The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) coffee mornings take place each month and were developed by Samantha Barber, Sister and Neonatal Practice Development Nurse, as a supportive space for parents and carers of both current and former SCBU patients to come together, share experiences and offer advice.
Reflecting on how the initiative began, Samantha said: “The babies that are treated on our unit are more vulnerable as they are usually premature, underweight, or become unwell after birth. This can be a really stressful time for parents, especially after labour, when you’re expecting to take your child home.
“After seeing how successful the coffee mornings are at the Neonatal Unit at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and having chats with parents and carers on SCBU, I decided that we needed a support group for them – there are existing support groups, but the experience of having a baby on SCBU is completely different.”
One parent who regularly attends the coffee mornings shared their experience: “Having a neonatal baby is a very different experience to a normal delivery. Your journey is different and going home is often more overwhelming.
“Having a neonatal baby is a very different experience to a normal delivery. Your journey is different and going home is often more overwhelming. For that period in SCBU, the nurses are there to support you and your family, and going home is terrifying.
“Having the coffee mornings is such a wonderful idea. They are well organised, a welcome break, and a time to chat with other parents who ‘get it’. We talk about the things that matter to us, and it’s lovely to see familiar faces – other parents, as well as the nurses who become like family when you are in hospital.
“When your baby is small it’s reassuring to see the bigger babies, to know they grow and develop, and to listen to advice from other parents. There’s no medical talk – it’s all social, but a positive and uplifting experience that makes you feel like you’re not on your own.
“It really is such a great idea, and we look forward to them every month!”
The Trust would also like to thank Yorkshire Wildlife Park for generously donating soft toys to the unit.
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) is proud to support initiatives that bring families together through shared experiences, helping to ease what can be a difficult and stressful time.
