126: How to Prepare for Pregnancy after Preemie

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