When a Baby Is in NICU, Parents Need Care Too

When a baby is born prematurely or seriously ill, the focus naturally turns to the newborn and the specialist care they need.

But for the parents sitting beside a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) cot, the experience can be exhausting, frightening and isolating – and something as basic as finding a nutritious meal can become an afterthought.

That’s where Parents Who Have Been There is making a difference.

The Adelaide-based not-for-profit was established by parents who have experienced neonatal care themselves, providing practical and emotional support to families throughout their neonatal journey, both in hospital and beyond.

The organisation recently received a $5,000 grant from the Harcourts Foundation to support its Meals On Us program at Flinders Medical Centre, providing quality meals to families with babies in the Neonatal Unit who may otherwise struggle to find the time or resources to feed themselves.

The organisation stocks a freezer within the unit with meals from The Meal Pantry on a weekly basis for 50 weeks of the year, giving parents access to a nutritious meal without having to leave the hospital or worry about preparing food.

“Parents are often the last people thought about when their baby is in NICU,” Parents Who Have Been There says. “They can be fending for themselves days after giving birth and leaving hospital without their baby.”

The Meals On Us program provides more than food. It is a simple way of reminding parents that they, too, are being cared for during an incredibly difficult time.

For Jo Phelps, State Operations Manager and Harcourts Foundation Ambassador for South Australia (pictured on far left), meeting the organisation’s founder Jenny Joy brought home just how important that support can be.

“I had the privilege of meeting Jenny Joy – the wonderful human being who started this organisation after the premature birth of her son, Matt,” Jo said.

“Hearing their story, how they became involved with a local meals service and how they continue to support parents in the NICU at Flinders was emotional, but incredibly uplifting.

“You could see how much this support means to families at a time when they are going through something no parent ever expects to experience.”

Parents Who Have Been There says the need for the program was strongly highlighted by families and NICU staff, with the response demonstrating how effective a simple meal can be in helping parents feel supported.

Pauline Smith, Head of the Harcourts Foundation, said the grant reflects the Foundation’s commitment to supporting initiatives that make a tangible difference to people in their communities.

“Having a baby in neonatal care is an incredibly challenging experience for any family,” Pauline said.

“While the medical team is focused on caring for the baby, Parents Who Have Been There recognises that the parents need care and support too. Providing a quality meal might seem like a small thing, but at a time like this, it can mean a great deal.

“We’re proud that the Harcourts Foundation can help support Meals On Us and the families who rely on it.”

For the families receiving the meals, the message is simple: you haven’t been forgotten.

And sometimes, in the middle of an incredibly difficult journey, that can make all the difference.