Resources
Let's Take The Journey Together.
Starting this journey can be a little scary and intimidating at first; but we have included some helpful resources to guide you along your way. Use the resources you have in your family, church family, friends, and NICU staff. Your village is a lot larger than you think. There are parents out there going through just what you are going through and they understand your fears. Connect with them and share your feelings and your story. Grow, learn, and pray together. The support you need is all around you. Our prayer is that you find everything you need to make this journey a little easier and the road a little less bumpy.
Resources:
- March of Dimes is a phenomenal resource for new parents of premature babies. They are leading the fight for the health of moms and babies and have been for over 80 years. Here you will find a wealth of information on pregnancy health and nutrition, infant care, NICU family support and much more.
Find NICU support groups and organizations that can provide educational resources for your journey:
- NICU Helping Hands is a non-profit organization based in Fort Worth, Texas, that develops hospital and community-based projects to provide education and support for families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), during their transition from hospital to home and in the event of an infant loss.
https://www.nicuhelpinghands.org/
- Hand to Hold provides virtual support groups for NICU parents at any stage in their journey.
- Graham's Foundation is a wonderful non-profit organization dedicated to helping NICU parents on their journey by providing care packages, help with financial aid and educational resources during the NICU stay as well as after you go home.
https://grahamsfoundation.org/
- What To Expect is a wonderful guide to help you through every aspect of your journey. Join them and learn something new about the process and all the things that come along with navigating your way through that first year and beyond.
- Mary Washington Hospital provides the highest level of neonatal care in the Fredericksburg region as it is the only hospital in the region with a level III NICU. Their amazing NICU team is capable of treating the smallest most fragile infants with expert and loving care. The hospital also houses an amazing lactation department to support your breastfeeding goals as well as moms and babies support groups. There you will find a variety of expert help, support and care.
https://www.marywashingtonhealthcare.com/
- Le Leche League International is a organization that provides support and educational information on breastfeeding. Get support, find resources, get involved or read stories of other mothers and their breastfeeding journey.
Find out how you can get a free breast pump through your insurance:
https://www.edgeparkbreastpumps.com/
https://aeroflowbreastpumps.com/
https://moms.abreastpumpandmore.com/
- Ronald McDonald House Charities provides support and resources to help keep families of sick children together and near the care and resources that they need.