Bonding with Your Baby in the NICU
by Dawn K. Gibson, LCSW When you initially became pregnant, birthing your baby and having him or her whisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by hospital staff was most likely not in your plan. Many parents know that bonding after childbirth is important for … [Read More...]
Understanding PTSD: When the Stress of the NICU Persists
by Blaine H. Carr, Ph.D., father of preemie Ella After a busy weekend and tour of the hospital maternity wing, I was making my pregnant wife a favorite Italian dinner. She called me from another room, and when I went to … [Read More...]
Helping Hands Highlights
Preemie Parents Share the Power of Peer Connections
Preemie parents describe their experience with having a child in the NICU and how relationships they have formed with fellow preemie parents have made all the difference. If it has been 2-3 years since your child’s NICU experience and you’d like to be matched to support another family, please contact Erika Goyer. If you think you could benefit from support, call us toll-free 855-424-6428 ext. 1 or email Erika Goyer, family support navigator and fellow preemie parent. Having a baby in the NICU for any length of time can be traumatic and isolating. We want you to know you are not alone and we are here to help.
Gwen Claessen – Helping NICU Families Find Refuge in the Hospital
We interview Hand to Hold’s new Ronald McDonald House Charities Volunteer Coordinator Gwen Claessen about why she wanted to get involved with Hand to Hold and the Ronald McDonald House – and why she thinks other healthcare professionals should, too.
Tell us a little bit about your professional background.
After being a stay-at-home mom of three for 10 years, with the support of my family, I returned to school in 2010 to become a registered nurse. My clinical rotations at Austin area hospitals like Dell Children’s Medical Center gave me insight into a vast number of opportunities working within our community. After being involved as a mother with organizations like local milk banks and La Leche League, I felt drawn to one specialty in particular, the NICU, because of the tremendous opportunities to apply who I am to caring, advocating, and supporting these tiny patients and the people who love them. I expanded on this interest by interning as a postpartum caregiver, obtaining my neonatal resuscitation certification, attending specialized training on neonatal transport protocols with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital Houston NICU, and participating in lactation management training with the State of Texas.
How did you hear about Hand to Hold? What got you interested in volunteering?
I found Hand to Hold on the internet in my search to understand the NICU experience from a parent and patient point of view that would contrast with the “clinical” view that my educational experiences have provided me. The first Hand to Hold event I attended was a Lunch and Learn on “Nutrition for the NICU Grad.” The meeting was filled with information from healthcare professionals and NICU parents who shared personal stories and challenges. I knew from that moment on that I wanted to be involved with the dynamic Hand to Hold organization and help in any way possible to connect families with opportunities and resources during their stay in the NICU and beyond. [Read More...]
