September is NICU Awareness Month. If you aren’t familiar with what NICU stands for, it’s where sick or pre-term babies go for specialized care until they are well enough to (hopefully) go home. One of the most common questions I get from parents is about facing another pregnancy after going through a NICU experience. Just the thought of a repeat situation is terrifying for a parent. Today’s show dives into four important steps to take before trying to conceive again after a NICU experience.
Episode Highlights:
- Talk to your partner
-
- Sometimes partners don’t feel included in the NICU experience
- Get your partner’s perspective and understand their feelings
- Make sure your partner isn’t stuck in the trauma response
- Realize that social support is essential for healthy pregnancy outcomes
- Work with a trauma-trained therapist if you need to
- Make a preconception appointment with a high-risk specialist
-
- Get a second opinion on what happened before and how to prevent it
- Get your questions answered before you try again
- Realize that this isn’t a one-time appointment, but may need to be repeated
- Think of this as selecting your team
- Deactivate your arousal system (turn off your stress response)
-
- Understand that none of this is your fault
- Know that a heightened stress response increases the chance of many pregnancy complications
- Look out for unresolved grief and trauma
- Know that mantras, affirmations, and positive thinking will NOT help
- Figure out when the time is right for you
-
- Don’t allow a medical professional to push you when you aren’t ready
- What can you make better right now?
- Realize that there is no right or wrong answer
- Trust your body; it won’t lie to you
Resources:
How to Get a Reliable /Second Opinion - http://bit.ly/003dmep
What Should I Ask My Doctor Free Guide - bit.ly/whattoaskdr
Get More Answers 30-Day Health Advocacy Program - bit.ly/getmoreanswers
Path to Baby: a 1:1 Mind-Body Program to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy - http://bit.ly/pathtobabydm
Find me on Instagram: @healthy.highriskpregnancy
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.