NICU Support and Follow-Up Care in Los Angeles

Navigating the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the transition home can be an emotionally overwhelming experience for families. It can feel like an emotional rollercoaster, filled with moments of intense fear, hope, and uncertainty. Your focus is on your baby’s survival, but your own emotional needs and the process of bonding with your child can feel sidelined.

At Child & Family STEPS, I specialize in supporting families like yours, providing a steady hand to hold through the NICU journey and expert guidance as you transition to life at home. My goal is to empower you and help your baby thrive through helping to address the emotional needs of your family, foster a strong parent-child bond, and offer developmental guidance and monitoring every step of the way. .

Why Choose Child & Family STEPS for NICU Support and Follow Up Care?

Your family’s experience is unique and requires a specialized kind of support that bridges the gap between medical care and emotional well-being.

Specialized Training: I have specific training in infant mental health and early childhood development, including two post-doctoral fellowships and years of experience in NICU and Follow-up care settings. I understand the unique developmental pathways of premature infants and the impact of early medical challenges, allowing me to provide informed guidance and monitoring.

A Focus on the Family: While the medical team cares for your baby, I care for your family. I provide a safe space to process the trauma, grief, and anxiety that often accompany a NICU stay, helping you navigate your own emotional recovery so you can be fully present for your child.
Expertise in Bonding and Attachment: I can help you find meaningful ways to connect with your baby amidst the wires and machines. I will guide you in reading your baby’s subtle cues and building a strong, resilient attachment, serving as a foundation for future development.
Seamless Support from Hospital to Home: My support doesn’t end when you are discharged. I provide continuity of care, helping you manage the adjustment to home, monitor your baby’s developmental progress, and address any new challenges that arise, ensuring you never feel alone in the process.

What to Expect in Our Sessions

1. Support During Your NICU Stay: Our sessions will focus on processing your experience, managing the overwhelming stress and anxiety, and facilitating bonding with your baby in the NICU environment. I can help you interpret your baby’s signals and find your role as their parent and advocate amidst the medical complexity.

2. Preparing for the Transition Home: Discharge can be both a relief and a source of new anxiety. We will work together to create a plan for bringing your baby home, addressing your fears, and establishing routines that support both your baby’s needs and your own well-being.

3. Post-Discharge Adjustment and Bonding: Once you are home, our focus may shift to strengthening your attachment, building your confidence as a parent, and adjusting to your “new normal.” We celebrate the joy of being home while making space for any lingering emotional challenges.

4. Developmental Guidance and Monitoring: Using my expertise in infant development, I will help you understand and track your baby’s unique progress. We will celebrate every milestone, and I will provide you with targeted strategies and playful activities to support their motor, social, and emotional development. If any concerns arise, I can help you access the right resources early.

5. Family and Sibling Adjustment: A NICU experience affects the entire family. I offer support for siblings who may be feeling confused or left out, and help parents navigate the transition of brining a new baby home.

FAQs about NICU Support and Follow-Up Care

What is NICU support and follow-up care?

NICU support and follow-up care is a specialized area of infant and early childhood mental health for families who have experienced a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It encompasses three key areas:

Emotional Support: Addressing the mental and emotional well-being of parents and caregivers.

Bonding and Attachment: Facilitating a strong, secure connection between parents and their baby.
Developmental Guidance: Monitoring the baby’s development post-discharge and providing strategies to support their growth.

Who can benefit from NICU support and/or follow-up care?

Any family who has a baby in the NICU or has recently been discharged can benefit. This includes:

Parents of premature infants
Parents of infants with medical complications
Families feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected
Parents seeking to understand their baby’s developmental needs
Families wanting to build a strong foundation for their child’s future

How is your role different from our doctors and nurses?

The medical team are experts in your baby’s physical health. My role is to be an expert in your family’s emotional health and your baby’s early development. I focus on the parent-child relationship, your emotional well-being, and the developmental progress that happens alongside medical care. I am an added layer of specialized support for your family’s journey.

My baby is at home and healthy. Why would we need follow-up care?

Graduating from the NICU is a huge milestone! Follow-up care is proactive, not reactive. It provides peace of mind by monitoring your child’s development to ensure they are meeting their adjusted milestones. It also provides a space to process the NICU experience, which can sometimes surface after the crisis has passed.

What kind of developmental guidance do you offer?

I provide personalized guidance based on your baby’s specific needs. This can include activities to promote tummy time, social engagement, and early communication skills. The focus is on fun, simple, and playful interaction that naturally support your baby’s development and early relationships.

Therapy for Children 0-8 Years
and Families in Los Angeles