Nepean Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parents Support (NNICUPS)

WELCOME!

I would like to welcome you to our website.

If you are facing the prospect of giving birth to a premature baby we hope that you may take away some hope from the information you are about to see on this Web Site.

As members of the Nepean Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parents Support Group, an Australian organisation. We are part of the Nepean General Hospital located in the City of Penrith at the foot of the Blue Mountains near Western Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) Australia. We have experience with all our babies having varying degrees of gestation and challenges at birth.

If you would like to speak with one of our Mums or Dads who have experienced what you may be going through, please do not hesitate to Contact Us. Often just a quick chat can alleviate your fears and anxiety somewhat and if you are not up to making a telephone call, please ask a loved one to do it for you or send us an email.
Visit our Nepean Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - External Contacts page for additional information.

If you are just browsing the internet, we hope you enjoy our website! We have a large number of “miracle” babies supported by our organization and we hope you enjoy some of our inspirational stories.

These babies are truly amazing and if you have been touched by a “miracle baby” somewhere in your life, you will know what we mean!

Every baby is so precious and special, we thank the wonderful specialist doctors and neonatal nurses for all their hard work and dedication to give us the best neonatal nursing possible.

The Nepean General Hospital is easily accessed by both rail and road (M4 Motorway, Great Western Highway, The Northern Road, Richmond Road and Bringelly Road). Adjacent to both Parker St and the Great Western Highway, the hospital entrance is directly from Derby St which runs off Parker St. The Northern Road (from the south) changes its name to Parker St as it enters South Penrith.

The nearest railway station is Kingswood on the junction of the Great Western Highway and Bringelly Road, approximately one block from the hospital complex.
Visit Nepean Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - Contact Us for map and more details.

NNICUPS Playgroup

NNICUPS is proud to introduce the start of its monthly playgroup!

Held on the 1st thursday of each month from 10.00am - 12.00 noon at the Kingswood Anglican Church, corner of Bringelly Road and Derby Street, Kingswood. The playgroup will be commencing on thursday the 5th August 2010, in accordance with NNICUPS meetings.

We would ask that each family pay $2.00 per session, with monies going toward tea, coffee, craft supplies etc

This playgroup welcomes Premmies, sick and milestone delayed children that need a little more TLC. Their siblings are also welcome.

Playgroup Contacts
Co-ordinator - Belinda Benitez - Email: belinda.day.benitez@gmail.com ; Ph: 0418 250 007
Vice Co-ordinator – Gabrielle Shorten - Email gabrielleshorten@y7mail.com ; Ph: 0407 066 814
Secretary – Tracey Bencetti - Email tmbencetti@yahoo.com.au ; Ph: 0466 545 974
Treasurer – Louisa Stalling - Email: louisastalling@yahoo.com.au ; Ph: 0247 213 514

* Please note that for insurance purposes all families wanting to attend this playgroup need join the Playgroup Association of NSW. There is a mandatory annual joining fee payable to the Playgroup Association of NSW but note this will cover you for not only the NNICUPS playgroup but for all playgroups run under the Playgroup Association of NSW banner. For more information please visit their website www.playgroupaustralia.com.au or call 1800 171 882 or email them at admin@playgroupnsw.com.au.

NNICUPS

Who are we? - Nepean Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parents' Support (NNICUPS) is a registered charity based at the Nepean Hospital. Our members are parents of babies who have been cared for in Nepean's NICU.
Our aim is to support parents before and after the birth of their baby and especially while their baby is in the Neonatal Intensive Care (NIC) Unit.

Nepean Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Emotions

• Emotions – parents who have been through similar situations are often the best ones to relate to. We have a number of caring parents who have experienced the trauma of having a sick or premature baby in the NICU and they form our Parents Support Group.
  They visit the Unit regularly and are caring people who really understand what new parents are going through.
  They also visit the antenatal and post natal wards and are willing to answer any questions or listen to any concerns or challenges that parents may have.

Fund Raising / Breastfeeding / Equipment

• Fundraising for the Nepean NICU – NNICUPS has many fundraising projects where money raised goes towards the purchase of equipment and providing facilities which help alleviate some of the stress parents are facing.
  Over the years we have provided breast pumps to assist mothers breastfeeding (link to NNICUPS - breastfeeding / bottlefeeding page) at home, furniture for the parent areas of the NIC Unit and much needed funds that go towards vital medical equipment.
  In recent times we have helped purchase a state of the art ultrasound machine and a new Intensive care “cot”.
  We have also provided an area where parents can go for some “time out” being a courtyard attached to the Quiet room.
• ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS ON SALE NOW! 20% OF PROCEEDS TO GO DIRECTLY TO NICCUPS. Click on the fundraising link above for information and to place your order.

Practical

• Practical – NNICUPS has a library with useful, informative books and newsletters for parents to access. A “Parents' Booklet” has been printed and this is given to all parents when their baby is admitted to the NIC Unit.
  It is a very useful booklet about the Nepean NIC Unit and outlines how to find your way around, explaining who is looking after a baby and many helpful hints for parents including all support services.
  In addition, a NNICUPS - Useful links / resources page is provided to give parents access to other parents support groups both here in Australia and around the world.

Stress

• Having a sick or premature baby and spending time in the Nepean NIC Unit places an enormous amount of Stress on the parents and families of premature babies.
  NNICUPS wish to alleviate some of this stress by providing support as outlined above.
  By offering some words of comfort over a cup of tea, we hope that we can support parents and families through this difficult and challenging time.

Support

• NNICUPS is also an invaluable support for all of its members no matter how long ago their baby was born premature.
  It is so different to having a baby born at full term and it is great to know that you are not alone.
  It certainly helps to meet others whose baby might be that little bit older and you can see how they are doing, and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.