Worrying about money

[dancestomyowntune]

This sounds like such a non-issue but with my baby in hospital, long term (she's a 30weeker, currently five days old so likely to be there for approximately 8 weeks) I have just worked out that if I visit daily it is going to cost me £100 or more a week just in travel costs. She is in a hospital 40 miles away and I do not drive, and have other children to keep routines going for. Does anybody know if there is any financial help available for travel costs?

I have asked if there is any possiblity she could be transferred to our more local scbu in a couple of weeks but the neonatal nurse said that there are strict weight/feeding criteria for transfer and the likelihood is that by the time she meets the criteria she may be ready to come home.

Does the hospital she is in have parent accommodation? Ours did and it allowed parents who lived far away to stay within walking distance from the hospital. Often they are run by charities, I think ours was Ronald McDonald house charity.

Dances - it is really really hard. I think Bliss is the place to go for advice.

We had a 100 mile journey from home to the NICU, our house was sold when I was on hospital bed rest and our move/new house was 400 miles away (a job related move too). All our belongings went into storage, DH had to rent a tiny apartment just for him and the dog and I had to pay to live at a charity house while completing on the house we couldn't move into. The additional costs for us were massive - I dread to think how much we racked up tbh.

You are still amazing by the way .

Thank you, I'll look into Bliss. I'm just worried that I'm not going to be able to see her every day and all I want is to be with her. I have four other children as well so I have to keep things normal for them too.

Congratulations . Sorry that your baby is not in a closer hospital. Speak to the finance office at your DDs hospital. If you are in receipt of certain benefits they may reimburse you your travel costs. This was the case when my twins were in NICU. All the best to you all.

I was in the same position and never found anything. Sorry. Nor was there anything for the 60+ outpatient appts with the rest of the kids in tow.