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What the law says- Neonatal Care Leave and Pay 

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What the law says- Neonatal Care Leave and Pay 

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What the law says - Neonatal care leave and pay - Acas

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What neonatal care leave is, who is eligible and rights of parents who take it.

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Neonatal Care Leave and Pay: Guidance and FAQs | Bliss

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The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 – a new leave and pay entitlement for parents with a baby in neonatal care – comes into effect in England, Scotland and Wales on 6 April 2025.

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You and your partner may be able to get paid time off work if your newborn baby is premature or sick and needs neonatal care. Please visit the Government website for more information

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Your Neonatal Care Leave and Statutory Neonatal Care Pay: what you can get, eligibility, how to claim and how to cancel.

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Tommy's - Organisations for support around premature birth

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Tommy's - Organisations for support around premature birth

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Organisations for support around premature birth

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Having a premature birth can impact on your physical and emotional health. But you are not alone. There are lots of organisations that can provide more support.

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About your baby

For many families, having a baby admitted to a neonatal unit is a unique and frightening experience. For the majority, this situation is neither expected nor prepared for. Find out more information and about help and support that you can receive.

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For many families, having a baby admitted to a neonatal unit is a unique and frightening experience. For the majority, this situation is neither expected nor prepared for. Find out more information and about help and support that you can receive.

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Choosing the safest car seat for your baby can be confusing. But your baby’s safety and reducing the risk of SIDS is…

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DadPad | The Essential Guide for New Dads | Support Guide for New Dads

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The DadPad App - DadPad | The Essential Guide for New Dads | Support Guide for New Dads

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Developed with the NHS, DadPad gives new dads and dads-to-be the knowledge and skills needed to gain confidence and give their baby the best start in life.

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Information from the Lullaby Trust

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Psychology support for families post NNU discharge

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Picking Up & Handling Your Preterm Baby or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

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Picking Up & Handling Your Preterm Baby or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

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Picking Up & Handling Your Preterm Baby or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

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How Play Supports Your Preterm and term born Baby’s Development | Early Playtime Tips for Parents

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How Play Supports Your Preterm and term born Baby’s Development | Early Playtime Tips for Parents

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How Play Supports Your Preterm and term born Baby’s Development | Early Playtime Tips for Parents

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Nappy Changing for Preterm Babies or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

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Nappy Changing for Preterm Babies or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

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Nappy Changing for Preterm Babies or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

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Moving and Carrying Your Preterm Baby or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

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Moving and Carrying Your Preterm Baby or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

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Moving and Carrying Your Preterm Baby or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

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Meet the neonatal psychology team and find out how we can support you.

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The Breastfeeding Network | Independent Breastfeeding Support

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The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) is an independent source of support and information for breastfeeding women and others.

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The Breastfeeding Network | Independent Breastfeeding Support

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The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) is an independent source of support and information for breastfeeding women and others.

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Community Support for Breastfeeding- LLL Oxford

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Community Support for Breastfeeding- LLL Oxford

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La Leche League's mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother. La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organisation dedicated to helping people who want to breastfeed.

We're still here and happy to support you and your family with breastfeeding/mothering/parenting. We especially love using our well-established, friendly women-only Facebook group to keep our community closely connected. Please see our regular meetings page and our antenatal sessions page.

You can find support any time on our Facebook group and you are also welcome to attend virtual meetings run by other groups. Please see the LLLGB website for a listing of meetings.

Here are some other ways you can get breastfeeding support if you need it.

As always, if you are worried about your baby or yourself, please contact your midwifery or health visiting team, or NHS 111 (or 999 if it's an emergency).

Look on the LLLGB website. It's been greatly expanded in recent years and has up to date, accurate information on many common breastfeeding issues, all written by LLL Leaders. It's much appreciated if you can check to see if you can find what you need online before contacting a Leader.

Another excellent place to look online is Kellymom, which is non-LLL resource but consistent with our philosophy. It's comprehensive and easily searchable.

Post your question on our private, women-only Facebook group. This is the most efficient way to ask a specific question, as we can support many mothers with similar issues at the same time, and mothers can support each other. The group is usually checked by Leaders several times a day. If you prefer your question to be posted anonymously, you can This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or message us via our Facebook page and we will post it in the group on your behalf.

Contact a local LLL Leader. This is usually the quickest way to talk to someone 1:1. You might need to call a few people and/or leave a couple of messages before you find someone - most of us also have jobs and some will be much busier than usual during this time. Please keep trying.

Call the LLL National Helpline on 0345 120 2918. Leaders all over the country will be trying hard to increase capacity on the helpline (though it still may be quicker to call a local Leader directly).

Use LLLGB's webchat or Helpform services. Log onto the LLLGB website to see if the Chat box pops up.

With much LLLove to you and your families and solidarity with LLL families all round the world.

Jayne, Gisella, Hannah, Liz, Nicola, Ruth, Vicki, Meg & Catriana

You can take out membership in La Leche League Great Britain at any time during the year by joining online here. Details are on our membership page. Or if you would rather make a donation to say thank you for help you've received you can donate online here.

To receive news of local meetings please join our mailing list.

LLL Great Britain has been helping and supporting families for over 49 years. LLLGB's website provides a wealth of evidence-based information as well as the experiences of many breastfeeding mothers. Our national helpline number is 0345 120 2918 and you can submit an online help request here.

Lasst updated December 2022

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breastfeeding maternity support infant baby toddler nursing breast feeding oxford banbury oxfordshire kings sutton bloxham witney la leche league lll

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La Leche League Oxfordshire provides local breastfeeding support and information for mothers in Oxfordshire, UK, featuring free mother-to-mother support meetings in Oxford, North Oxfordshire and West Oxfordshire.

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Community Support for Breastfeeding: LLL Oxford

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Community Support for Breastfeeding: LLL Oxford

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La Leche League's mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother. La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organisation dedicated to helping people who want to breastfeed.

We're still here and happy to support you and your family with breastfeeding/mothering/parenting. We especially love using our well-established, friendly women-only Facebook group to keep our community closely connected. Please see our regular meetings page and our antenatal sessions page.

You can find support any time on our Facebook group and you are also welcome to attend virtual meetings run by other groups. Please see the LLLGB website for a listing of meetings.

Here are some other ways you can get breastfeeding support if you need it.

As always, if you are worried about your baby or yourself, please contact your midwifery or health visiting team, or NHS 111 (or 999 if it's an emergency).

Look on the LLLGB website. It's been greatly expanded in recent years and has up to date, accurate information on many common breastfeeding issues, all written by LLL Leaders. It's much appreciated if you can check to see if you can find what you need online before contacting a Leader.

Another excellent place to look online is Kellymom, which is non-LLL resource but consistent with our philosophy. It's comprehensive and easily searchable.

Post your question on our private, women-only Facebook group. This is the most efficient way to ask a specific question, as we can support many mothers with similar issues at the same time, and mothers can support each other. The group is usually checked by Leaders several times a day. If you prefer your question to be posted anonymously, you can This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or message us via our Facebook page and we will post it in the group on your behalf.

Contact a local LLL Leader. This is usually the quickest way to talk to someone 1:1. You might need to call a few people and/or leave a couple of messages before you find someone - most of us also have jobs and some will be much busier than usual during this time. Please keep trying.

Call the LLL National Helpline on 0345 120 2918. Leaders all over the country will be trying hard to increase capacity on the helpline (though it still may be quicker to call a local Leader directly).

Use LLLGB's webchat or Helpform services. Log onto the LLLGB website to see if the Chat box pops up.

With much LLLove to you and your families and solidarity with LLL families all round the world.

Jayne, Gisella, Hannah, Liz, Nicola, Ruth, Vicki, Meg & Catriana

You can take out membership in La Leche League Great Britain at any time during the year by joining online here. Details are on our membership page. Or if you would rather make a donation to say thank you for help you've received you can donate online here.

To receive news of local meetings please join our mailing list.

LLL Great Britain has been helping and supporting families for over 49 years. LLLGB's website provides a wealth of evidence-based information as well as the experiences of many breastfeeding mothers. Our national helpline number is 0345 120 2918 and you can submit an online help request here.

Lasst updated December 2022

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La Leche League Oxfordshire provides local breastfeeding support and information for mothers in Oxfordshire, UK, featuring free mother-to-mother support meetings in Oxford, North Oxfordshire and West Oxfordshire.

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Community Support for Breastfeeding- Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support

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Community Support for Breastfeeding- Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support

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We are delighted to be able to reopen some in person sessions, from Friday, July 2nd, 2021. Spaces are very limited and pre-booking is essential. Read more on our new in person support page. Virtual Zoom Group, virtual 1:1 consultations and virtual antenatal breastfeeding education sessions will continue alongside the in person sessions. If you are a student or visiting health professional see the page about observations for the latest news about what and where you can book with us.

Alongside our pre-booked in person sessions, OBS Facilitators are providing FREE 1 to 1 support by video or phone for more complex feeding issues. The first step is submitting a Help Request.

We run a group support session every second Thursday afternoon where you can get support from our specialist facilitators, trained volunteers and other mothers. Because we are now running some in person sessions (see above) we have reduced the frequency from weekly to every second week. Most weeks will have a themed break-out room on a popular topic. See our OBS Group page for details and the link to register.

The quickest way to get support from OBS is in our friendly, private Facebook group, which is closely moderated by our team.

Online Antenatal Sessions

Please see our Antenatal Sessions page for details and the link to register. You can say which date you prefer when you register.

Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support provides local breastfeeding support in the community via 1:1 virtual support, virtual group support and antenatal breastfeeding education sessions for Oxfordshire families, facilitated by experienced IBCLCs and breastfeeding support workers, and supported by trained volunteers. We also run a friendly private Facebook group were you can quickly find support.

You can read about what to expect and how we've helped local families. Hope to see you soon!

Last updated June 2021

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oxfordshire breastfeeding drop-in community peer support maternity infant baby babies toddler child nursing breast feeding milk antenatal oxford pregnancy ibclc volunteer breastmilk support responsive parenting

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We are delighted to be able to reopen some in person sessions, from Friday, July 2nd, 2021. Spaces are very limited and pre-booking is essential. Read more on our new in person support page. Virtual Zoom Group, virtual 1:1 consultations and virtual antenatal breastfeeding education sessions will continue alongside the in person sessions.

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Community Support for Breastfeeding- Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support

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Community Support for Breastfeeding- Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support

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We are delighted to be able to reopen some in person sessions, from Friday, July 2nd, 2021. Spaces are very limited and pre-booking is essential. Read more on our new in person support page. Virtual Zoom Group, virtual 1:1 consultations and virtual antenatal breastfeeding education sessions will continue alongside the in person sessions. If you are a student or visiting health professional see the page about observations for the latest news about what and where you can book with us.

Alongside our pre-booked in person sessions, OBS Facilitators are providing FREE 1 to 1 support by video or phone for more complex feeding issues. The first step is submitting a Help Request.

We run a group support session every second Thursday afternoon where you can get support from our specialist facilitators, trained volunteers and other mothers. Because we are now running some in person sessions (see above) we have reduced the frequency from weekly to every second week. Most weeks will have a themed break-out room on a popular topic. See our OBS Group page for details and the link to register.

The quickest way to get support from OBS is in our friendly, private Facebook group, which is closely moderated by our team.

Online Antenatal Sessions

Please see our Antenatal Sessions page for details and the link to register. You can say which date you prefer when you register.

Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support provides local breastfeeding support in the community via 1:1 virtual support, virtual group support and antenatal breastfeeding education sessions for Oxfordshire families, facilitated by experienced IBCLCs and breastfeeding support workers, and supported by trained volunteers. We also run a friendly private Facebook group were you can quickly find support.

You can read about what to expect and how we've helped local families. Hope to see you soon!

Last updated June 2021

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oxfordshire breastfeeding drop-in community peer support maternity infant baby babies toddler child nursing breast feeding milk antenatal oxford pregnancy ibclc volunteer breastmilk support responsive parenting

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We are delighted to be able to reopen some in person sessions, from Friday, July 2nd, 2021. Spaces are very limited and pre-booking is essential. Read more on our new in person support page. Virtual Zoom Group, virtual 1:1 consultations and virtual antenatal breastfeeding education sessions will continue alongside the in person sessions.

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Some parents feed their premature or sick baby expressed milk or formula in a bottle. Some babies will transition to bottle feeding after being tube fed.

You may prefer to feed your baby expressed milk and/or formula in a bottle alongside breastfeeding. This is called mixed or combination feeding. If you are thinking about mixed or combination feeding, talk to your neonatal team, feeding specialist, midwife, health visitor or GP.

Like other types of feeding, it is important to recognise the signs that your baby is hungry (feeding cues) before bottle feeding. Your baby may demonstrate early feeding cues by putting their fingers into their mouth, making sucking motions (rooting) and becoming restless.

Your baby will want to be close to you while being bottle fed, so this is a great time to have skin-to-skin. When possible, it is best for you or your partner to give bottle feeds so that your baby can learn with you. Doing the following while bottle feeding your baby can help them to feed successfully and be more comfortable:

Make sure you are close to your baby and hold them in the best position suited to your baby, with their head supported. This may be upright or elevated on their side. Some units may advise you to try different positions.

Offer the bottle when your baby shows feeding cues.

Gently invite your baby to take the teat.

Avoid forcing your baby to take the teat or finish the feed.

If the milk comes too quickly, it can be difficult for your baby to coordinate their sucking, swallowing and breathing. A nurse or feeding specialist on the unit will show you teats, bottles and positions that can help your baby to do this more effectively.

Some babies have periods of low oxygen (desaturations) and/or low heart rate (bradycardia) when they are starting to bottle feed or breastfeed. This is normal in some cases and will improve with time, but can be a sign that your baby is not ready for feeding yet. If this happens, it may need to be looked at by a doctor or a speech and language therapist who specialises in swallowing.

Low oxygen and heart rate while feeding can also be a sign of reflux. Reflux happens when some of the partly digested milk or food in the stomach comes back up the tube from the mouth to the stomach (oesophagus). This is common in all babies, but is more common in babies born premature or sick. We have more information about reflux.

Staff on the neonatal unit should support you and show you how to make feeds and clean and sterilise your baby's bottles (see below). They could also encourage you to bring bottles in from home so that your baby can get used to them. For more help and support with bottle feeding, speak to your neonatal team, feeding specialist, midwife, health visitor or GP.

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Find out how to feed your premature or sick baby expressed milk or formula in a bottle.

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Feeding will take up a lot of your time in the first few months of your babies' lives.
Whether you breastfeed or formula feed, you'll need to create a routine that suits you and your babies.

Some mothers can feed 2 babies at the same time, while some prefer to feed 1 after the other.

Others feed whenever their babies seem hungry (on demand).

If 1 baby is smaller and needs to feed more often, you will not be able to feed them at the same time at first.

If you want, you can work towards bringing their feeding routines together as your babies grow.

If you have any concerns about your babies' growth, you can take them to your local baby clinic to have them weighed and measured.

Your health visitor can tell you where to find your nearest baby clinic.

Some health visitors will visit you regularly at home to keep an eye on your babies' progress.

Breastfeeding twins or more

It's important not to be put off breastfeeding because you're having more than 1 baby.

Breastfeeding is a great way to soothe your babies and helps you build a strong bond with them.

It's perfectly possible to breastfeed twins, triplets or more. Lots of twins are breastfed until they start eating solid foods.

You may like to try a few breastfeeding positions to see which suits you best.

You'll get support with breastfeeding at the hospital and also when you take your babies home.

The benefits of breast milk for your babies are the same as for single babies.

But as multiple babies are more likely to be born prematurely, there are extra benefits.

Breastfeeding premature twins

Breast milk is better for premature babies as their gut is immature and it's easier for them to tolerate and digest.

Breast milk also contains proteins and antibodies to protect your babies against infections.

If your babies are very tiny or sick when they're born, you may need to express your breast milk to begin with.

Your expressed milk may be fed to your babies through a thin tube that passes through the nose and into the stomach.

Visit the Twins Trust website for more information on breastfeeding twins or more.
Watch videos of mums talking about breastfeeding more than 1 baby

Formula feeding multiples

You may need to combine formula feeding with breastfeeding if, for example, you have triplets or more, or you may choose to only formula feed your babies.

Formula feeding is more expensive than breastfeeding when you have twins or more.

But it does mean that other people can help with feeding your babies.

As with breastfeeding, you'll need to decide whether you're going to feed your babies together or separately.

Bottles need to be freshly prepared for each feed. This can be quite time consuming with twins or more, so you may want to ask your partner or someone else to help with this.

As with breastfeeding, formula feeding your babies can help you build a close and loving bond.

Hold your babies close during feeds, look into their eyes and talk to them.

Learn to notice their cues when they want to be fed and when they have had enough.

Visit the Twins Trust website for more information on formula feeding twins or more.

Weaning twins on to solids

When your babies are around 6 months old, you can give them their first solid foods.

It's not unusual for 1 baby to be ready to begin solids before the other.
Find out more about your baby's first solid foods
If your babies were born prematurely, your health visitor can give you advice on the best time to start solids.

Unless 1 of your babies has a serious infection, it's safe for them to share spoons and bowls.

Visit the Multiple Births Foundation website for more advice on all aspects of feeding twins, triplets or more (PDF, 5.96kb).

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Feeding will take up a lot of your time in the first few months of your babies' lives. Whether you breastfeed or formula feed, you'll need to create a routine that suits you and your babies. Some mothers can feed 2 babies at the same time, while some prefer to feed 1 after the other.

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Skin-to-skin contact - Baby Friendly Initiative

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Skin-to-skin contact is important for babies and mothers to develop close, loving parent-infant relationships and to initiate breastfeeding.

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In this video, we explore how best to support new mothers with feeding.

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months ensures the best outcomes for babies, and mothers need support to get this off to the best start. Ongoing help with positioning, attachment and skin-to-skin contact help mothers to maintain their milk supply and avoids disruption to breastfeeding.

If mothers wish to bottle feed, the impact on milk supply should be discussed so that they can make informed choices. A sensitive, non-judgmental approach is key.

For more information:

Problems viewing this video? Contact us.

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Maximising breastmilk video - Baby Friendly Initiative

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In this video, we explore how best to support new mothers with feeding, including positioning, attachment and skin-to-skin contact.

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How to position your baby for breastfeeding

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How to position your baby for breastfeeding

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In this video, a breastfeeding counsellor helps a mother with her positioning and attachment whilst breastfeeding.

Key to achieving the Baby Friendly standards is a workforce able to support mothers to breastfeed effectively. This video provides some guidance on this.

You can see more of the 'From Bump to Breastfeeding' DVD on the Best Beginnings website.

Video not working? Contact us

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Positioning and attachment video - Baby Friendly Initiativ

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In this video, a breastfeeding counsellor helps a mother with her positioning and attachment whilst breastfeeding. Watch to learn more.

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Feeding your baby on the neonatal unit can be different to what you had planned, but you can still find the best way of feeding for you and your baby. Find out more here.

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Guide to Medela hospital grade electric breast pump

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Guide to Medela hospital grade electric breast pump

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Pumping with Symphony at the Hospital : A Guide | Medela

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Get started with Symphony at the hospital with our guide. Learn about breast shield selection, pump setup, and more—ideal for new mums!

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This video guides mothers on how to hand express and talks about the times when hand expression might be useful.

See the Breastfeeding Network website for FAQs and a leaflet all about expressing and storing breastmilk.

Problems viewing this video? Contact us.

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Hand expression video - Baby Friendly Initiative

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This video guides you through how to hand express, and talks about the times when hand expression might be useful for you.

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A quick video showing effective handwashing.

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Washing your hands is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning and flu.

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Infection Prevention: What You Need to Know

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Infection Prevention: What You Need to Know

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A quick guide to infection prevention. This contains really important information so please read carefully.

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Infection Prevention and Control in the Neonatal Unit

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Explore Stoke Mandeville Neonatal Unit in 3D

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Take a virtual tour of the Neonatal unit at Stoke Mandeville hospital.

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Explore Stoke Mandeville Neonatal Unit in 3D

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Take a virtual tour of the Neonatal unit at Stoke Mandeville hospital.

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Explore Stoke Mandeville Neonatal Unit in 3D

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Take a virtual tour of the Neonatal unit at Stoke Mandeville hospital.

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Why do we use nests on the neonatal unit?

There are many good reasons to use a nest on the neonatal unit

-supportive positioning to mimic the flexed position your baby would have in the womb

-help your baby bring their hand to their face and mouth to aid self-soothing

-protect your baby's developing musculoskeletal system (shoulders, hips and head shape)

-promoting better quality sleep which is very important for brain development and growth

Can we still use nests at home? No. Nests can not be used at home as your baby will no longer be monitored. Safe sleep guidelines recommend that beds are kept free from all unnecessary items and this incudes a nest.

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Physiotherapists aim to support babies (and their parents) who have any condition which may effect their movement.

This may include:

*Babies who have had a brain bleed or other changes which may effect brain development. This may be term born or premature babies. We can offer specific assessments to look at development. We can offer specialist advice to help you to support your baby with their movements.

*Babies who are born with musculoskeletal abnormalities affecting their joints or muscles.

*Babies that are born very prematurely.

*Babies who have developed altered head shape - plagiocephaly (uneven flattening towards back of head) , scaphocephaly (long thin head shape).

If you would like your baby to see a physiotherapist or have questions you would like to ask please ask your nurse or doctor to refer to physiotherapy.

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Physiotherapy

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Babies born prematurely develop differently to babies born at term. Premature infants are at a greater risk of having delay in their motor development. Common reasons which cause this delay are:

Their muscles are imbalanced compared to a baby born at term

Their head shape may not be round, so they tend to favour facing one direction

They are easily distracted / over stimulated and have problems self calming

This information has been created to show parents and carers how to provide additional support to help your baby to learn new skills in the first few months after their due date. These early skills are gaining good head control; raising their head and chest up when on their tummies with their arms forward; grasping toys and bringing them to their mouth.

Play Time Ideas

Short periods of supervised play will provide your baby with the opportunity to discover how their body works. Choose a time when they are settled and calm. Minimise the noise in the room so they can focus on the activity.

Different muscles work in different positions so vary the positions that you lie your baby in.

Click on the links below to get some practical tips for different play positions:

Sleeping Positions

Official Sudden Infant Death guidelines recommend that your baby sleeps on their backs at home, with their feet at the bottom of the bed until they are 6 months old. Make sure that there are no pillows or soft toys near their face which could obstruct their breathing.

Alternate which way your baby's head faces when you put them down to sleep. Try and approach the cot from different sides so that your baby gets used to looking in both directions. This may help prevent the head from becoming flatter on one side.

CLICK HERE for further guidance from the Lullaby Trust

Equipment to Avoid

Below is a list of equipment that is particularly unsuitable for preterm infants. Research has shown that this equipment can delay babies development when they are learning to sit and walk.

Baby bouncers and bouncy chairs move when your baby pushes backwards into the chair. It over-strengthens the muscles that arch your baby's back. These arching muscles work against the muscles that keep the babies in an optimal 'curled up' position. Constant bouncing can also make it difficult for babies to learn how to reach accurately for things.

Doorway jumping seats/ jumperoos encourage babies to bounce on their toes and arch their backs. Your baby may then find it difficult to learn to sit and be still.

Baby walkers allow babies to walk abnormally, and do not strengthen the muscles needed for sitting, crawling or independent walking. Babies are better off being placed on the floor to learn these skills.

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Babies born prematurely develop differently to babies born at term. Premature infants are at a greater risk of having delay in their motor development.

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Many people ask 'what is an OT?' and 'what can an OT do to support my baby?'. Find here some information that explains how we can help both you and your baby. The OT on your neonatal unit is: Aoife Garvey (ee-fa).

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A guide to performing a side-lying nappy change. This contains a useful QR code with a video of this in action.

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A lovely booklet made by our colleagues in the Yorkshire and Humber Neonatal ODN!

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On our neonatal unit, we promote the use of swaddle bathing for our babies. Check out this leaflet and scan the QR code for a video of it in action.

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An illustrated, step-by-step process on how to complete a standing transfer for skin-to-skin.

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With the world of technology quickly changing, this is a useful guide on screen time for babies.

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EiSMART- Early Play Development 0-3 months

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This is a useful guide on how best to support your babies early play development once they get discharged from the neonatal unit. If you would like advice while you are on the unit- please do speak to Aoife Garvey, OT.

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A useful guide with some tips on how best to talk/ interact with your preterm baby.

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A resource that looks further at the benefits of positive touch for your baby.

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Sensory Beginnings- Sleep on the Neonatal Unit

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A resource that gives some practical tips on supporting your baby to sleep on the neonatal unit and also an explanation of the different behavioural states our little ones demonstrate.

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Sensory Beginning- Sensory Recommendation for the Neonatal Unit

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A wonderful resource that explains sensory development in the womb and how best to support this development in your preterm baby.

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We value your feedback, please use this form to tell us your experience.

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We are constantly looking at ways to improve our service. We would value any feedback you are willing to give us in order to help us to offer the best service possible to both the patients and families we serve. Please complete our online form or contact us directly:

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The DIvO Study website and enrolment information

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THE DIvO STUDY Digital Imaging versus Ophthalmoscopy for congenital cataract screening

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PADLET RHC Participant Information Sheet Version 0.6, 30.08.2023_Localised

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The National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) is a multidisciplinary research unit based at the University of Oxford. Our work involves running randomised con

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neoEPOCH is working with parent, patients and health professionals to improve neonatal research and care.

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General information about research on the Newborn Care Unit.

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Research in the Oxford Newborn Care Unit Leaflet

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Research in the Oxford Newborn Care Unit Leaflet

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All babies born at less than 34 weeks gestation may be included in the neoGASTRIC study unless you choose to opt-out. Please watch the video above.

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neoGASTRIC Trial Video | neoGASTRIC | NPEU

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The National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) is a multidisciplinary research unit based at the University of Oxford. Our work involves running randomised con

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SSNAP_Service_Leaflet.pdf

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Professor Caroline Hartley, Principal Investigator, and Dr Marianne van der Vaart, Postdoctoral Researcher, in the Paediatric Neuroimaging Group at the Department of Paediatrics, have launched a series of animations aimed at improving parental understanding of brain development in premature infants, and the effect it has on breathing and apnoeas (the cessation of breathing).

The series, called My Baby’s Brain, has been developed to support parents of premature babies, enabling them to understand why premature babies have apnoeas, the treatment they receive, and the equipment that is used.

My Baby’s Brain is a free, online resource that was created in collaboration with parents of premature babies alongside SSNAP.

You can read more and watch the animations here:

My Baby's Brain - Research Project | SSNAP

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View the animations here.
Professor Caroline Hartley, Principal Investigator, and Dr Marianne van der Vaart, Postdoctoral Researcher, in the Paediatric Neuroimaging Group at the Department of Paediatrics, have today launched a series of animations aimed at improving parental understanding of brain development in premature infants, and the effect it has on breathing and apnoeas (the cessation of breathing).

The series, called My Baby's Brain, has been developed to support parents of premature babies, enabling them to understand why premature babies have apnoeas, the treatment they receive, and the equipment that is used.

My Baby's Brain is a free, online resource that was created in collaboration with parents of premature babies alongside SSNAP (Supporting sick newborn and their parents), a charity based in the Newborn Care Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Lauren Young, mother to Georgie, (age 7 and born at 40 weeks) and to Rosie (age 3 and born at 24 weeks), and also part of the Family Care Team at SSNAP, was part of the parent group that led to the creation of the series. She had a "traumatic, exhausting and long hospital stay of nearly 6 months" following the birth of her youngest daughter, and proactively wanted to help neonatal research and development.

She said: "In my role with the Family Care Team for SSNAP I see so many parents trying to navigate all the information they receive from the medical teams. I feel strongly that anything helping parents to process the information, feel more comfortable with their surroundings and the care that their child is receiving, can go a really long way to helping them on the journey."

"These animations will be so helpful to parents and families with premature babies. They will help them to understand the reasons their baby is needing the care they receive and give a very clear picture of equipment used, as well as a soft introduction to language and terminology they may hear along their journey. My Baby's Brain will help parents feel more in touch with their babies' care and help them to build confidence in the neonatal setting."

Professor Hartley said: "In the UK, 1 in 13 babies is born prematurely. Apnoea of prematurity is a common problem in neonatal care, affecting around 50 percent of premature infants. Apnoeas are well-managed by the clinical team but can be worrying for parents. These animations have been put together with parents in mind, to give parents of premature babies a better understanding of how their baby's brain is developing, how apnoea is linked to the immaturity of a premature infant's brain, and the techniques researchers use to investigate brain development. Working together so closely with SSNAP and parents on this project has been extremely rewarding and enjoyable and has greatly enriched the animations which we hope will be a valuable resource for parents."

Martin Realey, Charity Lead for SSNAP, said: "We are delighted to be able to support the creation of My Baby's Brain which will be an indispensable tool to all parents to premature infants on neonatal units here in the John Radcliffe Hospital, and across the country. They have been made with parents in mind to ensure the information is accessible and easy-to-understand. The videos can be accessed using QR codes making them available on mobile devices, allowing parents to choose a time that best suits them to watch and process the information: This could be cotside with their baby, in the quiet of their home, or even sharing them with other family members. Viewers are also able to choose from bite-sized clips or longer videos which helps manage what can be an exhausting time of processing so much new information."

My Baby's Brain was funded by the Wellcome Trust Enriching Engagement programme, an initiative created to support researchers' public engagement outreach. This series is the public engagement activity of Professor Hartley's core research project into the relationship between apnoeas and brain development in premature infants.

Professor Hartley is a Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the Department of Paediatrics.

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My Baby's Brain is a free, online resource that was created in collaboration with parents of premature babies alongside SSNAP.

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The neonatal networks within the South East region consist of the Thames Valley and Wessex Operational Delivery Network and the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Operational Delivery Network. The two combined networks cover 27 provider units.

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Please use this link to access the neonatal psychology padlet, which we have specifically put together for parents and families with a baby on the neonatal unit. It has a range of resources to help support yourselves and your baby.

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For babies born premature or sick | Bliss

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Our vision is that every baby born premature or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life.

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We were taking home new friendships and endless stories from other parents, with different experiences but with whom we shared the same emotions. Those parents are the only ones who can understand what the NICU world really is. We’re taking home the value of celebrating every milestone with our babies, that we always must have hope and not take anything for granted.

Today I’m a proud member of SSNAP and I also ran the Oxford Half Marathon in 2022 as my way of saying thank you to everything SSNAP has done for us. Our story is our legacy and my hope is that one day Tessa and Thiago will be proud to share the story of how much love they received thanks to SSNAP.

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On 25 June 2021 I gave birth to my beautiful twins, Thiago and Tessa. At only 31 (30+6) weeks of pregnancy. Tiny and fragile, they were immediately moved to the NICU, at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford - where an incubator became their new home for the following 37 days. Those were the longest and most difficult 37 days of our entire life.

My journey to becoming a mum started more than two years ago, when my partner and I decided to embark on the IVF journey. It took 2 failed cycles, a miscarriage, many tears, anxiety and pain, but at the beginning of 2021 we could finally see two heartbeats. "Pregnancy is no disease", I've been told, but what I went through in 7 long months was the most horrible and difficult experience of my entire life. Hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme pregnancy sickness) was one of the rare conditions I suffered from, very hard on the body and mentally very demanding. At 20 weeks I was diagnosed with placenta previa, which caused a series of very frightening big and unpredictable bleedings. When the first one happened I was at home on my own, and seeing a river of blood coming down my legs was frightening. Your mind starts to process many dark and scary thoughts, and one of them is death. After the second haemorrhage at 28 weeks, I was diagnosed with PPROM (Premature rupture of membranes), and started leaking amniotic fluid. That's when the doctors made the decision to keep me in until Tessa and Thiago's birth. I spent one month in the hospital surrounded by other women with similar or worse conditions. I saw women coming and going. I listened to other women's stories, empathised with most of them, and made friends. At night I could hear them crying and sobbing. Same as me. I cried every day.

My daily routine consisted of blood tests to check my infection levels, steroid and anticoagulant injections, transfusions, and meeting different doctors every day. 'We'll try to take you to 37 weeks of pregnancy', said one doctor. 'I think it'll be safer if we deliver at 34 weeks', I've been told by another doctor, after my third bleed.

After each bleed I experienced panic attacks, after each bleed my anxiety and fear to see blood again were mixed with compulsions and obsessive thoughts, as I had to check my pad every 10 minutes. I was scared to get up from the hospital bed, I was scared to go to the toilet on my own, I was scared to have a shower on my own. Luckily I have the most supportive and empathetic partner in the world, and he was next to me after each bleeding and anxiety episode.

On the morning of 25 June I had a fourth bleed. This time I tried to stay calm. 'It's just another bleed', I told myself. But this time it was different. 'We need to deliver now', my partner and I heard, 'and we need to make a decision pretty quickly'. Our mind went dark. What would've that meant for me, for my babies? Will they be okay? Will they be healthy? I had so many questions and fears flooding my mind. But waiting any longer could've meant risking mine and my babies' life. Thiago's placenta had already detached from my uterus and his heartbeat was dropping.

I was taken to the theatre. But I wasn't mentally prepared for that. My pregnancy that day was interrupted.

I wonder why a woman needs to stay awake during a C-section. It's a massive surgery and experiencing everything was traumatising. I remember being surrounded with many doctors, midwives and neonatologists, ready to provide care to my babies.

The fluids started entering my body, my mind became very dizzy, and my whole body numbed. I remember the pulling sensation and pressure when Tessa and Thiago came out, I remember hearing their weak cry. I saw them for just two minutes, as they were taken immediately to the NICU.

I lost nearly 3 litres of blood, I had two blood transfusions and my physical recovery was incredibly slow. But that was nothing compared to what I felt emotionally.

When the pain from the surgery eased off a bit and I was able to get out of bed, I went to visit my babies in the NICU. They were there, in two separate incubators, on the opposite side of the room. My two tiny babies were surrounded by wires and tubes, there were tubes inside their tiny bodies. My two tiny babies weren't able to breathe on their own. I cried all the tears I had. I felt guilty, I felt useless, I felt impotent, I felt like I was dying inside. That's when I was approached by two lovely ladies from SSNAP. 'We're here for you all', my partner and I heard. 'You can talk to us'', they said while offering a chocolate snack. I immediately felt so much warmth, so much compassion, so much kindness. A small gesture that made me feel slightly better. A SSNAP box was waiting for us, next to each of our baby's incubator, with information on what SSNAP is and what they do for parents whose babies are in the NICU. 'There are other mums like me', I thought. 'I'm not alone'. In each box we also found a little bear, that today, 2 years later, I still jealously cherish.

I suffered from PTSD and I experienced flashback memories for many weeks following the delivery. I wasn't able to stay in the NICU without crying, I wasn't able to touch my babies, I was scared to hurt them. But I wasn't on my own. Thanks to the SSNAP team who looked after me every day, I was able to overcome my fears, I was able to talk about my traumatic experience, hold my babies on my chest for the first time, and learn how to get involved into my babies' daily care. They were able to listen, to use kindness and empathy to approach a vulnerable me, they were able to respect my silence when I wanted to be silent. For 37 days they were there for myself and my family. SSNAP became my safe place.

Luckily my babies were doing well and THAT day finally arrived: we were going home. No more incubators, no more reliance on beeping monitors and their cary fluctuating numbers, no more feeding tubes down the throat and gastric aspirates, no more hospital schedules, no more painful procedures. We are leaving all this behind, but what we were taking home from the NICU World is the immense gratitude for all the support and help we've got from all the people who give their own time to look after all the premature and sick babies and their families, making sure they grow and thrive, people who gave us advice and helped us build our confidence as parents of premature babies, answering all our questions and guiding us through our journey in the NICU.

We were taking home new friendships and endless stories from other parents, with different experiences but with whom we shared the same emotions. Those parents are the only ones who can understand what the NICU world really is. We're taking home the value of celebrating every milestone with our babies, that we always must have hope and not take anything for granted.

Today I'm a proud member of SSNAP and I also ran the Oxford Half Marathon in 2022 as my way of saying thank you to everything SSNAP has done for us. Our story is our legacy and my hope is that one day Tessa and Thiago will be proud to share the story of how much love they received thanks to SSNAP.

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Our story is our legacy, my hope is that one day Tessa and Thiago will be proud to share the story of how much love they received thanks to SSNAP

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We love it when families who are discharged home, keep in touch! Simply put, we couldn't achieve all that we do without the support of people who go above and beyond to donate to raise money for SSNAP.

Why not visit the SSNAP website to read some amazing stories of those who have also been supported by SSNAP throughout their journey in the neo natal unit?

Stories | SSNAP