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Resources

On this page you will find lists of charities to help you and your family with support and advice as you navigate the emotions of becoming a parent to a baby on a neonatal ward.

Help is at hand

There is a lot of guidance and advice, both locally and nationally, about how to care for your baby when they're in a neonatal unit. You can still bond with them. Speak to the neonatal team for more information.

You also need to look after yourself and wider family. 

 

National charities

  • Sands works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby; improve the care bereaved parents receive; and create a world where fewer babies die.

  • UNICEF Baby Friendly  supports breastfeeding and parent infant relationships by working with public services to improve standards. 

  • Bliss Baby Charter places families at the centre of their baby's care and is a practical framework that units can assess themselves against. 

  • Peeps HIE Charity dedicated to supporting those affected by HIE (hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy). 

  • Dad Matters offer support for dads.

  • Dadpad gives new dads and dads-to-be the knowledge and skills needed to gain confidence and give their baby the best  possible start in life.

  • Mind the mental health charity makes sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone.

  • The Birth Trauma Association supports all women who have had a traumatic birth experience.

  • Twins Trust supporting you through every milestone of your journey with twins, triplets or more.

  • Family Fund provide grants for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young people on a low income across the UK. 

  • Rainbow trust children's charity supports families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

  • The Milk Bank at Chester provides safe, screened donor milk to babies in need.

  • The Lullaby Trust - Safer sleep for babies, Support for families raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.

Local charities

  • Home-Start Medway provides unique services for families with children across Medway.

  • Kent Baby Matters provides breastfeeding support in Kent.

  • Princess Project helps mums and their families to thrive by providing a holistic package of physical, emotional, social and spiritual support.

  • Medway Family Hubs offer families with children places to meet new people.

  • Making Miracles is a birth trauma and baby bereavement care charity offering families the support, services and tools they need to help find their 'new normal' following trauma and grief.

Useful links

Thank you to the Kent, Surrey and Sussex parent advisory group for kindly sharing their photographs that are featured throughout this platform.