A NEONATAL nurse has produced a book, offering help and support to parents of babies cared for at the Ulster Hospital’s neonatal unit.
Nikita Hall dedicated two years of research and work on ‘Adventures through Neonatal’, which she also illustrated.
The book includes individual sections for parents to fill in their ‘neonatal journey’, from first cuddles, hand and food prints, and when the time is right, ‘heading for home’ goals.
Nikita said: “Parents should never feel like a visitor in the neonatal unit. I just hope that when they receive a copy of my book, they will be able to use it to record every special moment with their baby.”
She added: “Around three, four years ago, I was working quite a lot with the bereavement side of the neonatal unit, supporting parents to make memories which is so important.
“While doing research I came across a book in the United States created by a mummy who had experienced neonatal care. It was called ‘The Littlest Peanut’ and I thought how could we replicate that, or do something similar.”
Nikita continued: “Our parents who come through the neonatal unit want that ‘normal’ birthing process in that you give birth to your baby, you have your baby beside you, you get to change, feed and bathe them. Parents are not necessarily doing that on our ward and I think this book will really help them as they welcome their babies and make those memories. The idea behind the book is that we really should be making memories from the get go.”
The book stresses how parents matter too, with pages for journaling and resources and links to Tiny Life, Aware NI, Mood Matters and Aware NI postnatal mental health.
Nikita explained the book helps document the most treasured milestones: “Parents lifting their baby from the cot for their first cuddle is a milestone in itself, it’s a very precious time for any mummy and daddy. We have whiteboards at the side of every bed in the Unit and not every parent understands why they are there. The book explains how those boards can be used for their own pictures, their own messages and it’s to try to make the space as personal as possible for that family.”
Mums Nikita and Laura Johnston’s twin daughters arrived at 32 weeks, and described the book as a ‘really good idea’, particularly being able to add photos and make memories.
The book, nurse Nikita said, is ‘dedicated to every one of the tiny babies we have looked after in the neonatal unit at the Ulster Hospital’.
