Almost one year on and I remain eternally grateful to those people who helped us through the first 59 days of Esther and William’s lives.

Do you know someone with a baby / babies in NICU?

See what you can do x

Send an email or text to let us know that you are thinking about us

Remember I am a person not just the mother of premature babies! Same for Daddy too.

Listen to us, but don’t be offended if we don’t want to talk

Be patient with us, we are feeling hurt and pain and anger as well as love and pride for our new arrivals

Don’t ask us what we need doing as we often have no spare energy to think of the things that seem obvious to everyone else

Send tiny clothes and soft toys for the babies to brighten up their hospital space

Write letters and cards that can be read to the babies and perhaps tell them who you are to them

Although you may not be able to visit the babies you can visit the parents in the hospital for a chat and a cup of tea, to break up their day

A tea or coffee in the hospital cafe can mean so so much (average mummy)

Posh handcream – I have never washed my hands so many times in all my life!

Cook them a meal or take them out for food

Give them time and space when they bring their babies home to get used to being a family

Don’t be offended if you are asked not to visit for a while

Keep on sending messages of support but don’t always expect something in return just know that your messages are wanted, needed and warmly received. Thank you x

Know that the pain never really goes away and that even one year on, especially one year on, as the fear and feelings come flooding back, we may still need your help x