Hand to Hold: NICU Support

Hand to Hold

About this app

You are not alone on this journey.

Hand to Hold is the app from the national nonprofit families have trusted for over a decade — now in your pocket, through every step of the NICU and beyond. Whether your baby is in the NICU, you are navigating life after loss, or you are expecting after a high-risk pregnancy, Hand to Hold meets you where you are with peer support, community, and resources built by NICU parents, for NICU parents.

Over 2,000 NICU families have already been supported by our peer mentor program. This app brings that same compassionate, lived-experience support to every family who needs it.

WHAT YOU CAN DO IN THE APP

• Capture milestones and memories. Document the moments that matter — First Hold, First Bath, Kangaroo Care, Off CPAP, Home Sweet Home, and so many more. Add photos, write reflections, and watch your family's journey unfold. For bereaved parents, your child's memories are kept safe in a dedicated space, always honored, always yours.

• Find your community. Join private, moderated groups for families like yours — Preemie Families (27–32 weeks), Moderate/Late Term Families (33–36 weeks), Full Term Families (37 weeks and beyond), Expecting & Waiting, Love & Loss Families, and more. Post openly or anonymously.

• Connect with a peer mentor. Talk one-on-one with a trained NICU parent who has walked this path before you. Free, confidential, and on your schedule.

• Attend virtual support groups. RSVP and join free virtual support groups led by certified peer specialists, including Spanish-speaking Cafecito, Black NICU Families, High-Risk Pregnancy, and journey-specific gatherings. Add events to your calendar in one tap.

• Learn the NICU language. A searchable A–Z glossary explains every term, machine, and medical concept in plain language — APGAR, adjusted age, antepartum, apnea, and beyond. Each entry includes suggested questions to ask your care team, so you walk into every conversation prepared.

• Explore curated resources. Read articles and listen to podcasts written by NICU parents and clinicians. Topics include feeding and nutrition, medical terms, mental health, supporting siblings, pregnancy after loss, and life after the NICU.

BUILT FOR EVERY NICU FAMILY

Hand to Hold supports families through every outcome. When you create your profile, you tell us where you are — NICU parent, bereaved parent, both, or currently expecting — and the app adapts. Language, content, and community recommendations shift to match your journey. You can always update your profile as your needs change. We will be here.

WHY FAMILIES TRUST HAND TO HOLD

Hand to Hold has been supporting NICU families across the country since 2010. Our peer mentors, family support specialists, and mental health peer specialists are NICU parents themselves. We understand because we have lived it.

PRIVACY AND SAFETY

Your privacy matters. Community posts can be made anonymously. Group content is visible only to members. Hand to Hold does not sell your data. Crisis resources, including the Crisis Text Line, are available throughout the app.

FREE FOR FAMILIES

Hand to Hold is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The app is free and always will be. If you would like to support our mission, donations are welcome at handtohold.org.

QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK

Email us at [e-mail]. We read every message and the app gets better because of you.

You are not alone. We are here. Hand to Hold.

What’s new

We’ve updated the app to help our Hand to Hold team better guide and care for everyone in our community groups.

Thank you for letting us walk this path with you. Remember, you are never alone. Have feedback? Reach us anytime at [e-mail].