Neonatal Support
Spoons support families who experience neonatal care in the Greater Manchester area. Both on the neonatal unit and through our community work.
We provide:
- Peer support delivered by those with neonatal lived experience
- Dedicated family support to help family navigate life on the neonatal unit, the transition from neonatal to home and support post discharge from neonatal care
- Trauma therapy and counselling
- Community support groups
Peer support
Research suggests that peer support delivered by those with lived experience can help people feel happier, less isolated, and empowered. It can have a positive impact on long term mental health and wellbeing. It encourages people to share their thoughts and feelings and enables them to form relationships with those who have shared a similar experience
Community support groups
Parents of babies who have experienced neonatal care can sometimes feel anxious attending universal baby groups. Our groups are a safe space for families to have fun, bond with their little one and meet other families in the neonatal community.
Trauma therapy
To complement our peer support service we also fund trauma therapy and counselling
Having a baby on the neonatal unit can be an overwhelming experience which can have a negative impact on your emotional wellbeing. Sometimes it helps to talk to someone who is not a family member or friend but does understand the challenges of neonatal care. In addition to our peer support volunteers, we also work with a trauma therapist and a clinical psychologist who are available to help parents navigate life on the neonatal unit or any challenges that may come up in the following weeks, months or years.
Sibling support
It is hard to understand the impact neonatal care can have on siblings, especially very small children, as even parents sometimes don't fully understand the situations. Our aim is to support the whole family and we do our best to offer support to families with siblings.
Bereavement support
The devastating reality is that not all parents get to take their babies home from neonatal care.
Parents and family members who have experienced a death on the neonatal unit may require specialist bereavement support. The pain and feelings of loss parents face after the death of their baby is indescribable. It may also affects siblings, grandparents and the wider circle of family and friends. We are committed to supporting and encouraging families to access bereavement support.
Spoons dads
Dads can sometimes get a little bit forgotten about, and they can sometimes forget about themselves too.
When a baby is admitted to neonatal care, there is a lot of focus on mum. She may be unwell after the birth and receiving care from the midwives. We know that dads and partners struggle yet we find that more mums are reaching out for help than dads. Dads also tell us it feels easier for mums to access support and they don’t know where to start. We want to ensure neonatal dads have an accessible support network.
Support for friends and family
It can be a struggle for friends and family of parents experiencing neonatal care. Watching someone you care about go through the trauma of neonatal care isn’t easy. You probably don’t know the right thing to say. But there isn’t really a right thing to say.
With the best will in the world, it’s impossible to understand what parents are going through unless you’ve experienced it yourself. That doesn’t mean you can’t offer help and support to the baby’s parents. There are lots of things friends and family can do that will make a difference and help make the parents’ lives less stressful.
Support for grandparents
Being a parent of a baby in neonatal care is a tough journey but we also understand it affects the wider circle of family, like grandparents.
It can be hard for grandparents on the neonatal unit. Seeing your grandchild or grandchildren in neonatal care is tough, especially if they’re very premature or poorly. Grandparents on the neonatal unit will naturally worry about the baby, but they also have to watch their son or daughter experience fear and trauma. As a grandparent, you’re often the centre of a support network for parents, especially if there are siblings to look after. You may also be asked to keep up with the practical jobs at home, and are the main source for information and updates for everyone else. It can be draining. It’s common for grandparents to feel like they should put everyone else’s feelings before their own. You may feel a bit useless, like there is nothing you can do. But trust us when we say your support is so important and many of us couldn’t function without you.
What to expect
The first time you enter the neonatal unit can be very scary. The sounds, the machines, the monitors and wires – it can all seem very surreal.
Financial Support
Having a baby in neonatal care can bring unexpected costs. You may need to take time away from work, use unpaid leave, or juggle caring for other children at home. Travel to and from the hospital, parking, and buying meals can quickly add up too.
Our family support team is here to help. They’re here to help you feel a little more supported during what can be a very challenging time. They can talk things through with you, offer guidance around finances, and support you to understand what benefits or financial help you may be entitled to. There are also other organisations that may be able to offer financial support while your baby is in hospital. Our team can help you access these.
Family Integrated Care
Family Integrated Care, or FiCare, is a term you may hear a lot on the neonatal unit. Here, we explain what it is and how it might benefit you and your baby while in neonatal care.
Going home
Hearing the word “Home” on the neonatal unit is exciting but can also be daunting. Going home with your baby may have been all you have thought about for weeks or even months. The reality is going home can be stressful and it is important families feel supported.
Some babies may go home with additional health or development needs and may need ongoing input from health care professionals. It can take time to build up trust with new teams and parents can often be left feeling frustrated and confused by the difference in care.
We alleviate stress and reduce the isolation of families who experience neonatal care
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