Need your input!

[LeytonsMom10]

I am thinking about starting a local NICU and preemie support group for parents in the area. I love this message board and I would love to start something where parents meet up to not only support eachother but celebrate the joys of life! I enjoy talking to the NICU moms I have become close with and have heard from other moms they wish they had an outlet like that.

I have searched the area, called hospitals and like the NICU we are at the hospital has set up a parent group but they meet once every few months that I feel like we need something consistantly. I love the idea of lunch meetings or dinner with just moms or dads and also group events for the whole family.

Here's where I need your help. What did you like and dislike in a support group or what would you have wanted if you didn't have a support group.

Thanks guys in advance! As we all know, the comfort of talking to another NICU mom who understands is what we all need sometimes. I want to bring that oppertunity to other moms!

[liberal_chick]

I wish my hospital would've had some sort of support group. They had NOTHING, not even something every few months.

Our NICU shut down for rounds in the evening for about an hour an a half around dinner time. It would've been awesome if we could've had a meeting during that time (with dinner) once a week or so. I always went and had dinner alone then (dh was in Iraq and ds was our first baby). I was really lonely.

[nicky85]

Our hospital did have a weekly parents' lunch. I don't know if that's just because they're a really big children's hospital or what, but they did have something. They had parents of NICU graduates come and talk about how their kids are doing now. We went around and did introductions and the hospital had a table with donated items that we could pick from. We got the most beautiful blanket for our son and a cute, crocheted stuffed dog for him. I think they did their parents' hour. I wish there had been something during the shift change though. That was always kind of hard because they would just kick us out.