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
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- 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
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- 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)
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- 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
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- 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
