🎉 20 Years of 99nicu 🎉

On May 11, 2026, 99nicu turns 20. It’s a moment that feels deeply meaningful to me.

When I shared the very first words on 99nicu back in 2006, and celibrated our first birth day in 2007, the idea was simple: to create a web-based space where NICU staff could “share and care.” This was before social media as we know it today, when like-minded people gathered on bulletin boards in the era of what we then called Web 2.0 (Wikipedia), guided by the belief that “information wants to be free.” (Those really were the days!)

And yes, our first logo was… not too bad 🙂

Much of my inspiration back then came from 99mac, a community I was part of, where Mac users helped each other with all kinds of IT-related challenges. It made me think: why shouldn’t NICU staff have something similar? As a young neonatal specialist at the time, I was eager to connect beyond my own unit. But with demanding shifts, traveling to conferences was rarely possible.

Since 2006, 99nicu has gone through many phases, from the early “just do it” years, through quieter periods, to where we are today: a full-fledged community with this website, conferences, webinars, and even the NICUVERSE, our own social media feed based on Mastodon.

Over the years, our community has grown into something greater than a website. It’s a place of generosity, curiosity, and support. I’ve seen colleagues from around the world come together to discuss complex cases, challenge ideas, and stand by each other during difficult moments.

For me personally, 99nicu has been an incredible journey. I’ve learned so much from all of you, and I feel truly grateful to have been part of building and nurturing this community together. Your willingness to share knowledge and perspectives, with the common purpose of improving care for newborns and their families, is such a source of inspiration. It’s also a powerful reminder that there is still a lot of good in the world.

To everyone who has contributed over the past 20 years, whether by asking a question, sharing an insight, or simply being present, thank you ❤️ You are what makes 99nicu what it is.

As we celebrate this milestone, I’m excited about what lies ahead. The need for connection and collaboration in neonatal care is as important as ever.

With gratitude, Stefan

PS. As a non-profit organization registered with the Swedish Tax Agency, we rely on community support. If you find value in 99nicu, please consider contributing an annual fee of 10 EUR, just click here!