Our goal for this podcast has been to talk with parents and families who have “been there” so they can share about their NICU experience, as well as experts who have some kind of connection to the NICU field… Cynthia’s experience and career path actually check both boxes so this episode is kind of a hybrid. We talk about her personal experiences and how she navigated the NICU and post-NICU journey within her family, and also about her point of view as a Mental Health Therapist in the field.
Quick Call Outs from the Episode:
- There is grief in letting go of the expectation of having a “typical pregnancy” and “typical birth experience”
- Cynthia shares that in the early days after the NICU she experienced Postpartum Depression, she didn’t feel prepared and her survival mechanism was to operate on “auto pilot”
- The NICU is a traumatic experience, and afterwards you may experience triggers
- We don’t choose what will cause a trigger - and when you’re just out of the NICU those triggers can be louder than when there is distance from that experience
- It’s helpful to deal with them as they present themselves, acknowledging them and naming them
- As they present themselves, tease them out. What is coming from trauma? What is hormonal? What is something that is just part of your personality?
- The NICU doesn’t leave you, but there is a big community of support for you after you leave. Sometimes you need to tap into that community, or you need to speak to a professional and receive social support.
- Cynthia has found that as a result of her NICU experience, she sometimes navigates feelings of defensiveness and combativeness towards medical professionals because she pushes back and asks questions. She sees that with the NICU families she works with as well.
- Andrea asks - What if we reframe that perspective and instead, consider that as a result of our NICU experiences, we become greater advocates for our children when working with medical professionals which is why we are asking follow up questions and insisting on having a greater understanding of our child’s ongoing care
- Cynthia takes a minute to give one more reminder to acknowledge and name your triggers - ignoring them PAUSES your PROGRESS. Love that advice!
- Self care is important; mark self care part of your parenting
- Resources we love:
You can also connect with Cynthia via her email (cynthia@handtohold.org).
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A special thanks to the Prolacta Bioscience Foundation for supporting the NICU Alumni podcast!
You can also support our mission and help create brighter futures for babies that have graduated from the NICU (who we affectionately refer to as NICU Alumni) and their families by donating here.
The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.