so we’re here to help.
We’re here to make everyone’s experience on the neonatal unit as simple as it can be, so parents, family, and friends can concentrate on being there for their new arrival. With that in mind, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions. If there is anything that you would have found helpful that you think others might find handy we would love to hear your thoughts too!
How do I get into the unit?
All visitors are asked to check it at the maternity reception and the team there can direct you to the ward. The unit operates a secure entry system, family and friends will need to buzz to gain entry but once on the unit parents can sign up for fingerprint entry to come and go as they please.
What members of the Tiny Lives team might I meet?
Members of the Tiny Lives team are a regular sight on the unit (just look out for our branded t-shirts and hoodies) and we are here for you to ask any questions about how Tiny Lives can support you. We also visit for our popular coffee and cake every Wednesday, in the Ward 35 Family Room and on Transitional Care. It’s an informal chance to meet the Tiny Lives team for a chat, cuppa, and slice of something delicious. We also contribute funding to various posts, including members of the physiotherapy team, the family social care team, and the psychology team who are all here to support you and your family.
What happens when I am first admitted?
When you first arrive on the unit you will be given a parent pack which includes lots of things that may come in handy while you are here, including reusable cups and a memory book. We know that there is a lot of new information to absorb and that you will have lots of questions so your pack also includes a notebook and pen so you can keep track of what you are being told.
What if I have older children too?
Older brothers and sisters can find Ward 35 confusing, so we have our sibling packs on hand to help them make sense of everything going on around them and keep boredom at bay while mam and dad are speaking to medical staff or taking care of the new arrival. If you need one you will receive a sibling pack when you first arrive at the unit and inside you’ll find a reading book, a colouring book, and some activities which will help you explain what is happening to their new brother and sister. You’ll also find a TV, toys, and books in the family room that siblings are welcome to use and DVDs are also available to borrow to keep brothers and sisters occupied.
Siblings are allowed in the bays and family room, but we are asked that they are always supervised by an adult, which may mean parents want to consider bringing someone with them while they are speaking to doctors or taking care of your newest arrival.
Is there support with parking?
Yes! We want to take away as much of the mental load as possible, so when you are admitted to the unit you will be given a parking pass for the duration of your time here. Don’t worry if you don’t drive – you can nominate a designated driver, like a grandparent, for the pass. If you don’t drive a car, don’t worry, just let us know and we can support you with bus or train tickets.
You can find more information about how to travel to the unit here
Is there somewhere for me to get some food and a drink?
Our family room is there for you to sit and have something to eat or drink with siblings or extended family and friends. Our refreshments room is designed for parents only. In here you can help yourself to hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, biscuits and cereal. If you’ve brought food from home that you would like to heat up, this is where you will find a microwave too. Tiny Lives are on every Wednesday with coffee and cake and we welcome everyone to come along. Our peer supporters come onto the unit at various times during the week, they have been sat exactly where you are and are happy to be there to answer any questions that you might have. There is a timetable on the notice board in the family room with the times they are coming.
You can find out more details about the unit, including what facilities are available, visiting hours for extended family members, and how to gain access to the ward by visiting:
https://www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/hospitals/royal-victoria-infirmary/wards/ward-35-neonatal-intensive-care-unit/
You can watch a video tour of the unit with matron Angela Warne here which will give you a good idea of things you will find on Ward 35.
While it is a moment that parents look forward to, being discharged from the unit can come with a lot of anxiety and uncertainty for neonatal families.
Since 2022 we’ve been working with parents, clinicians, and AHPs on Ward 35 to understand and develop a series of initiatives that will make the discharge process a positive one, empower parents to use their voice and thrive while spending time on the unit while having more agency in their babies care. Claire Marcroft, clinical academic neonatal physiotherapist at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Trust kickstarted the project to improve support for parents as they got ready to leave the unit, and in 2023 Tiny Lives commissioned Matthew Lievesley from Northumbria University School of Design to lead the research and design of tools that put the voices and experience of families at the heart of the discharge experience.
After extensive research, including staff workshops, desk research, and parent interviews, a set of helpful tools was created to promote the importance of family, ‘nudge’ staff to consider the parent’s place in the discharge journey, and share handy resources and advice that parents could access on the ward and at home. These included:
• Posters – eight different colourful posters are now displayed on the walls at the entrance and around the neonatal unit. The posters share empowering phrases that promote the importance of parental involvement and family to counteract what can be a disempowering environment; setting the tone that their babies belong to them and boosting confidence in their roles as partners in their babies’ care.
• Communication Cards – laminated cards were created for families to use on the ward or at home, outlining what their daily priorities were (for example giving a bath, do skin to skin care, communicating what is important to them) and reinforcing that parents are an important part of the picture too. The cards are given to families when they arrive on the ward and have space for parents to plan out questions for medical teams or write down thoughts and feelings. This gives very tangible ‘permission’ for parents to interact with medical staff and ask questions, raises confidence to approach staff with thoughts, and encourages the development of shared-care tasks and skills. A QR code on each card links back to the Tiny Lives website so parents can see and understand the support that we offer here.
• Going Home Tips Pocket Book – This is a simple concertina-style information booklet that is given out at discharge, covering key themes that parents shared with us that they would find helpful to take home, including tips and resources to help with sleep, feeding, development, and parent self-care. Alongside the printed cards, a downloadable version of the booklet is also available to make it even easier for parents to access the information that they need. If you would like to download the information for yourself, you can access it here.
All of the resources were intentionally designed to follow a common look and feel that parents and staff could associate with a positive discharge process and that stood out on the busy walls of the ward. Each line illustration draws on themes of comfort, closeness, and contact between parent and baby at the heart and the style of drawing leaves ethnicity, gender, and family structures ambiguous so everyone knows that they are welcomed and their voices are important.
Speaking about the impact project Claire Marcroft said. “Everything was designed to help parents to be partners in the care of their babies, improve support for parents on their transition to home, and help embed a culture change in the environment on the neonatal unit in keeping with core FiCare principles. Since launching the initiative, there has been a much more collaborative and respectful approach, with all staff seeming more open and willing to participate in discussions and critical reflection of their own, and collaborative, practice to improve care. In addition, there are clear signs of culture change, with staff working in partnership with families and being open to supporting individual family’s needs and well-being.
“All resources are now available for families and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and it is clear that the tools are making a real difference to parents.
“The posters, especially, set a tone of empowerment and belonging for families, and several parents felt an emotional response to them and felt they were an important part of their NICU memories. The communication cards provided a ‘license’ and a reminder for families to open conversations and ask questions that they might not have otherwise considered. The Going Home Tips booklet was viewed as a helpful ‘one-stop’ resource that parents felt provided reassurance and a safety net once they’d left the unit.
“Perhaps most importantly, all of the resources gave the parents a message that they were being listened to and signposted them to broader concepts of FiCare that they might not otherwise have been aware of.”
These thoughtful initiatives and tools have now been positively adopted throughout the ward and there is a growing sense of ownership in the staff team led by Dr Jenna Gillone, Claire Marcroft, Clare Maclennan, and the Newcastle Neonatal Service FiCare Group. The project has been so positively received that Jacqui from Tiny Lives along with Matthew Lievesley (Healthcare Designer at Northumbria University), Claire Marcroft (Clinical Specialist Neonatal Physiotherapist), and Rachel Collum (parent representative) were invited to attend the Design for Health Conference 2024 in Sheffield.
This is a fantastic achievement for the team and we want to say a huge thank you to every supporter of Tiny Lives, without you projects like this simply wouldn’t be possible.
To Newcastle – and beyond!
After the success of our event in 2023, the amazing team at NE1 has agreed to once again support us with a Tiny Lives Take Over of Screen on the Green at 10am on Friday 26 July. All Tiny Lives supporters (and their toys!) are invited to pack some tasty snacks, pull up a deck chair and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere alongside some lovely company.
Alongside our screening of Toy Story, the NE1 team will be showing two to three films a day from late July through to early September and it is the perfect summer activity to enjoy with the whole family. They will be showing a mix of over 80 movies, from big blockbusters to family friendly classics like Toy Story, alongside cult favourites and rom-coms so there really is something to fit every one’s tastes. This year the team at NE1 has also added Toddler Takeover to the programme, a brand-new edition of screenings perfect for families with younger children who might have more trouble sitting still.
Our Tiny Lives team will be there on the day to say hello, and we’ll have plenty of things to get involved with too, including a tombola with some fun prizes to be won!
DATE: Friday 26th July
TIME: 10am
No booking is required for the Tiny Lives showing of Toy Story or any of the other Screen on the Green movies and the showing is free for well-behaved toys, children and grown-ups.
Find out more about the Screen on the Green and stay up to date on what films will be showing over the summer at https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/ne1-events/screen-on-the-green
MTrec Recruitment, the market-leading, Newcastle-based recruitment company is sponsoring the Tiny Lives Great North Run running vests for the 11th year in a row, with the company now supporting our work for over 20 years.
MTrec has supported a diverse range of charities throughout the region since the business was formed in 2006. The generous sponsorship means that everyone who signs up to run for Tiny Lives this September will get a high-quality running shirt as part of their sign-up..
Louise Carroll, Community and Events Fundraiser, here at Tiny Lives, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the team at MTrec for the fantastic support they have given us for over two decades. For 11 years MTrec has provided Tiny Lives with a variety of running vests and t-shirts for our many fundraising events, including the Great North Run, which will take place on Sunday 8 September 2024.
“Every year we support over 750 babies and their families and the commitment of North East businesses like MTrec allows us to dedicate even more resources towards supporting the best possible outcomes for everyone spending time on the neonatal unit, as well as giving our volunteers taking part in our fundraising events the best support we can.”
James Doyle from MTrec said “MTrec Recruitment has proudly supported Tiny Lives Charity over many years, with its incredible fundraising events including the Great North Run. The charity provides an amazing support service to so many families, and their most precious of gifts to the world. Our main contact with the charity is Louise Carroll, who is an absolute pleasure to work with due to the impressive levels of dedication and commitment she provides to the Charity. We wish everyone connected to Tiny Lives the very best of luck for 2024”.
If you are interested in supporting us by running the Great North Run 2025 we would love to hear from you! For information contact Louise on 0191 230 2112 louise@tinylives.org.uk
Becoming a dad is filled with happiness, but spending time on the unit can also be a daunting time and with all the feelings that come up around Father’s Day it can feel incredibly isolating.
Every dad has a different experience when baby is spending time on the neonatal unit, particularly if mam is being looked after in the hospital too. It is normal for dads to feel a mixture of emotions from fear and confusion about what is going to happen to anger at the situation and being overwhelmed by life still continuing as normal outside of the ward. At Tiny Lives we are here to support the whole family in whatever way we can.
Dads Team
Everyone’s experience is unique and it’s important to talk about what you are going through and how it makes you feel. Our Tiny Lives Dad’s Team is here to bring together men who have experienced what it is like on the unit, and anyone is welcome to join. The group is there to chat and offer support to dads who are currently in the Neonatal Unit with their children and those who are now home. Our Dad’s Team is made up of other Dads and father figures who have all had their own neonatal experience on Ward 35, and who volunteer their time to support other men who are currently on their own journey. Our dads peer support volunteers go onto the unit each week and are there to offer a listening ear. We also have a quarterly Dads Get Together, held in town not far from the RVI for dads on the unit and post discharge. It’s a friendly, relaxed group, where you can have a game of pool and a bite to eat if you want. Its open to any dad whose had a baby on the neonatal unit and new members are always made to feel welcome.
Our Dads Team has a ‘Dad’s Chat Whatsapp Group’ that you can join too so you can chat with other dads who have had similar experiences and ask questions even if it’s just about where to get a bacon roll when your baby is in hospital! Funded counselling and clinical psychologist sessions are also available so you don’t have to feel like you are going through this experience on your own.
Parent Packs
When you are on the ward there can be a lot of information for new dads to take in about baby’s health, but also about any care mam might need. Our parent packs are given out to all new parents and include two reusable cups, a notebook and pen so they can take notes during ward rounds or jot down questions that they would like to ask. We find that a lot of dads find this useful as it is something practical to do and gives valuable input to the neonatal experience.
Kangaroo Care
Kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin, is a great way for dads to bond with their baby while on the unit and the staff team on the unit are on hand to offer advice and support for any new parents who might feel nervous or would like some top tips. Not only is skin-to-skin great for babies, but it can also reduce stress levels in parents and create a real connection.
Spending time on Ward 35 is a stressful and overwhelming experience and it can be difficult for dads to establish their identity as a father and learn what being a dad to a new baby on the unit means. It can be difficult to know what to say, but if you know a dad who is currently on the unit, or has spent time there in the past, there are lots of ways that you can offer support.
Be there to listen – being a dad is tough at the best of times, but spending time in the neonatal unit comes with its own raft of worries and anxieties. Be there to listen without judgment if they would like to talk, or offer to chat about something completely different to take their mind off things.
Offer practical help – life in the outside world doesn’t stop when families are admitted to Ward 35 and there are often lots of admin things to juggle. Dad will maybe still be at work if he is saving paternity leave for when the baby is discharged, and there are often still other children, parents, and homes to be taken care of. Ask what could help, offer to help with life admin or logistics where you can, your thoughtfulness will make a big difference.
Celebrate milestones – milestones may be slightly different in the neonatal unit but they are exciting moments for neonatal parents. Ask Dad questions about babies progress and celebrate each step of the journey.
Our online shop is stocked with Father’s Day cards and gifts and all purchases go towards supporting babies and parents navigating life on the unit.
Spending time on the unit as a new Dad is a daunting time, especially with all the feelings that come up around Father’s Day it can feel isolating and it is a good idea to reach out to others who have experienced a similar situation. Our Dad’s Team is here to bring together men who have experienced what it is like on the unit, and anyone is welcome to join. The group is there to chat and offer support to dads who are currently in the Neonatal Unit with their children.
We love celebrating and supporting Dads every day of the year, but Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to tell them how great they are, and say thank you for everything that they do for their families. In our new Father’s Day gift bundles, you can choose from a heartfelt card, a Tiny Lives pin, and a branded hoodie – the perfect way to show off that they are a proud neonatal Dad. Father’s Day 2024 is coming up on Sunday 16 June and our gifts are the perfect way to say ‘you’re the best’ to the dads and father figures in your life.
The Birth Trauma Association has compiled and shared helpful information to support Dads who have been affected after watching their partner give birth. According to their literature, there are two key ways that fathers can be affected:
• If a wife or partner has developed PTSD as a result of a traumatic birth, dads can find it difficult to know how to give support. PTSD is a debilitating condition and people who have it may be constantly on edge, anxious, tired, and irritable.
• Dads or male partners may develop PTSD, or other psychological symptoms as the result of having watched the traumatic or early birth of their child. This can lead to flashbacks and heightened anxiety.
If you, or a dad you know, is experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms or would benefit from mental health support, you are not alone.
Our Dad’s Team is made up of other Dads and father figures who have all had their own neonatal experience on Ward 35, and who volunteer their time to support other men who are currently on their own journey. It’s really friendly, relaxed group and new members are always made to feel welcome. Our Dads Team even has a ‘Dad’s Chat Whatsapp Group’ that you can join too so you can chat with other dads who have had similar experiences and ask questions. Funded counselling and clinical psychologist sessions are also available so you don’t have to feel like you are going through this experience on your own.
Additional support is also available from:
Birth Trauma Association Peer Group
support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
0203 621 6338
https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org
Samaritans
116 123
jo@samaritans.org
https://www.samaritans.org
SANDS (specialist support for parents who have experienced baby loss)
0808 164 3332
https://www.sands.org.uk
