Maternal mental health after NICU: Common conditions and where to find support | S3E46

Therapy around the NICU experience is obviously something that can be really powerful to help you process and manage the trauma… but what if there was something you could do in tiny moments, by yourself while in the hospital, at home, out on a walk or even at your desk?Today’s guest, Victoria Craig, is a PhD student helping to research techniques that can help NICU parents process their trauma – namely the Butterfly Hug and Tetris.In this episode, we’re chatting about:- Why the trauma often hits NICU parents months or even years down the line- Bilateral stimulation and how it can help trauma- All the information you need to start using both the Butterfly Hug and Tetris techniques- Why feeling validated and surrounded by a community can help you after your neonatal stay💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

This episode is for the dads. The “rocks”. The ones who feel they have to hold it together and support everyone else – to the point that they maybe don’t even realise they’re struggling.Luke and Tom from Dad Matters join us  to share all about their own NICU experiences, how being “the rock” can be a harmful expectation for a dad, and how Dad Matters have created a service solely designed to support dads through the perinatal period.In this episode, we’re chatting about:- What dads really go through in NICU- Why “I’m fine” probably isn’t true, even if dad don’t realise it yet- The burden that comes with being “the rock”- The Dad Matters services that can help dads through the NICU experience💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

Leila Green experienced mum guilt hard – after her triplets were born at 33 weeks, and split between NICU and home, she constantly felt like she was letting at least one of them down at any given moment.She soon realised mum guilt doesn’t help anyone – and it certainly isn’t the indicator that you care about your children. Now a writer, speaker and the founder of F*** Mum Guilt, Leila shares her story with us, how she broke out of the self-doubt spiral and the four steps you can follow to move on from mum guilt, too.In this episode, we’re chatting about:- Her story of having triplets naturally following two miscarriages- When the mum guilt started and why it caused a self-doubt spiral- How she handled being split between having two babies at home and one in NICU- The “F*** Mum Guilt” movement and why Leila now offers the support she didn’t receive- Four powerful steps to letting go of mum guiltJoin us for a conversation every NICU parent needs to hear!💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

It’s like the worst food poisoning of your life… Every. Single. Day. Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is not just morning sickness, and unfortunately, it’s often misunderstood – even by medical professionals.Clinical Psychologist and founder of The Pregnancy Psychologist, Dr. Rosie Gilderthorp joins the NICU Space podcast to share her personal experience of HG, what it’s really like to live through it and most importantly, how you can get support if you’re going through it too.We’re discussing:- High levels of sickness in pregnancy- Losing your ability to work, your identity and your joy- The mental toll of being dismissed by doctors- Guilt, trauma and grieving the pregnancy you expected- The link between HG and NICU – and why it desperately needs talking aboutIf you’re experiencing HG or have been through it before, we want you to know you’re not alone, and support is out there for you. Tune into today’s episode to learn where to find it.💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

“Is it just me?”If you’ve ever asked yourself that after NICU – you’re not alone. Struggling with your mental health after time in neonatal care is sadly incredibly common for so many of us. There’s lots of different ways you can find your mental health suffering, and in today’s episode, Dr. Frankie is diving into many different conditions, where you can find the support you need and also her own story of anxiety after neonatal care.In this episode, Frankie shares:- Feeling frozen and disconnected after her baby’s early arrival- The sneaky ways postnatal anxiety showed up- Why emotions after NICU can feel so messy – and why that’s normal- How to know when it’s time to reach out for support- What healing actually looks like (hint: it’s not about “getting over it”)If you’re carrying heavy feelings after NICU, this episode is for you. You’re not broken, you’re not a bad parent, and you don’t have to do this alone.💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

“I still believe our second earth-side baby is coming.”In this powerful episode, Rachel shares her story – one filled with heartbreak, resilience and unwavering hope.From pregnancy loss to NICU, IVF and everything in between, she speaks with raw honesty about what it means to hold grief and hope at the same time.In this episode, we’re chatting about:- Multiple pregnancy losses, including a missed miscarriage and stillbirth- Living with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)- Her daughter’s premature birth and NICU stay- The emotional toll of IVF – and choosing to take a break- Coping tools that help- Learning to tune into her cycle- Finding hope after trauma💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

When Bex struggled with her infertility, she didn’t imagine she’d end up with four children – let alone going through the journey of having triplets!Now with her three little ones being 16 weeks old (though technically 5 weeks old corrected), she’s right in the thick of adjusting to life at home after NICU. We feel so lucky she agreed to join us on the podcast, as we get to hear her real unfiltered thoughts about NICU and how she’s coping now. In this episode, we’re chatting about:- Her pregnancy with triplets- Giving birth at 29 weeks, with 25 people in the room!- Handling tough emotions whilst being in NICU- What life is like now with four kids under five-years-old- Why community has played such an important role for her💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

It’s been five years since the first COVID lockdown – it’s gone so fast and feels so long ago all at once.  In that time, our guest Tori, from season one, has watched her little girl Phoenix grow into a happy, healthy five-year-old – after she was born at just 25 weeks. Tori herself has processed her trauma after NICU using EMDR, and is now 25 weeks pregnant again.Tori talks about the fact that she isn’t afraid of what the future holds for this baby, NICU or not. She’s massively worked on her OCD and health anxiety and felt ready to have another baby – this time with all the excitement and joy she didn’t feel she could have after the first time. But how? Tori opens up in today’s episode, and Georgie also reflects on how incredibly similar her own mental health challenges have been too.🔥 In this episode, we’re chatting about:⭐ Our guest Tori’s experience of giving birth to baby Phoenix at just 25 weeks at the start of the first COVID lockdown⭐ What impact the lockdowns had on Tori’s pre-existing OCD and health anxiety⭐️ Tori’s fears of how NICU and lockdowns might affect Phoenix, and being unable to see family for such a long time⭐️ How Tori has processed her trauma after NICU using different types of therapy⭐️ How Tori decided she wanted to have another baby⭐️ How Tori feels now that she’s reached 25 weeks pregnant again and why she’s not fearful of another NICU experienceIf you would love to have another baby, but are worried about going through NICU again, this episode will help you see there may be a way forward.💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

“Is this ADHD? Is this autism? Or is this just trauma?” If you’ve ever asked yourself that question since NICU or birth trauma, you’re NOT alone.Maybe NICU and parenting have made your neurodivergence feel louder than ever. Maybe the sensory overload, emotional dysregulation, or executive dysfunction has hit a whole new level. Or maybe you’re just starting to piece things together, realising that what you thought was “just anxiety” or “just trauma” might actually be something more.Either way, you’re not imagining it. And you’re not the only one.We hear this all the time in The NICU Space, so we brought in the experts. Dr. Jo Mueller and Dr. Lauren Breese from The Neurodiversity Practice help untangle it all.Whether you’ve always known you’re neurodivergent or you’re only just putting the pieces together, this conversation will help you feel a little less alone in it all.In this episode, we’re diving into:- Why NICU & birth trauma can make neurodivergence feel louder, harder to manage, or more obvious- The overlap between ADHD, autism & trauma and how to make sense of it- How neurodivergence may show up in NICU and in life after- How masking can make diagnosis tricky and what to do if you’re worried about misdiagnosis- The reality of neurodivergence (beyond the “it’s a superpower” narrative)- How to set boundaries that actually work for you as a neurodivergent parent- Supporting a neurodivergent partner while still holding space for your own needs- Handling family and friends who just don’t get the way you parent💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

In recognition of February being Full-Term Awareness Month, Kate and Joanne are joining us to share the unique experience of having a full-term baby in neonatal care, why it can provide different challenges to having a pre-term baby there, and advice on how they handled invalidation and minimisation from others.We hope this episode helps you to realise that whatever has led you and your baby to NICU, you’re not alone and are always welcome in The NICU Space.In this episode, we’re chatting about:- The HIE events that led to Kate & Joanne’s full-term babies needing NICU stays- Developmental milestone worries- Challenges that come with having a full-term baby in NICU- How to handle people minimising your experience- Kate & Joanne’s advice for other full-term NICU parents💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk