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Bliss-Being involved in your baby's care

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Bliss-Being involved in your baby's care

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UNICEF BFI-Expressing for your baby in the Neonatal Unit

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UNICEF BFI-Expressing for your baby in the Neonatal Unit

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Talking to your baby-Younger than 32 weeks

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Talking to your baby-Younger than 32 weeks

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Discharge Information for Neonatal Parents

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Discharge Information for Neonatal Parents

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We have gathered together some resources that families with babies admitted to the neonatal unit have found useful. These resources can help to answer some of the more common questions parents have. The resources may also provide you with helpful tips/suggestions to help promote your child's development.

If you are concerned regarding your baby's development, speak to your GP, health visitor, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist or neonatal doctor involved in your child's care.

Tiny Life

Tiny Life is Northern Ireland's premature and special care baby charity.

Tiny Life provides a range of support and advice. The website gives useful information on all aspects of caring for a baby who was admitted to the neonatal unit: such as your first week at home with baby, feeding and getting to know your baby.
TinyLife - Northern Ireland's Premature and Vulnerable Baby Charity

Sleep

The Lullaby Trust provides information on safer sleep for babies including safe sleeping positions and how to reduce the risk of cot death.
The Lullaby Trust - Safer sleep for babies, Support for families

Feeding / Weaning

The Public Health Agency has produced a leaflet that provides advice for weaning in general in terms of timing and hints for successful weaning.
Weaning made easy | Public Health Agency
The Infant and Toddler Forum provides a guide on development of feeding and drinking skills based on age and a 10 step guide to feeding.
Toddler and Infant Nutrition Advice - Infant & Toddler Forum (infantandtoddlerforum.org)
The charity Bliss provides information on when to wean your preterm baby and how to start weaning including which foods to use first. It also gives some tips if you are having difficulties with weaning.
Weaning your premature baby | Bliss

Communication

The NSPCC have produced 'Look, say, sing, play' resources that help encourage interaction between you and your baby.

There are suggestions on how to incorporate more interaction with your baby as part of the daily routine. There are also weekly activities suggested to help with 'brain-building'.
Look, Say, Sing, Play early years resources to use and share with parents | NSPCC Learning
This 3 minute video from Belfast Trust Speech and Language Therapists video series 'Changing Time is Chatting Time' shows the importance of talking regularly to your baby to encourage bonding.
Changing Time is Chatting Time | Belfast Trust - YouTube
'Tiny happy people' consists of articles and films describing your baby's early communication skills and how to build them up to their first words. This also includes some tips if you are worried about your child's speech.
Tiny Happy People | BBC

Play / Promoting Development

Pathways.org provides free resources so that every parent is fully empowered to support their child's development, and take advantage of their child's neuroplasticity at the earliest age.

Pathways website contains free videos and games to help understand, track and encourage your baby's milestones. These are organised by different developmental areas and ages.

You can adjust this if your baby was preterm.
Baby Development | 0-3 Months Old | Pathways.org
The Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists have produced a resource for Awake time ideas that provides practical advice to help you support your baby's early motor development.

The information, developed by Physiotherapists, gives advice on moving and carrying your baby, sitting positions, tummy time and playtime ideas. It also advises
equipment which should be avoided with preterm babies if this applies to you.
Awake Time Ideas | Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists
EiSMART is an evidence based framework to give high risk babies the best start in life. The cover all aspects of a child's development: Sensory, Motor, Attention and Regulation, and Relationships. Professionals and parents work T ogether to support premature and sick infants from birth.

They can suggest supports for infants who may have developmental difficulties.
Home - Ei SMART

Your mood matters!

Being a parent can be very overwhelming. But when your baby arrives too soon, too sick or too small, parents can experience high levels of stress and anxiety.

79% of parents who have had a premature baby felt that their mental health was affected, and many parents have said that they mentally 'hit a brick wall' 6-8 months after their baby has been discharged from a neonatal unit.

There are two projects for perinatal mental health and support which may be helpful:
Maternal Advocacy and Support Project (the MAs) - Women's Resource and Development Agency (wrda.net) Positive Minds for Premature Parents | Aware NI (aware-ni.org)

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Discharge information for parents | Belfast Health & Social Care Trust website

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We have gathered together some resources that families with babies admitted to the neonatal unit have found useful. These resources can help to answer some of the more common questions parents have. The resources may also provide you with helpful tips/suggestions to help promote your child’s development.

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Bliss- Going home from the neonatal unit

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Bliss- Going home from the neonatal unit

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Going home from the neonatal unit | Bliss

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You may have a lot to think about when you go home from the neonatal unit with your premature or sick baby. Find out more about preparing to go home, and what support is avaliable.

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Bliss- Going Home from the neonatal unit- a guide

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Bliss- Going Home from the neonatal unit- a guide

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RJMS Neonatal Website (including virtual tour)

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RJMS Neonatal Website (including virtual tour)

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Some babies may require special medical or nursing care in the Neonatal Unit. It is located on the second floor of the Maternity Hospital and can be accessed by either the stairs or lifts.

There are three areas in the Neonatal Unit:

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): capacity of 10 cots

High Dependency Unit (HDU): capacity of 10 cots

Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU): capacity of nine cots

You may know in advance that your baby will be admitted to the Neonatal Unit or it may be a decision taken shortly after your baby's birth. Staff from the unit and postnatal area will support you and keep you fully informed about your baby.

We are happy for you to phone at any time to ask about your baby (see Contact us below). Please be aware that we can only give information to parents, unless we have permission from a parent to inform other named family members.

Visiting arrangements are available at the bottom of this page.

Being with your baby
As parents, you are the most important people in your baby's life and vital members of the neonatal team. You are encouraged to visit at any time. You are not 'visitors'.
We welcome you to spend as much time as possible with your baby in the unit.

We also want you to be as involved as possible in your baby's care.

What you can do

Protect your baby

Babies in the Neonatal Unit are very vulnerable to infection. You can protect them by ensuring you and any visitors wash your hands thoroughly:

when entering the unit

before and after touching your baby

when leaving the unit

Do not come to the Neonatal Unit if you are unwell.
Express your breast milk / breastfeed

If your baby has been born early, very small, very ill, or with other medical problems, you may be asked to consider expressing your breast milk.

This will protect your baby from infection and provide many other benefits for both you and your baby. See Feeding your baby for further information.

Video: Why colostrum is vital for premature babies' health.

Talk, read or sing to your baby

Your voice:

comforts your baby

helps you bond with one another

helps your baby's brain development

Provide essential care

Get involved in:

changing nappies

washing your baby

feeding your baby

Staff will assist you until you become confident doing these things alone.

Kangaroo care (skin to skin contact)

Skin to skin contact has many benefits, including:

stabilising your baby's breathing, heart rate and temperature

improving your baby's sleep and growth

improving your breast milk supply

reducing the stress levels of both you and your baby

Contact us
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: High Dependency Unit: Special Care Baby Unit:

Visiting arrangements

Parents are a vital member of the neonatal team and are welcome in the unit at any time.

Grandparents may visit between 14:00 and 19:00 each day

Only 2 people will be permitted at the cot side at any time

Please note that visiting may be limited to only parents under certain circumstances

We do try to limit the number of people who touch and handle your baby to reduce the risk of infection. To assist with this we ask that only parents touch or handle babies. This has the benefit of also allowing maximum periods of rest to assist with growth and development

Mobile phones are permitted however these should be kept on silent mode to minimise noise within the unit

It is extremely important to reduce the risk of infection in the neonatal unit and therefore we would ask you to:

Wash and gel your hands on arrival and during your visit

Follow correct handwashing procedures. These are detailed on the posters at each handwashing station

Remove outdoor coats etc. before entering the clinical areas. Lockers are available to store belongings.

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Some babies may require special medical or nursing care in the Neonatal Unit. It is located on the second floor of the Maternity Hospital and can be accessed by either the stairs or lifts.

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Bliss- Skin to Skin with your premature baby

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Bliss- Skin to Skin with your premature baby

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Children’s Symptom Checker | Belfast Health & Social Care Trust website

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If your child is feeling unwell, you can use our symptom checker below to gain a better understanding of what might be happening and where to get treatment.

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All adults, children and babies experience illnesses. We become protected from infections by either catching them or through vaccination.

Babies and young children get more colds than adults as their resistance to infections builds up over time. For babies born premature or sick, the risk of complications can be higher.

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All adults, children and babies experience illnesses. We become protected from infections by either catching them or through vaccination. Babies and young children get more colds than adults as their resistance to infections builds up over time. For babies born premature or sick, the risk of...

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Welcome to TinyLife, (Formerly NIMBA) Northern Ireland's premature and vulnerable baby charity. We are dedicated to reducing premature birth, illness, disability and death in the six babies born every day in Northern Ireland. We are committed to providing a range of support services that meet the growing needs of families of premature babies locally. Our work supports vital research to ensure every pregnancy has the best chance of a healthy outcome and a healthy baby.

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TinyLife - Northern Ireland's Premature and Vulnerable Baby Charity

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Welcome to TinyLife, (Formerly NIMBA) Northern Ireland's premature and vulnerable baby charity. We are dedicated to reducing premature birth, illness, disability and death in the six babies born every day in Northern Ireland. We are committed to providing a range of support services that meet the growing needs of families of premature babies locally.

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Bliss- Looking after your baby on the neonatal unit

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Bliss- Looking after your baby on the neonatal unit

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Looking after your baby on the neonatal unit | Bliss

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It can be hard to know how to look after your baby in neonatal care. But getting involved can help you and your baby. Find information and support in this section.

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Lullaby Trust- How to reduce the risk of SIDS for your baby

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Lullaby Trust- How to reduce the risk of SIDS for your baby

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Safer sleep information - The Lullaby Trust

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Our expert safer sleep information helps to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and gives you peace of mind.

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Lullaby Trust-Safer Sleep Information for Premature/ Low Birthweight Babies, Twins & Multiples

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Lullaby Trust-Safer Sleep Information for Premature/ Low Birthweight Babies, Twins & Multiples

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Premature babies and multiples - The Lullaby Trust

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Safer sleep for premature babies or twins and multiples is important. For twins and multiples, advice my include co-bedding your babies…

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Baby product information - The Lullaby Trust

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It can be hard to know which products are safest for your baby to sleep in. We’re here to help you find the safest baby products…

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Bliss- Supporting your mental health, so you can support your baby

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Bliss- Supporting your mental health, so you can support your baby

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RJMS Welcome to the Neonatal Intensive care Unit

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RJMS Welcome to the Neonatal Intensive care Unit

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inourplace | Solihull Approach - Online courses for emotional health and wellbeing.

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inourplace | Solihull Approach | Online courses for parents

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inourplace | Solihull Approach : Online courses dedicated to improving emotional health and wellbeing in parents, children, teenagers, adults and grandparents.

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Tips for Skin to Skin Care-Nurse Transfer

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Tips for Skin to Skin Care-Nurse Transfer

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Tips for Skin to Skin Care Nurse Transfer

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Tips for Skin to Skin Care- Parent Transfer

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Tips for Skin to Skin Care- Parent Transfer

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Top Tips for Skin to Skin Care Parent Transfer

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Centre for Early Childhood. Big change starts small. We’re on a mission to transform society through early childhood.

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WHSCT Neonatal Virtual Tour, Altnagelvin v2

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AAH Neonatal Website (including virtual tour)

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AAH Neonatal Website (including virtual tour)

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Our Neonatal Unit at Antrim Area Hospital provides medical and nursing care to newborn babies, especially those who are premature, sick, or require specialised treatment.

The unit has three areas: a neonatal intensive care unit, a high dependency unit, and a special care baby unit.

We provide care for babies born over 27 weeks (28 weeks for twins) gestation and sick newborn babies who require additional support.

Antrim Neonatal Unit

Antrim Neonatal Unit is one of 7 neonatal units in Northern Ireland providing specialist neonatal care for premature babies and sick children.

Watch our video to learn more about the care we provide and the difference it makes to families.

Our unit has a team of specially trained nurses, doctors and advanced nurse practitioners who care for babies. We also have a neonatal educator who supports staff training. Other professionals work with us too, including a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietitian and speech and language therapist. A consultant paediatrician is available at all times, day and night. We can also offer psychological support to parents and siblings if needed.

We have a specialist infant feeding lead who supports families with breastfeeding, and all of our staff are trained to help parents feed their baby.

Baby Friendly

Our Neonatal Unit at Antrim Area Hospital was the first in Northern Ireland to receive the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Award. This recognises the high standard of care we provide for babies and their families.

Our team is committed to supporting parents to have close and loving relationships with their preterm or sick baby, enabling babies to receive breast milk, where possible, and, to value parents as partners in their baby's care.

We have a philosophy of family integrated care - where parents are not seen as visitors, but as partners in their baby's care.

We have also received the BLISS Charter Silver Award, recognising our work to support parents and improve their experience while their baby is in our care.

Neonatal unit facilities

We provide a range of facilities to help make your stay as comfortable as possible while your baby is in our care.

A bedroom for rooming-in, where a newborn infant stays in the same room as their mother, or for overnight stays, if your baby is unwell or receiving palliative care.

A parent's lounge, where tea and coffee are available and parents can make lunch and relax.

Each cot space has a recliner chair to allow parents to nurse their baby and provide skin to skin. Privacy screens are available, if required.

Car parking and meal vouchers for parents and carers.

Our service is part of the Northern Ireland Neonatal Network. Babies may be transferred between units to make a cot available for a preterm delivery in the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast, or to help families be closer to home.

Where to find us

Level C, Antrim Area Hospital, Bush Road, Antrim BT41 2RL

How to contact us

AccessAble guides

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Neonatal care - Northern Health and Social Care Trust

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Our Neonatal Unit at Antrim Area Hospital provides medical and nursing care to newborn babies, especially those who are premature, sick, or require specialised treatment. The unit has three areas: a neonatal intensive care unit, a high dependency unit, and a special care baby unit. We provide care for babies born over 27 weeks (28 […]

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SHSCT Neonatal Virtual Tour Craigavon Area Hospital

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SHSCT Neonatal Virtual Tour Daisy Hill Hospital

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WHSCT Neonatal Website (including virtual tours)

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WHSCT Neonatal Website (including virtual tours)

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Having a premature or sick baby can be a long and stressful journey. Here are some resources and links to help you during your stay and when you go home.

Links to other supports and resources
Support for Parents
The Family Integrated Care website offers Educational Resources to support Family Integrated Care for parents and staff. Learn how to recognise your baby's behaviour, support their development and support skin to skin holding.

Small wonders are a series of 12 videos which explore the neonatal journey from before birth to one year later - Watch the small wonder series

Visit the Bliss website for lots of information and support for parents including information about caring for your baby on the neonatal unit, supporting parents' mental health, neonatal leave and more. The website also translated into more than 130 languages.

A pdf Peeps leaflet is available to view and download for information if your baby or child has experienced an HIE (Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy) event, this leaflet may be of interest to you. We're here to let you know about some of the available support and to reassure you that you're not on your own.

Family Support Staff visit the neonatal unit, offering one to one emotional and practical support when your baby is in hospital. They can support you with a variety of services they offer while you are in the unit, upon discharge and when you are home. You can also access hospital-grade TinyLife breast pumps to support breastfeeding your baby. TinyLife staff wear purple tunics. For more information visit the TinyLife website

Aware NI supports families of premature babies to develop and strengthen their resilience and reduce isolation by connecting with their peers and the wider community. Visit the Aware NI website

Twins Trust run antenatal and parenting courses throughout the country and manage an active online networking community with closed Facebook groups for many groups including single parents, families with children with special educational needs, grandparents and those who have sadly been bereaved. Visit the Twins Trust website

Sands offers a safe space for anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, whether you're a parent, sibling, grandparent, healthcare professional or friend. Visit the Sands website

Grants are available for families living on a low income, raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person whose additional support needs meet our eligibility criteria. Hospital Social Work can often help support this application. For information on applications for the Family Fund, visit the Family Fund website.
Infant Development
EiSMART is an evidence based framework to give high risk babies the best start in life. We span all aspects of a child's development: Sensory, Motor, Attention and Regulation, and Relationships. Professionals and parents work Together to support premature and sick infants from birth (Early Intervention). Visit the EiSMART website

Information from The Royal College of Ophthalmologists about ROP Screening - access the pdf document of the leaflet

This resource was developed for parents by parents and health and social care providers working together. It is written with BOTH mums and dads in mind. Parents have told us that support and information for when they are at home with their premature baby is important to them. The resource is organised around topics raised by parents during focus groups and the content includes practical advice and lots of short videos of parents and professionals that we hope you as a parent will find helpful. Access the Life At Home resource by TinyLife

The Lullaby Trust exists to keep babies safe and to keep grieving families supported, there website provides lots of information on reducing risks. Visit The Lullaby Trust website
Feeding
For lots of useful information including videos to support expressing breast milk, infant feeding, skin to skin and safe sleep visit the Neonatal Milk Drop in Page on the padlet website
Transport
For Information on planning your journey to the neonatal unit by public transport visit Translink Journey Planner
Podcasts
Clinical Psychology have produced a series of podcasts called 'Let's Talk' for children, parents and families to support the psychological and emotional experience in living with health-related difficulties, spending time on the neonatal unit and managing the experience of hospitalisation. - Visit the Northern Health and Social Care Trust Podcast page

This podcast is hosted by the co-founders of Miracle Moon, Frankie, a Clinical Psychologist and Georgie. They talk about all things NICU, birth trauma and perinatal mental health with you. They are a couple of past NICU Mums who have got together to support others through their NICU journeys and beyond. Listen to the NICU Space by Mircale Moon on Spotify. This podcast can be accessed on other platforms
Apps
The IFDC - Integrated Family Delivered Neonatal Care app provides parents with easy access to information that can help them to understand their baby's journey, medical terminology they may hear used also contains space for parents to document memories with their baby and record key information like feeding data and details of skin-to-skin contact. Access the app on The IFDC - Integrated Family Delivered Neonatal Care website

To better support the mental health of NICU parents everywhere, we developed a 12-day program specifically for them so that they could access clinically-validated support during-and after-their NICU stay. Download the Canopie app

The DapPad resource should become a valuable tool for fathers during this sensitive time, as well as growing into a 'keepsake' book for the father, child and family, with spaces in which to record information and emotions. Access the DadPad App with a Neonatal Guide for New Dads from the DadPa website.

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Neonatal | Western Health & Social Care Trust

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Having a premature or sick baby can be a long and stressful journey. Here are some resources and links to help you during your stay and when you go home.

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South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust

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Neonatal Unit - South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust

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The Neonatal Unit is funded for 13 cots- 2 Intensive care (level 1), 2 high dependency (level 2) and 9 special care (level 3). The unit is staffed by neonatal nurses, Medical staff, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals, including a Developmental physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Dietician and a Speech and Language Therapist. A Consultant […]

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Neonatal Unit (NNU) | Southern Health & Social Care Trust

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Our Neonatal Unit provides expert, round-the-clock care for New born babies who need a higher level of medical and nursing support after birth. It is located on the ground floor of Craigavon Area Hospital bedside the Maternity Unit .