January 08, 2024

310: A NICU Dr. Shares Her Own Experience with Preterm Babies, PTSD and Anxiety with Alison Hanson, PharmD, BCPPS

50 minutes

As we are moving along in 2024, I’m overwhelmed that we are approaching the 8th anniversary of this podcast! Hearing people’s empowering stories of many different types of experiences has put us on an amazing journey! Today’s story is from a NICU doctor who got a new perspective when both of her babies had to spend time in the NICU. Join us to hear Alison’s story!

Alison Hanson is a pediatric clinical pharmacist, wife, and the mother of two children. She loved with a passion her work in the NICU which lasted almost seven years. She was blindsided by severe postpartum anxiety and PTSD after her daughter was born prematurely and spent three weeks in the NICU. After working through a lot of healing, she was again caught by surprise by her son’s traumatic birth which resulted in a four-week NICU stay and more postpartum anxiety and PTSD. Alison hopes that sharing her story will help others who work in healthcare and struggle to return to work after facing postpartum anxiety and/or PTSD.

Show Highlights:

Alison’s story of how she came to specialize in pediatrics and work in the NICU

How her first pregnancy, in 2019, brought anxiety, sudden preeclampsia, and a premature daughter at 34 weeks

How Alison recognized the signs of anxiety and PTSD when her daughter came home from the hospital after three weeks in the NICU—even though life seemed perfect in many ways

How she became obsessive about not being separated from her baby during her maternity leave

Why she talked to her Ob-gyn about her anxiety and started medications but couldn’t find time for therapy

How Alison began having panic attacks back at work in the NICU and pushed herself harder and harder

How Alison began therapy and was diagnosed with PTSD when her daughter was 9 months old–and her healing journey began

How Alison’s second pregnancy resulted in another preeclampsia diagnosis at 28 weeks and a two-month hospitalization until her son was born at 37 weeks

How other medical complications necessitated a four-week hospital stay for her son

How the second NICU experience was much more manageable because of the support system Alison had put into place

What Alison wants other people to know about PTSD

Resources:

Visit www.postpartum.net for resources and support!

Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

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By Katayune Kaeni, Psy.D., PMH-C

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