Every mom dreams of a normal and healthy time with their baby, but sometimes life happens. As a result, some moms find themselves in a room surrounded by beeping machines, incubators, doctors speaking in medical terms, and their babies connected to pipes. A typical NICU looks like this, a traumatic experience for most moms.

Many people struggle with how to approach NICU moms because of how sensitive the matter is. With that said, here are a couple of ways you could support them:

Emotional support

NICU experience can be mentally exhausting, so any form of emotional support is pivotal. Remind mommy that healing looks different for everyone and that all her emotions are valid. Celebrate every milestone with her and give her what she needs.

Tell her not to be afraid to ask for help. Encouragement from family, friends, and peer support groups – online or at the hospital – and counselling can go a long way.

Healthy meals

Healthy meals are important, especially if she is pumping breast milk to feed the baby and will be in hospital for a long time—hospital food isn’t quite the tastiest. Healthy eatables like fresh fruit or vegetable salads and other home-prepared meals will help her keep her strength up at all times.

Snacks

Why not indulge her with nuts, chocolate, smoothies, or sandwiches? Everyone must spoil themselves now and again to balance out all those essential, healthy foods.

Offer to look after siblings

Some NICU mommies leave other younger siblings behind. Perhaps you can offer to transport them to school and to take them into your home for some time. You can also take turns with other family members to help lessen the burden of responsibility.

Self-care pack

With long days and nights ahead of them in the NICU, you could send mommy a book to read, a journal to write on, a thermal coffee mug, a throw blanket, a charger, or toiletries. A great way to provide extended comfort for both mommy and baby.