Hand to Hold's official blog
When we first learned we were headed to the NICU, I was sitting in the perinatologist’s office for a standard 20-week “advanced maternal age” ultrasound. At that point, the doctor didn’t think I’d make it to 24 weeks. Our son was diagnosed with IUGR, or restricted growth, and was showing multiple soft markers for a [...]
Lisa Davenport, RN shares how parents can make the most of the nurse-patient relationship during a NICU stay. She brings her invaluable perspective as a NICU nurse, a NICU mom and as an instructor/retention counselor for an Austin nursing program. [Read more]
As we prepare to kick off the third annual Preemie Power Photo and Essay Contest, it is the perfect time to reflect upon the super heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes in NICUtropolis to ensure babies born too soon, too small or too sick have the extra help they need to take on the world! Saturday, September 15 is NICU Nurse Appreciation Day. While no card or gift could ever adequately express our gratitude, we at Hand to Hold want to say thank you to these amazing men and women who have dedicated their lives to ensuring our babies soar. [Read more]
Happy (soon-to-be) National Neonatal Nurse’s Day! Have I told you all lately how proud I am to be part of such an amazing group of talented people? Too often, my recent e-mails have been “please do this,” “please don’t forget that” and not filled with enough: thank you for choosing this amazing profession, for doing [...]
Roxy was in the NICU and Level II nurseries for 67 days. We saw several nurses during those 67 days. There were some that we loved and others that automatically made my eyes roll. Some in between were just there. There was the nurse that refused to let me hold Roxy. The other that [...]
So I’m driving along and from my backseat hear, “You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy. When skies are grey….” sung by the sweet little voice of my daughter Kate, born at 2 lbs., 1 oz. and 25 weeks, 6 days gestation in 2007. I am instantly taken back to the [...]
My daughter was born in 2006 with MANY medical issues, including no gag, suck or swallow. Not being able to use her mouth to eat, she had a gtube placed shortly after she was born. Although I was never able to breast feed in the traditional sense, I knew how beneficial breast milk can be [...]
Hand to Hold is a nonprofit 501(c)3 parent support organization and information and resources provided here do not intend to take the place of the relationship between a patient and personal physician.