NI nurse's baby book brings hope and comfort to parents in Ulster Hospital’s neonatal unit

A dedicated Northern Ireland nurse has opened up on why she was inspired to create a resource for parents navigating the complex and emotional journey of having a sick or premature new-born in Neonatal Intensive Care.

Belle Stevenson, who works in the Neonatal Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital, created the book in memory of two family members, Alana Robb and Adam Knox, who sadly passed away after birth.

One Day at a Time is unique in its approach, narrating the neonatal journey from the perspective of the baby. It guides parents through the experience, offering words of reassurance and encouraging them to take care of their own mental health.

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The book is part of a comforting pack that also includes a soft teddy bear named “Awhi,” featured in the story and a small heart-shaped stone. The book contains relatable scenarios that may occur within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit offering comfort to parents that their baby is in safe hands.

Illustrated with care by Belle’s talented daughter, Sian Robb, the book’s visuals add a personal and poignant touch. Pages are also provided for personalisation, allowing parents to record their baby’s milestones, height, weight, and a photo at birth, creating a keepsake to treasure.

The packs have been sponsored by the Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland’s Gabrielle Award.

Reflecting on her inspiration to create the book, Belle said: “I started working on One Day at a Time during my student placement around the time of Covid. I saw first-hand how traumatic it was for parents to have a child in intensive care, and I wanted to do something to ease their journey and raise awareness about perinatal mental health. I spoke with parents to understand what they were experiencing, and from their feedback, the book was born.”

Belle continued, “The book welcomes parents to their new-born and eases them through that difficult first separation when the baby goes to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Through the book, the baby ‘speaks’ to the parents, reassuring them, ‘You must look after yourself. I’m in a safe environment.’ It encourages them to take each day as it comes, one day at a time.

“I am so proud of my daughter, Sian, who drew all the illustrations throughout the book. It is very special, she is so gifted with her art and the fact that she helped me with the book and put a lot of time into it. It means so much and I just hope that anybody lucky enough to get this pack is blessed with the love that went into making it because it was something special.”

Belle recently made a heartfelt donation to the neonatal unit at the Ulster Hospital when she presented a collection of special memory packs featuring the book One Day at a Time, a resource for parents navigating the complex and emotional journey of having a sick or premature new-born in Neonatal Intensive Care.

Chairman of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Jonathan Patton, said: “This is such a fabulous gift from Belle who’s a very committed and passionate nurse and the book will be a massive advantage and benefit to many parents who are using the Neonatal Unit for their new-borns.

“This is a traumatic place to come to, it’s a place of great calm and great peace, but yet babies are here because they need intensive care, so that book will be a resource for mums and for dads, a piece of solace for them to just record baby’s movements and baby’s time here in ICU and have a memory for life.

“Peri-natal mental health is a really important issue that is suffered by many mums after birth and it is important that we have support mechanisms in place. This book is one more piece in that tool kit that allows staff to support mums and dads and be part of that holistic care we are giving here at the Ulster Hospital.”

Ward Manager at the Ulster Hospital, Sharon Ferguson, also praised Belle’s thoughtful gift, adding: “One Day at a Time provides both comfort and practical knowledge to parents as they navigate what can be the most challenging period of their lives. The teddy bear and the book offer a source of support, helping parents through their journey in our unit.

“Belle has recognised that there is a need for a little booklet like this that the parents can have both as a keepsake and as a comfort for them as well as giving them some knowledge during their neonatal journey. Going through what is probably going to be the most difficult time of their lives when they have a sick baby in the neonatal can be so overwhelming for them.

“Having a little teddy just to hold on to as a reminder and as a comfort and having a booklet that gives them wee pointers along the way, will be absolutely invaluable and will help them in their journey in the Unit.”

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