Supporting Families in NICUs
Cedar's Wings CIC is dedicated to providing both practical and emotional support for families with infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
About Cedar's Wings CIC
Cedar's Wings CIC is a community interest company dedicated to offering vital support services for families with infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).
We provide both practical and emotional assistance, ensuring families receive the guidance and compassion they need during this challenging time.
Located within the health and social care sector, Cedar's Wings aims to empower families, fostering resilience and hope.
Did you know?
In 2023 in England, about 8.1% of births were preterm (i.e. born before 37 completed weeks) which brings added challenges around feeding, growth, and immunity.
Every year in the UK, around 60,000 babies spend time in a Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU).
Babies may be admitted because they are born too soon, too small, or need extra medical help after birth.
NICU stays can last days, weeks, or even months depending on the baby’s needs.
With the right support, nutrition, warmth and care, preterm babies can thrive. But often, families face extra costs, stress, and logistical hurdles along the way.
While NICUs provide specialist care, families often face long journeys, separation from home, and unexpected costs.
Behind every incubator is a family doing their best to stay strong, hopeful, and present.
Why our work matters
Travel and transport
Daily trips to and from hospital can quickly add up in petrol, train fares, bus tickets, or parking fees.
Accommodation
Some families live far from the hospital. Paying for hotels or temporary stays near the NICU becomes a huge expense.
Food and Sustenance
Hospital cafés and takeaways are often the only options. Costs climb when parents are spending long hours on site.
Toiletries and essentials
Unexpected, prolonged stays mean buying extra toiletries, clothing, baby supplies, and personal care kits.
Loss of income
Time off work, especially when maternity/ paternity leave.
Childcare for siblings
Parents with other children may need urgent childcare support, sometimes at short notice and higher cost.
Single-parent challenges
Without a partner to share responsibilities, one parent must manage recovery, hospital visits, and caring for other children simultaneously.
Emotional toll
The stress of uncertainty, exhaustion, and constant vigilance adds to mental health pressure, isolation is common.
C-section recovery
A parent recovering from surgery may struggle with mobility, pain, and fatigue, making travel and daily logistics harder (especially if alone).
Hidden costs
Things like laundry, phone bills (keeping in touch with family/work), and buying small comforts for the baby’s bedside often go unnoticed but weigh heavily.
Emotional Support
Counselling and peer support help families cope with the emotional challenges of a NICU stay.
Counselling 🤝
A NICU stay can be an incredibly stressful and traumatic experience for parents. It's often a time of shock, fear, and uncertainty. A professional counsellor can provide a safe space for parents to process these complex emotions.
They can offer strategies for managing anxiety and depression, teach coping mechanisms, and help families navigate difficult decisions.
Counselling can be a lifeline, empowering parents to feel more in control and resilient during a time when so much feels out of their hands.
Peer Support 🫂
Connecting with other parents who have experienced a NICU journey can be incredibly validating.
Peer support groups or one-on-one connections allow parents to share their stories and realize they aren't alone. This shared understanding can reduce feelings of isolation and provide a sense of community.
Other parents can offer practical advice, emotional encouragement, and hope, demonstrating that it's possible to get through this challenging time. It's a powerful way to build a support network with people who truly "get it".
Community Involvement
Building a supportive community to connect families with shared experiences.
We'll advertise all our upcoming events through a variety of channels to make sure families know about them.
We will use a combination of our website, social media, and direct communication to reach the widest audience. This ensures everyone has the opportunity to join in and connect with the community.
