This week’s podcast episode is a roundtable episode with two of our editorial team members, Keely and Savannah! And this week we are talking all about navigating and announcing pregnancy announcements on social media after the NICU.Depending on where you are in your healing journey, social media can sometimes be a joyful and wonderful place to engage, and other times it can invoke feelings of jealousy or longing for the experiences of motherhood that you may have always envisioned. Throughout this episode, they each share not only how they use and process social media in new ways after their NICU journeys and in different seasons of their healing, but also how they use social media in a compassionate way today. We hope that this episode gives you permission to honor your heart and what it is capable of holding in this season of your life!To get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast episode is a replay episode from season 2 of the Dear NICU Mama podcast! As we further our conversation of growing our families after the NICU, we wanted to make sure to re-share this episode as it contains not only invaluable information about high-risk pregnancy after NICU, but also because Dr. Stefanie is a NICU mama herself. For those who find themselves pregnant after the NICU or are considering this journey for their family, we hope you feel seen and heard by this episode.—-For NICU mothers considering having more of their own children, it's not uncommon to wonder, "Will this all happen again?" "Is there anything I can do differently?" And while we do not have a crystal ball to predict the future, we can step away from our google searches and sit down with trusted medical professionals to ask the good and sometimes hard questions.For this week's episode, we had the opportunity to have a conversation with high-risk pregnancy expert, Dr. Stefanie Gefroh Ellison, regarding high-risk pregnancy and pregnancy after NICU. Being a NICU mama herself, she responded to each question with equal parts empathy and equal parts sound medical wisdom. Her responses are meant to be used as a starting point of conversation to have with your OB or trusted physician!In this episode we cover:What qualifies a pregnancy to be “high risk”?If I had a NICU stay in a previous pregnancy, will it happen again?What questions can I ask my medical provider to better prepare as we grow our family?What role do statistics play in determining the journey of a future pregnancy?We hope that this episode offers some sound wisdom and encouragement on all things regrading pregnancy after NICU. Your questions are valid!Dr. Stefanie Gefroh Ellison earned her medical degree at University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Grand Forks, ND. Dr. Gefroh Ellison completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Oakwood Dearborn Medical Park in Dearborn, MI and is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.Dr. Gefroh Ellison has been a provider at Essentia Health since 2004. In addition to her OB/GYN practice, Dr. Gefroh Ellison is Division Chair for Inpatient, Specialty Services, and Women’s and Children’s Services at Essentia Health-West. A NICU mama of 3-year old twins, Dr. Gefroh Ellison has both professional and personal involvement in high risk pregnancy and NICU care. In her free time, Dr. Gefroh Ellison loves being with her husband and kids. Together, they love cooking, traveling and being at the lake in the summer.This podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment.To get connected with Essentia Health Gynecology:Website To get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast episode is Part 2 of Kamille’s motherhood journey and pregnancy with her son, Luuk! Two days before her first son Owen’s birthday, Kamille found out she was pregnancy with Luuk. Throughout this episode she shares vulnerably about what it was like to be pregnant again after the NICU, how she relied on her support system and prioritized her mental health throughout her pregnancy and postpartum period, and how she honors both of her boys’ stories and entrances into the world today.No matter where you are on your family building journey, know that this sisterhood is with you.To listen to Kamille’s part 1, head here!To get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast episode is Part 1 of Kamille’s motherhood journey with her son, Owen! At 20 weeks, Owen was diagnosed with CDH. Throughout her pregnancy, she was closely monitored until his arrival at 38 weeks. Four days after delivery, Owen underwent surgery to repair his diaphragm and move his stomach and intestines out his chest, and he spent a total of 23 days in the NICU! Owen is a thriving 3 year old and big brother to Luuk, who we will get to hear more about in part 2.Our hope is that the mamas in our community who are either coming to terms with a new diagnosis or navigating a high-risk pregnancy would feel seen, heard, and validated through that episode. You are never ever alone!To get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we have the privilege of speaking with Katie Taylor from Child Life On Call! One of the most commonly asked questions in our support forum is how to not only balance being a mom to kids at home and in the NICU, but also how to include their older kids with their new sibling’s NICU journey in a way that feels safe and easy to comprehend. And we couldn’t think of a better guests to talk about this today than Katie!In this episode we cover:What are some ways we can talk to our kids about their sibling being in the NICU without scaring or overwhelming them?What encouragement would you offer families that are struggling with splitting time between their kids at home and their child in the NICU?What are ways that parents can encourage and establish a bond between siblings while in the NICU?When possible, how can families prepare their older children to visit their new sibling in the NICU?How can they introduce the new baby into the family at home and reassure their older children of all the new changes, especially if their new sibling requires ongoing medical attention or care?We hope this conversation affirms that NICU mama, you are the best mother to ALL of your children, and your love is and will always be more than enough. 💕Katie Taylor is a certified child life specialist, podcast host and CEO + Founder Child Life On Call.  With the expertise of a child life specialist and the heart of a momma, Katie's passion is supporting parents, kids and the care team with the tools they deserve so they can transform from overwhelmed to empowered during medical experiences. With over a decade of in-hospital experience, Katie has helped hundreds of families cope with and navigate challenging life events.Katie graduated from the Pennsylvania State University and has studied and worked at facilities like Children's National Medical Center, Inova Children's Hospital, Dell Children's Medical Center and St. David's Children's Hospital. She authored her first children's book, Super Silly Wash Your Hands Dance, in early 2020 and has been featured in the media as a child development expert. When she's not doing all things Child Life On Call, she loves spending time in the great trails of the Hill Country with her husband and two children, listening to audiobooks and visiting local Austin breweries.To get connected with Katie:Website | Instagram | Facebook | Child Life On Call PodcastTo get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | InstagramThis podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s podcast episode, we have the honor of hearing the miraculous NICU journey of Sully! Sully was born at 31 weeks during the height of the pandemic due to Paige developing severe preeclmapsia. While in the NICU, he developed NEC, which led to three surgeries, a G-tube, and a 131 day NICU stay. Sully is now two years old, G-tube free, and the happiest toddler in the world!
To the G-tube and medical mamas in our sisterhood, we hope you feel heard and celebrated throughout this episode. This sisterhood honors not only your child’s resilience, but also yours NICU mama.To get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we are excited to release another roundtable episode! As we continue our theme of growing our families after NICU, we invited Ebony and Carrita back on the podcast as they are both expecting after loss and NICU stays.Ebony and Carrita share their personal family building journeys, how they have savored each moment of their pregnancies, and words of encouragement they would offer other NICU mamas who find themselves pregnant after the NICU! They also share vulnerably about how they have advocated for perinatal and postpartum care as Black mothers and women.Our hope is that if growing your family via pregnancy is something you desire, that you would feel empowered and equipped on your journey as you listen to this episode!Ebony Ford is the CEO & founder of Miracle Mamas, a diversity and inclusion firm that provides consultations to organizations looking to aid in the maternal health crisis and provides resources to families of the premature, medically fragile, and disabled to ensure that their physical, socio-economic and emotional needs are met. She is a maternal health advocate, a National Ambassador for March of Dimes, a patient family partner for the Preeclampsia Foundation and serves on the Maryland Maternal Mortality Review Board. She survived a near-miss related to the birth of her first child caused by severe sudden-onset preeclampsia and Class I HELLP Syndrome resulting in pulmonary edema, multi-organ failure and requiring an emergency c-section, intubation, dialysis and admission to the ICU at just 26 weeks pregnant.  Ebony now shares her story to raise awareness about prematurity, preeclampsia, HELLP Syndrome, birth trauma, the maternal health crisis as well as the need for self-advocacy, doula or midwifery services for those most affected by the maternal health crisis.Connect with Ebony:InstagramCaritta is a young woman who exudes strength and grace. She can also be described as a true victor and an example to many women. Carita is an angel mom time three. After experiencing her first two losses, she was led by God to begin sharing her story publicly. Her motivation for sharing this journey was to remind other women that they were not alone. She also wanted to make it known that child loss and infertility did not only happen to certain groups of women. Anyone could find themselves in this seat. Most recently Carrita has created Love Always, Carrita. This was created to shine a light on the healing abilities of writing. Carrita began writing and published her first in 2019. Carrita found writing to be therapeutic and healing for her and began encouraging others to write daily as well, even if it is a simple journal entry. Writing heals. Carrita is a published author, NICU advocate, and inspirational speaker and overall supporter of women.Connect with Carrita:InstagramTo get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast episode is a replay from a former season of the Dear NICU Mama podcast! As we continue our conversation of growing our families after the NICU, we couldn’t think of a more valuable series of episodes to share than our Sex & Intimacy after NICU and/or Birth Trauma series. We know that connecting with our bodies after the NICU is a lifelong healing journey, especially when it comes to connecting to our partners physically, but we hope that this episodes offers your heart some practical and tangible steps to finding peace in your body post trauma.-----Welcome to part 2 of our sex after birth and/or NICU trauma series! On this week's episode we talk exclusively about the physical aspects of healing after trauma with physical therapist Jill Ehrmantraut of Apex Wellness!  In this episode we cover:What is the pelvic floor?Is pain during sex normal? If not, what can we do to treat it?What are the different changes physically that occur within the body with a vaginal delivery vs a cesarean delivery?When is too late to receive therapy from a physical therapist? (Hint - it’s never too late!)Where in our bodies do we hold trauma? Is an emotional response during therapy normal?We hope this episodes offers insight into the physical aspects of healing after birth and/or NICU trauma. Your body has done so much to protect you, and unlocking therapies like physical therapy can be a wonderful asset in your healing journey.Jill is a Board-Certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialist (WCS) with advanced training in pelvic rehabilitation for females, males and children. Jill graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Mary, Bismarck, ND in 2010. She has advanced training in the treatment of pelvic pain, pregnancy and post-partum issues, urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, and neurogenic bladder in women, men, and children. She also has years of experience in treating female pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic floor dysfunction during or after cancer treatment, pediatric pelvic floor dysfunction, and post prostatectomy incontinence in males. She is the second physical therapist in the state of North Dakota to obtain a Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy. Jill is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and a part of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy. She is also certified in Functional Dry Needling Level 1 and Pelvic Floor dry needling/Level 2.To get connected with Jill:  Website | InstagramTo get connected with DNM:  Website | Private Facebook Group | InstagramThis podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast episode is a replay from a former season of the Dear NICU Mama podcast! As we continue our conversation of growing our families after the NICU and approach the Valentine’s Day holiday, we couldn’t think of a more valuable series of episodes to share than our Sex & Intimacy after NICU and/or Birth Trauma series. We know this conversation can be a tender one, but we hope that these episodes leave you feeling encouraged and empowered as you reconnect with your partner post trauma.----Yep, you read the title of this episode right! On this week's episode, we are talking about sex. Specifically sex after NICU and/or birth trauma. And we couldn't think of a more compassionate voice to chat about this with than the one and only Natalie Reiter with Prairieland Counseling.It's no secret that so many things shift and change in our bodies both physically and emotionally postpartum. Add on a traumatic birth and/or traumatic NICU stay, and your feelings and desires for and about sex may have changed drastically. But you are not alone in those feelings mama, in fact it's very normal!In this episode we cover:What changes emotionally in our bodies postpartum?Is it normal to not want to have sex anymore, and is there anything we can do to desire to have sex again?How can we be present in sex without worrying or fearing a potential pregnancy?How can we communicate our honest concerns with our partner?What are some practical ways we can connect with our partner that make sex enjoyable again?We hope this episode reminds you that you are not alone and also gently reminds you that sex with your partner is designed to be pleasurable and fun. It may take time to heal and get there - but you can and you will.Natalie specializes in reproductive mental health which includes peri-natal, post-partum, infertility, infant loss, paternal mental health, and the impact on couples. She has received specialized training in perinatal and post-partum mental health from Postpartum Support International, and was recently selected as the 2019 Outstanding Mental Health Counselor by the North Dakota Mental Health Counseling Association for my work with reproductive mental health. Her work as a child birth educator and her two children have sparked her passion of working with reproductive mental health!To get connected with Natalie: Website | Instagram | FacebookTo get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | InstagramThis podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have the honor and privilege of welcoming back Parijat Deshpande back to the Dear NICU mama Podcast! And today we have a gentle and trauma informed discussion about high-risk pregnancy after NICU.In this episode we cover:How do we know if we are ready for another pregnancy? What questions can help couples answer this for themselves?What does it mean to have a high-risk pregnancy?Will stress and anxiety during pregnancy cause a mother to go into early labor?Is it possible to have a more “normal” pregnancy?How do we listen to our bodies while at the same time exploring our options when it comes to growing our families after NICU?We hope this episode reminds you that no matter where you are on your family building journey, that you are worthy of the time and space it takes to heal and honor your heart. You are never alone.Parijat Deshpande is author, speaker, and the CEO of a global, boutique company dedicated to reducing pregnancy complications and ending preterm birth. They do this through concierge level private client services focused on trauma-informed, neurobiological approaches to reproductive health. Parijat and her team also offer trauma-sensitive professional trainings for providers and practitioners. They also partner with hospitals, clinics, and maternal health organization to add a missing piece to the puzzle of ending prematurity and improving pregnancy outcomes worldwide.Parijat is the author of bestselling book Pregnancy Brain: A Mind-Body Approach to Stress Management During a High-Risk Pregnancy. And she is the host of the popular podcast Delivering Miracles®️, that discusses the real, raw side of family-building including infertility, loss, high-risk pregnancy, bed rest, prematurity and healing once baby comes home.To get connected with Parijat Deshpande:Website | Instagram | Facebook | Delivering Miracles® PodcastTo get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | InstagramThis podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.