Hand to Hold

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Hand to Hold Hand to Hold is dedicated to providing early intervention mental health support before, during, & after a NICU stay, at no cost to families-English & Spanish.

Handle to Hold® is a national nonprofit that provides personalized emotional support, educational resources and community before, during and after a NICU stay. When babies need the specialized medical attention of a NICU, it is emotionally traumatic to the parent and disruptive to traditional parent-baby bonding. Support is provided to parents at no cost to NICU or bereaved families and all support is designed with the emotional, physical and social needs of the NICU parent. Our caring professional staff team is comprised of NICU graduate and bereaved parents.

Leslie’s advice to other NICU parents is simple but powerful: keep asking questions, take a moment when you need one, an...
10/19/2026

Leslie’s advice to other NICU parents is simple but powerful: keep asking questions, take a moment when you need one, and trust yourself as you advocate for your baby.

In the NICU, parents may be asked to make important decisions while recovering from birth, learning unfamiliar medical terms and coping with uncertainty. That can feel overwhelming.

Leslie learned that it was okay to ask for something to be explained again. It was okay to say, “May I take a moment?” And it was okay to keep gathering information until she felt ready to make the best decision she could for her son.

Parents should feel informed, included and supported throughout the decision-making process.

Click through for Leslie’s advice and read more at handtohold.org/informedconsent.
In partnership with Prolacta Bioscience.

10/16/2026

A night to celebrate. A community that shows up. A mission that continues. 💚

We’re reliving the joy, connection, and generosity of Dell Children’s Hope Gala: An Evening for Hand to Hold!

To our guests, sponsors, donors, and volunteers—thank you for making this celebration so meaningful. Your support helps Hand to Hold provide compassionate support to NICU families through the challenges, milestones, and moments when they need someone by their side.

Watch a few highlights from a beautiful evening—and know that the impact of your generosity reaches far beyond the celebration.

Together, we’re reminding NICU families: You are not alone. 💚



Dell Children's Medical Center BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT Tumble22 Barnison Catering StDavidsHealthCare Pop Maison

10/15/2026

Today, on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, we pause to honor the babies who are forever loved, forever remembered, and forever part of their families’ stories. 💜

For the Roldan family, their NICU journey brought moments of love, hope, and unimaginable loss. Through the loss of their daughter Arianna and the continued journey of her twin sister, Gabriella, their story is a powerful reminder that love and grief can exist side by side.

We are deeply grateful to the Roldan family for allowing us to walk alongside them and for sharing their story in honor of Arianna.

To every parent remembering a baby today, we see you. Your baby matters. Your love matters. And you do not have to navigate grief alone.

At Hand to Hold, we offer compassionate bereavement support and connection for families navigating loss in the NICU.

💚 There is always a hand to hold.

Learn more at handtohold.org.

NICU professionals, last call! 🚨 Early bird registration for the 2026 NICU Mental Health Conference closes tomorrow, Oct...
10/08/2026

NICU professionals, last call! 🚨 Early bird registration for the 2026 NICU Mental Health Conference closes tomorrow, October 9. Don’t miss your chance to save your spot while saving on registration. We want you to be part of the meaningful conversations that are shaping the future of NICU mental health while earning CEs!*

💚 NICU Parents: You can register 100% free!

🎟️ Register today, link in the comments!

📚*CEs available for LCSW, LMFT, RN, and Child Life (must register as a NICU professional to qualify)

Thank you to the incredible sponsors helping make this event possible!
Keenova, AngelEye Health, National Coalition for Infant Health, Prolacta Bioscience

Content warning: death and dying. Exhaustion and sleep deprivation is a part of any parent’s story. In this episode, we ...
10/07/2026

Content warning: death and dying.

Exhaustion and sleep deprivation is a part of any parent’s story. In this episode, we visit with professor, neonatologist, researcher and perinatal expert, Dr. Susan Hwang about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death) and safe sleep practices. We also explore why NICU graduates may have unique sleep-related risks, offer practical guidance on safe sleep practices, and address the challenges of translating what happens in the NICU to what families do at home. A bonus? We break down what an exhaustion plan is and how you can make it work for you and your baby.

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. https://handtohold.org/episode-162-safe-sleep-sids-exhaustion-plans/

When you’re asked to make a medical decision for your baby, it can be hard to know what to ask—especially when you’re al...
10/05/2026

When you’re asked to make a medical decision for your baby, it can be hard to know what to ask—especially when you’re already overwhelmed.

For Leslie, three questions helped her better understand her options:

→ Will this affect my baby long term?
→ Are there any alternatives?
→ Why is this option the best?

These simple questions gave her a place to start and helped her feel more informed as she participated in decisions about her son’s care.

You don’t have to have all the right words. Asking for clarification, more information or another explanation is part of the informed consent process.

Save these questions for a time when you may need them.

Read more about informed consent and Leslie's story at handtohold.org/informedconsent. In partnership with Prolacta Bioscience.

☕ This October, your cup of coffee can help NICU families breathe a little easier.Did you know caffeine is commonly used...
10/03/2026

☕ This October, your cup of coffee can help NICU families breathe a little easier.

Did you know caffeine is commonly used in the NICU to help premature babies breathe? Carefully monitored doses can help stimulate breathing when a baby’s developing respiratory system needs extra support.

And while NICU teams care for babies through each fragile milestone, Hand to Hold is there to support the families beside them.

Our goal is to raise $8,000 to provide free support for NICU and bereaved families, including peer mentors, professional counseling, support groups and educational resources.

No matter where you live, you can take part in Sip for Strength. Donate the cost of a cup of coffee, raise your cup for NICU families, and help make sure families have someone to turn to during some of their hardest moments.

If you’re in the Austin area, you can also support one of our participating Sip for Strength coffee shop partners featured here.
Mojo Coffee
Austin Java
La Dosis Coffee + Cocktails

☕ Make a gift today and help us brew hope for NICU families. https://givebutter.com/coffee-for-a-preemie-ajsid6

Raise your cup, snap a photo of your coffee, and share it with and .

Four themes. One goal: better support for the NICU community.This November 4–5, we’re bringing NICU parents and professi...
10/02/2026

Four themes. One goal: better support for the NICU community.

This November 4–5, we’re bringing NICU parents and professionals from across the country together virtually for the 2026 NICU Mental Health Conference to explore the perspectives shaping NICU mental health. Don’t miss conversations on:
🌎 Health Equity | 💙 Burnout & Self-Care | 🫂 Trauma-Informed Care | 🦋 Grief & Loss

Register today, link in the comments!

💚 NICU Parents: You can register for free!
🩺 NICU Professionals: CEUs will be available*
⭐ Early Bird Pricing: Professionals can save on registration through Oct. 9

📚*CEUs available for LCSW, LMFT, RN, and Child Life (must register as a NICU professional to qualify)

Thank you to our generous sponsors:
Keenova, AngelEye Health, National Coalition for Infant Health, Prolacta Bioscience

The possible outcomes for Keishera and Greg Joubert’s baby, Cassian, with Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome (C...
09/30/2026

The possible outcomes for Keishera and Greg Joubert’s baby, Cassian, with Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome (CHAOS) were grim. Doctors tried one option and failed, so in an act of faith surgeons tried a highly risky partial delivery to address the airway and then hoped for a chance at life as they awaited the second delivery, weeks later. This episode is as remarkable as the Jouberts and their son. If you need a dose of hope from parents who have “been there, done that,” this one’s for you. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts: https://handtohold.org/episode-161-born-twice-for-a-chance-at-life/

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