Beyond the NICU: Building Community, Confidence, and Connection
I am the parent of two NICU grads. Both of my daughters were born prematurely and needed the kind of care only a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can provide. There were moments of hope, like when I finally got to hold my first daughter at two weeks old, pressed against my chest in kangaroo care, and moments of deep concern when an infection made things look bleak for my second daughter. When I think back on those experiences, I am reminded of how much those early days shaped me as a mom.
During my first NICU stay, I was completely unprepared. I thought that once my baby was stable enough to go home, life would return to “normal.” Realizing that the journey didn’t end when we left the hospital was overwhelming, and in many ways, going home from the NICU was just the beginning.
By the time my second NICU stay came around, I had some idea of what to expect, but that didn’t make it easier. I once again had to balance my baby’s needs with my own recovery, but this time I had a second child at home. Keeping track of follow-ups and therapies, while trying to simply be present with my children was exhausting. And though I had already walked this road once, the feelings of isolation and uncertainty returned just as strong.
What I wish I had then was support that extended beyond the hospital walls. NICU parents don’t stop needing guidance and community once they’re discharged. We carry our experiences with us, and the transition home can be just as challenging as the time in the NICU.
Those experiences planted the seeds for what would later become NICU Alumni, an organization I founded to walk alongside families after their baby graduates from the NICU. At NICU Alumni, we provide support, resources, and connection so that families can feel supported once they go home.
Here’s a glimpse at what we do:
Host monthly virtual parent groups
Publish articles and guides in our growing NICU Alumni Resource Library
Share stories and expert insights through the NICU Alumni Podcast
Send timely emails and reminders through our Grad Guide email series
Offer workshops and practical resources for post-NICU life
Even in the hardest moments, we want families to know that they are not alone. The NICU journey can feel heavy, but it also shows us just how strong, resilient, and resourceful parents can be. There will be days that feel overwhelming and days that bring surprising joy—and both are part of the same beautiful and complicated story. Each small milestone, each ounce gained, each new phase, is proof that you and your baby are moving forward, step by step.
The NICU may be behind you, but the care, the learning, and the connection continue. NICU Alumni exists to help families like yours feel supported, prepared, and understood every step of the way.
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Witten By: Andrea Hickson, founder and executive director of NICU Alumni, is a two-time NICU mom who turned her family’s experience into a mission of support for others. NICU Alumni provides parents and caregivers with resources, community, and ongoing encouragement to help NICU graduate families thrive long after leaving the hospital. Learn more at www.nicualumni.org.