Navigating NICU
The NICU can be a profoundly traumatic environment for parents especially as Australian hospitals are not set up to support the mother infant dyad. Unfortunately there is a lot of pathologisation of normal mothering behaviours, bullying of parents and a lack of evidence based care.
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Working with consumers, the MCN created a guideline for women, doulas, childbirth educators and other birth workers to help families navigate this system.
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The guideline assists families:
-Understanding abuse in NICU
-When misinformation has been given
-How to advocate without issues escalating to inappropriate child protection involvement
-Communication strategies so care is focused on baby's needs
-How to make sure breastfeeding is respected
-How to safely navigate declining precautionary antibiotics
-How to keep a paper trail
-Resources to go to for help and assistance
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This document is a consumer-led advocacy resource. It is not a clinical or research-based guideline and does not replace medical, psychological, or legal advice.
It is grounded in the lived experiences of families and maternity consumers who have navigated NICU admissions and sought peer-to-peer advocacy support. The content reflects patterns and concerns raised through consumer casework and community reports.
This resource is intended for use in situations where families have concerns about communication, consent processes, or potential mistreatment and are seeking practical strategies to advocate for their baby.
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This document remains under review and refinement. It has been released in response to urgent consumer need, and updates will be made as further revisions are completed.
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This is a project coordinated and conducted by MCN committee member Emilia Bhat. For any queries about this guideline, please email Emilia on support@maternityconsumernetwork.org.au
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NICU Documents
When navigating the NICU it is important parents have their own documentation and paper trails. The MCN has created a few documents that may assist parents through their journey. This includes an Informed Consent Form for antibiotics, a advocacy meeting checklists when seeing the paediatricians to make a plan of care for baby and forms to make sure breast milk has been stored properly when baby is transferred to another hospital.
Use this form when doctors wish to give your baby antibiotics. With the exception of an emergency, you have the right to negotiate treatment. This form helps make sure providers maintain their informed consent responsibilities and makes it difficult for false child protection reports regarding refusal of care.
Use this form if your baby is being transferred to another hospital and you are sending breastmilk with them. The form can go to the support person or family going with baby or can be kept with you to do over the phone with the NICU. This form must be sent to patient liaison email with request it is acknowledged in writing and passed on to the Nursing Unit Manager