Parent Support Programs

The NICU at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach offers parent support programs to provide additional comfort and peace of mind to families with babies in intensive care or who have just got home with their newborn.  Before a baby is discharged from the NICU, every parent is taught neonatal CPR.  Additional programs include:

NICU Cuddlers

Some NICU infants are so fragile that their stay in the hospital can last six months or more. So even with a ratio of one nurse for every two babies, there are not always enough arms to go around. And, it has been proven that human contact is essential in developing better mental and motor skills.

Knowing this, the NICU at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach has a volunteer cuddler program to give the babies as much human contact as possible.  Cuddlers often pinch-hit for parents, who must return to work or are at home caring for other children.  Cuddlers hold and comfort neonatal infants.  The support of this volunteer team allows parents to tend to necessary life outside of the hospital when needed.

Mom & Babies Support Group

The NICU lactation consultants facilitate a weekly support group where a group of NICU mothers and babies join together to connect for fun, support and discussion about adjusting to life with their baby.

Moms are encouraged to bring their baby to breast or bottle feed and change diapers.

For more information contact the NICU lactation consultants at 562-933-8117.