If you are a NICU Parent who either currently has a baby in the NICU, or a NICU graduate, this episode is for you! I recently presented at a NICU Leadership conference and spoke on the parental stressors common to NICU Parents and the trauma and PTSD often associated with it. I decided to share some portions of my speech with you due to its’ relevance to all NICU families. I want all NICU Parents to know that you are not alone and your feelings are common. By minimizing your experience or underplaying the trauma associated with it, it will prevent you from not only addressing it, but also being able to fully bond with and nurture your baby.
Any parent who has a baby in the NICU will experience stress and trauma regardless of the baby’s diagnosis or the the length of time they spend in the NICU. Parents may be stressed and anxious about the size of their infant, all of the life-saving equipment surrounding them, due to the forced, unnatural separation from their baby, the guilt they experience, or due to all of the feelings of powerlessness and heartbreak they endure watching their fragile infant suffer. And sadly, it is very common for parents to not feel like parents once their baby is admitted to the NICU, which can negatively impact a parent’s ability to bond with and nurture their baby.
If parental distress is not addressed and their involvement is not encouraged, it can create a negative compounding cascade of events. Tune in to hear how many of the feelings common to NICU parents can impact their mental health and ultimately affect their baby and their outcomes if not addressed. I close by offering recommendations to NICU Parents as someone who has walked the path as a NICU parent before you and definitely have some regrets in how I handled my trauma!
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