This section covers:
- Talk and listen.
- Ask about the support they have.
- Offer practical help.
Talk and listen
Parents of a premature or sick baby might be struggling to find the words to talk about what is happening for them. Starting the conversation with them might be the first step to them getting more support with their mental health in the neonatal unit.
It might feel hard to know how to begin. You could try something like, ‘Things seem really difficult. I wondered if you wanted to talk about how you’re feeling?’
Parents can also find it really reassuring to know that they are allowed to feel the way they are feeling. Often, parents don’t feel able to be honest about their experiences or emotions because they think something else is expected of them – that they should feel lucky, or happy, or relieved. Letting them know that it’s OK to feel a mixture of conflicting feelings can help them open up.
Remember that they have also just had a baby – some parents would expect to be congratulated on this, in the same way you would if their baby was not on the neonatal unit. They are likely to appreciate a card or gift to celebrate the birth of their baby.
However they respond and whatever they tell you, let them guide the conversation and listen to what they say. People don’t always need an answer or a solution, and sometimes it might not be possible to find one. However, having someone to listen and work through how they are feeling can be exactly what someone needs.
