Neonatal units work with families to provide Family Integrated Care (FICare) for each baby. FICare is a model of neonatal care which promotes a culture of partnership between families and staff.
We often hear that it can be difficult to feel like a parent when your baby is in neonatal care. Neonatal units work with families to provide Family Integrated Care (FICare) for each baby. FICare is a model of neonatal care which promotes a culture of partnership between families and staff.
The aim of FICare is to empower parents and carers to feel confident to be their baby's primary carers while they stay on the unit. FICare provides the best care for your baby. It encourages healthcare professionals to work in partnership with parents and carers in all aspects of their baby’s care.
You are an essential part of the care team looking after your baby.
In this clip, Kok Chian explains what Family Integrated Care is and why it’s important.
The healthcare team is responsible for managing your baby’s medical care. But you also have a vital role as your baby’s parent or carer working in partnership with the staff.
What FICare involves
FICare looks different for everyone because it’s designed to meet each baby and family’s individual needs. Staff on the neonatal unit will get to know you to find out how they can best support you with FICare.
One of the key parts of FICare is spending time with your baby and getting to know them. This can involve hands-on care, such as:
feeding your baby
changing their nappy
holding and comforting your baby
In this clip, Chelsi talks about her experience of providing hands-on care for her baby.
FICare can also involve being part of making decisions about your baby’s care by using your experience and knowledge of them. Such as taking part in:
conversations about your baby’s care with healthcare professionals, for example being present at ward rounds
In this clip, Jamie talks about how FICare allowed him to focus on being a dad.
You can get involved with your baby’s care at your own pace. The neonatal unit staff are there to support you when you are ready. You might want to just spend time watching your baby. When you are ready, you can also:
talk to your baby
sing to your baby
read stories to your baby
help choose what they wear
you can also tell the staff if you want to be more involved with your baby’s care.
You can still be a family and be in hospital at the same time.
Many neonatal units also run sessions for parents and carers on topics such as:
learning about your baby’s cues
bathing your baby
preparing to go home
looking after yourself on the neonatal unit
How FICare can help your baby
Research shows that FICare can help your baby:
learn to feed
grow and gain weight
avoid and recover from infections
recover from illness and have a shorter neonatal stay
feel more relaxed as your voice and presence can comfort them
How FICare can help you
Research also shows that FICare can help parents to:
feel more involved with their baby’s care
bond with their baby
feel less stressed
feel more confident about taking their baby home
It can also help mothers and birth parents to recover more quickly from giving birth.
We spoke to neonatal parents about the importance of FICare – you can see what they said in the video below.
What does Family Integrated Care mean to you now?
In this clip Beth and Haseeb highlight your importance as a parent in Family Integrated Care.
We understand how challenging it can be to have a baby on the neonatal unit. For some families, neonatal care begins suddenly. You may be in shock, grieving the pregnancy or birth you expected, and trying to process difficult or frightening days leading up to your baby’s admission. These feelings are common, and there is no right way to cope. The neonatal team is there to care for your baby and to support you too. We have more information on getting support for your mental health.
How to talk to healthcare professionals about being involved in your baby’s care
You can tell them you have read about FICare and understand the benefits for your family and for your baby. Tell them you’d like to be involved and discuss what that might look like for your baby.
In this clip, Dawn talks about FICare the importance talking to the healthcare team about your family's needs.
Tips for speaking with healthcare professionals
It can be daunting talking to healthcare professionals. You may feel that information is difficult to understand. You can ask for information that is accessible to you. For example, you can ask for:
written information
visual information like diagrams or pictures
an interpreter who speaks your language
a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter
If you do not understand any information, you can ask the healthcare professionals to:
repeat it
explain it in a different or simpler way
You can also ask the same questions to differentmembers of the neonatal team. They will have different ways of explaining things.
In this clip, Dawn talks about being a partner in her baby’s care with the healthcare professionals.
If you have questions about the equipment around your baby, you can ask staff to explain what the different tubes, wires and monitors do. You can ask them what the different alarms mean.
Some people want lots of information straight away. Other people might want or need to have it repeated several times. There’s no right or wrong way.
You can ask for a family member or friend to be with you for important conversations with healthcare professionals.
It can be helpful to write down questions in advance, so you do not forget what you want to ask. You can also take notes during the conversation or ask someone else to take notes for you.
Ask the neonatal unit staff if they have any written information about FICare on the unit.
In this clip, Shan talks about how support from Healthcare Professionals helped her and Carla feel more confident.
If you cannot spend time on the neonatal unit
There are many reasons why you might not be able to spend time on the neonatal unit. For example, if you:
have to go to work
look after other children
live far away from the unit
are unwell
But you can still be involved in your baby’s care, for example you can:
ask the staff to send you pictures and videos of your baby so you can keep up with how they are
call the unit and talk to the neonatal team about your baby’s care
ask the staff to write down key things that happen in a baby diary for you to keep
leave your baby a small piece of fabric that smells of you – your baby will recognise your smell and find it comforting (check with the staff first if it is appropriate before you bring any objects onto the unit)
express breastmilk for your baby if you are breast milk feeding
Individualised care for you, your family and your baby
However much time you can spend on the unit, the staff should get to know you and your family and work with you in the best way for you.
There isn’t one way to do FICare. The unit staff should take time to get to know you and what works best for you, including:
who is part of your family
your practical and financial needs for things like transport and accommodation
your access needs
your communication preferences
your culture and religion
In this clip, Beth states the importance of parents and carers in Family Integrated Care.
Your family
Every family is different. The neonatal staff will help all parents and carers feel included. This includes:
mothers and birth parents
fathers and non-birth parents
FICare is for all babies and families. Other people who are important to you can get involved in your baby’s care too. For example:
your baby’s siblings
your baby’s grandparents
your baby’s aunts and uncles
your close friends
your baby's wider family
Let the unit staff know who is important to you and who you would like to be involved in your baby’s care. Ask the unit staff what the rules are for having visitors on the unit.
As parents and carers you are partners in your baby’s care and are not considered visitors to the unit.
Practical and financial support
Having a baby on the neonatal unit can put a strain on other parts of your life such as work and caring for other children. Ask the staff what support is available on your unit. Some units offer practical or financial support with:
meals or meal vouchers
accommodation
travel costs to and from the unit
parking costs
You may also be able to get time off work and pay through Neonatal Care Leave and Pay. We have more guidance on how to apply for Neonatal Care Leave and Pay
It’s OK to take some time away from the unit to rest. Looking after yourself means you can look after your baby too.
Let the unit staff know if you have any dietary requirements as some units provide meals or meal vouchers for parents.
In this clip, Carla and Shan talk about the importance of taking breaks when your baby is in neonatal care.
If you need help, let the staff know and they will help you find support. You can also contact Bliss by emailing [email protected] or book a video call with one of our trained Bliss Champion volunteers.
Tell the neonatal staff if you have any access needs, for example:
you use a wheelchair or other mobility aids
you need a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter
you need written information in large print or Easy Read
Your communication preferences
Tell the neonatal staff what the best ways to communicate with you are, for example:
what languages you speak and if you need an interpreter
when and how you like to be contacted when you are not on the unit
if you prefer written information or pictures and diagrams
We have more information on how to talk to healthcare professionals.
Your culture and religion
Let the neonatal unit staff know what cultural and religious practices are important for you and your family.
You have a right to express your culture and religion on the neonatal unit, including:
praying
singing religious songs to your baby
reading scripture to your baby
asking a religious leader to visit you and your baby
birth or naming ceremonies
religious ceremonies such as shaving your baby’s head
You can ask the unit staff if there is a private place for you to pray or meditate. The hospital will have a multi-faith prayer space which is there for people of all faiths, including those with no faith. Hospitals also have chaplaincy services which are also available to people of any faith or none.
Faith plays a role in many families' daily life and can be a source of hope whilst navigating neonatal care with your baby.
In this clip, Chelsi talks about how her relationship with God helped her through her son’s neonatal stay.
The information in this section is due for review May 2029
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