Download the Compass app by March of Dimes
The Compass app supports parents and caregivers on their journey from pregnancy through postpartum by providing answers, resources and compassion at every step.
Navigating the NICU
Having a baby in the NICU can be a scary and isolating time for parents. While other new parents may be home with their newborns, NICU parents are navigating complex medical care, unfamiliar milestones and daily uncertainty — often while balancing work, traveling back and forth to the hospital and caring for other children.
Here are a few ways to help ease the stress:
-
Take care of yourself.
You are healing too. Try to eat well, rest when you can and protect your health. Getting sick may limit your visits to the NICU. -
Set boundaries.
It’s okay to say "no" to visits, calls or updates from loved ones. -
Accept help.
Meals, childcare and transportation can make a big difference. Say "yes" when help truly helps. -
Advocate for your baby.
Ask questions and speak up if something doesn’t feel right. -
Find support.
Ask hospital staff about local support groups or resources, connect with other NICU parents, or join an online support group. Breastfeeding parents can find support through La Leche League.
You don’t have to go through this alone.
Schedule a Visit with a Family Connects NJ Nurse
Family Connects NJ is a program that connects parents with a specially trained nurse for a personalized follow-up visit at home within the first two weeks after their newborn's birth. This service is helpful for parents of babies in the NICU, providing guidance, support and resources tailored to your family’s needs.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If your newborn is receiving care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), you will want to learn as much as you can about your baby’s health. Use these questions to help prepare for the next time you speak with your healthcare provider or click below to download the questions.
Postpartum Period
The period after delivery and up to 42 days is called the postpartum period or the 4th Trimester.
4th Trimester, What Is it?
Typically, when pregnancy is discussed, three trimesters are mentioned, along with the symptoms of pregnancy or key developmental milestones of the fetus.
The 4th trimester is a term some doctors use to describe the needs of a birthing individual who has recently given birth. This period may last for the first 3 months after delivery as they transition into parenthood.
The needs and care of the birthing person and the family during the postpartum period are often overlooked. However, it is just as important for families to plan for the 4th trimester as it is for the planning of the first three trimesters!
Caring for Your Health During the 4th Trimester
-
Mood & Emotional Well-Being
Monitor your mental health. Postpartum depression, anxiety and psychosis are common. If you feel persistent sadness, anxiety or have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, seek help from a provider, therapist,or support group right away. -
Infant Care & Feeding
Breastfeeding has many benefits, but feeding (whether breast or formula) can be challenging. Support is available through WIC, lactation consultants and medical providers to help you make informed feeding choices. -
Sexuality, Contraception & Birth Spacing
Recovery and newborn care can affect readiness for sex. Many providers recommend waiting about 6 weeks before intercourse. Talk with your provider about contraception and birth spacing; waiting at least 18 months between pregnancies can reduce health risks. -
Sleep & Fatigue
Sleep deprivation is common and affects mood and safety. Ask for help from your support system, rest when possible, take naps and follow safe sleep practices. -
Physical Recovery
Healing after birth may include pain, bleeding or other physical symptoms. Attend your 6-week postpartum visit and be honest about symptoms. Seek urgent care if you experience postpartum warning signs. -
Medications, Substances & Exposures
Check with your provider before taking medications or substances, especially if breastfeeding. Reduce exposure to harmful substances like lead by testing water or paint if needed. Learn more about lead exposure during pregnancy.
Bereavement
There are five types of perinatal loss:
Pregnancy is often one of the most exciting times in the life of a birthing individual, couple and family. The announcement of a pregnancy typically brings hope and plans for the arrival of a healthy baby. Unfortunately, some families experience the devastating loss of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Loss during pregnancy or the newborn period is commonly referred to as perinatal loss, and regardless of the cause, grief is a natural and deeply personal response.
Families in New Jersey who experience stillbirth or other forms of perinatal loss are not alone. NJ Stillbirth and Pregnancy Loss Resources are available to support grieving parents through education, peer support, counseling referrals and remembrance services. These resources are designed to help families navigate grief, honor their baby and find compassionate support during this difficult time.
Mental Health
Mental Health:
-
Mental Health affects the way we think, act, make decisions and handle stressors.
-
Becoming a parent makes many people feel different about themselves, priorities and how they perceive the world.
-
If stress, anxious thoughts or sadness is becoming overwhelming and too much to manage it is important to get help.
Resources for Mental Health:
-
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - https://988lifeline.org/ - 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
-
The Peer Recovery Warmline - 1-877-292-5588 - Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties
-
JSAS Healthcare, Inc - Ocean and Monmouth Counties
-
Rutgers Health University Behavioral Health Care - Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Essex, Hudson and Union Counties
-
Eva’s Village, Inc - Bergen and Passaic Counties
-
Zufall Health Center, Inc. - Morris, Sussex and Warren Counties
Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that can affect birthing individuals who have just given birth.
Crucial to understanding postpartum depression:
- Every birthing individual might experience postpartum depression symptoms differently.
-
A birthing individual affected by postpartum depression might experience feelings of intense sadness, anxiety and exhaustion that make it extremely difficult to carry out daily activities such as caring for themselves or others.
Postpartum depression symptoms a birthing individual might experience include:
-
Feeling deeply sad, empty or hopeless
-
Feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities of being a new parent
-
Feeling extremely worried or anxious
-
Feeling irritable, moody or more easily frustrated than usual
-
Feeling rage or anger
-
Having feelings of physical discomfort, including headaches, stomach aches and muscle pain
-
Being unable to sleep when the baby is sleeping
-
Oversleeping or having a hard time getting out of bed
-
Not eating enough or overeating
-
Trouble remembering details, making daily choices and concentrating
-
Losing interest in activities you typically enjoy
-
Losing interest in meaningful relationships with family, friends and loved ones
-
Struggling to connect or build an emotional attachment with your new baby
-
Doubt in your ability to care for the baby
-
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
-
The “Baby Blues”:
-
The “Baby Blues” is a term used to describe the feelings of worry, sadness and/or exhaustion that up to 80% of mothers experience.
-
Caring for a new baby is very difficult, and new moms might feel overwhelmed, isolated or frustrated in their new roles.
-
These feelings are often mild, and they tend to go away within a week or two.
-
It can be hard to tell the difference between postpartum depression and the “Baby Blues".
-
If a birthing individual is wondering if the symptoms she is experiencing are postpartum depression, the “Baby Blues” or something else, she should visit a healthcare provider right away.
Causes of Postpartum Depression:
-
Postpartum depression does not have anything to do with what an individual did or did not do during pregnancy.
-
There are likely many combining factors that cause postpartum depression including:
-
After giving birth, the individual often experiences a quick and drastic drop in hormone levels, including estrogen and progesterone. This drop in hormone levels might create chemical changes in the brain and body that affect the individual's mood.
-
Losing a large amount of sleep can lead to exhaustion and contribute to postpartum depression symptoms.
-
Postpartum Depression Risk Factors:
-
Certain factors can contribute to a higher risk of postpartum depression for some individuals, although postpartum depression can occur for anyone
-
Preterm birth (before 37 weeks)
-
Complications with pregnancy, labor, delivery and/or birth
-
Receiving little to no support from family or friends to help care for the new baby
-
Unplanned pregnancy
-
Being a teen mom or birthing individual
-
History of depression
-
Family history of depression
-
Ongoing stress in day to day life related to issues such as:
-
Violence in the home or community
-
Poverty, financial difficulties or an ongoing struggle to “make ends meet”
-
Housing instability or an ongoing struggle to find a safe, comfortable place to live
-
Giving birth to a baby who needs to be hospitalized
-
Giving birth to twins or triplets
-
