This page gives more information about how you and your family can be supported in your first few days on the neonatal unit.
Having a baby born premature or sick in neonatal care can cause many different feelings. There is no right or wrong way to feel.
You may also have practical things which are made harder by your baby being in hospital, for example, family finances, travelling to and from hospital, or looking after your other children.
You are not alone. There is support for you and your family.
Sometimes, it might feel that there is a lot of focus on supporting the parent who has given birth, so they can do things like breastfeed or express milk. We often hear that partners can often feel helpless, and unsure what they can do.
Family-centred care and family-integrated care helps to involve the whole family in the care of the baby.
Both parents are important to the care of their baby. This can include skin-to-skin contact, comfort holding, washing, changing and feeding. These can help you bond with your baby and be more involved in their care.
Naturally, my wife was the main parental focus for much of the time, but to have a moment to acknowledge the joy of being able to be Daddy to these two miracles meant so so much that day.
Your other children, your baby’s grandparents and other family members and friends can also help to care for your baby. Every unit has different policies about visitors. Talk to a nurse about how your unit involves other members of your family.
Bliss research has shown that during the time they are on the unit, parents with a baby in neonatal care can spend a lot of money on extra things which they did not plan for.
This can be things like travelling to a unit far from home, paying for childcare for other children, or paying for parking or food for the time you are in the hospital with your baby.
If you are worried about money, you can talk to your care team about what support might be available for you. Many units have options available for parents, for example, free parking or food vouchers.
You can find details of other organisations which might be able to support you, including by providing advice about money, on our page here - Other helpful organisations.
It can feel very isolating when your baby is on the neonatal unit. But you are not alone.
If you think that talking to someone about how you are feeling would help you, you might like to try:
We often hear that parents can find it hard not knowing why their baby was born early or why they have a particular medical condition. It can also be hard when you do not know what the future might bring.
We often hear that parents can find it hard not knowing why their baby was born early or why they have a particular medical condition. It can also be hard when you do not know what the future might bring.
You are not alone. You can read other parents’ stories on our website..
You can also listen to a growing number of parent stories on Spotify.
The information in this section is due for review November 2025
