An Unexpected NICU Stay After a Healing Birth
Are you a NICU mama? Did you and your baby have to navigate an unexpected NICU stay after what seemed like a near-picture-perfect birth? Having now have experienced having a baby in the NICU, I can understand how stressful of a situation it can be.
If you’ve ever felt like your NICU stay was not as "severe" as others so maybe not as valid, please know that is not the case. Your experience matters just as much as the NICU mama next to you.
In this episode, I dive into the following:
The shock I felt having my daughter in the NICU after what was such a beautiful birth experience.
The confusion of trying to figure out the root cause of her issues.
Navigating a NICU stay while healing from birth.
…and so much more!
If you’ve been wondering, “Am I alone in this?”, I promise you’re not. Have a listen!
When your baby is admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), it can be an emotional and challenging experience. Each NICU journey is unique, with its own set of circumstances, emotions, and outcomes. We have to recognize that every NICU stay is different.
Everyone in the thick of a NICU stay goes through a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, hope, and joy. It's important to acknowledge that feelings can fluctuate throughout the NICU stay and that there is no one "right" way to feel. Each emotion is valid and should be acknowledged and supported. As parents, we play a crucial role in our baby's NICU journey. While some of us may actively participate in tasks and decision-making, others may have limitations due to medical or personal circumstances.
You may face confusion and uncertainty during the NICU stay. There will likely be times when you simply don’t have answers for what is happening. It can be scary to not know what is going on or how to help your baby, but communicating with the care team and asking for thorough explanations can help ease your mind.
Healing time in the NICU can vary. Every baby's developmental pace varies, and each achievement should be celebrated. Whether it's a first feeding, weight gain, or successfully weaning off medical interventions, every step forward is progress. Please remember that your baby’s healing progress is not going to look the same as another baby’s. I know it’s hard not to play the comparison game, but try to remember this is your and your baby’s journey and it matters.
A NICU stay, whether expected or unexpected, short or long, is not an easy experience to go through. Being a NICU mom is not a club I ever wanted to have to join. But it’s important that we talk about our experiences so that others don’t feel alone in theirs. We can support each other, even if our experiences look different.
Preparing for a NICU stay could easily be part of our postpartum preparation process. Although it’s not something we plan to happen, it’s something we should be prepared for if it does happen. If you are wanting to be intentional with your postpartum planning and would like a resource to help you, I have a Postpartum Planning Workbook you could check out. It’s filled with worksheets, education, trackers, and guided prompts to help you prepare for postpartum ahead of time instead of when you’re in the thick of it.
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