Dear NICU Mama

On this week’s episode, we have the honor of sharing Jamie’s motherhood journey with her twins, Cooper and Lydia! Cooper and Lydia were born at 26 weeks, and had a NICU stay of 80 days. Not only is their story special because of their resilience, but also because today they are now thriving 19 year olds heading to college and we get to hear about the young adults they are becoming!

Throughout this episode, Jamie shares about what it has been like to see Cooper and Lydia grow up and hit so many milestones, as well as how their NICU journey has shaped the mother and woman she has become today. We hope that for any current or new NICU moms, this episode offers hope and encouragement to your heart for all that is to come. And for our “older” NICU moms, we hope you feel seen and heard throughout this episode. While support resources such as Dear NICU Mama, may not have existed at the time of your stay, we hope you feel surrounded by this sisterhood today. You are never alone!

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Cold and flu season, pandemic, RSV oh my! On this week’s episode, we have the opportunity to sit down with a very well-known and respected pediatrician in the Fargo Moorhead area, Dr. Stephanie Hanson with Sanford Health. Dr. Hanson has 11 years of pediatric experience, and in her practice has seen many NICU grads come through her clinic. Cold and flu season is a scary topic for any new mother, but for many NICU mothers there is an added element of fear as their babies may have compromised immune systems. Add on the pandemic and this time of year can be very anxiety inducing. So today we wanted to take the opportunity to share some practical information regarding cold and flu season from a licensed and experienced medical professional!

Throughout the episode, we talk about:

• Why is cold and flu season picking up so early this year?
• What are some basic practices a NICU mom can do to protect her child’s immune system during cold and flu season?
• What can our response be when well-meaning friends and family say things like “Don’t live in fear… they have to build their immune system sometime!”
• Words of encouragement for NICU families who are sending their kids to daycare and school

We hope that this episode eases some of your fears, gets you away from those midnight google searches, and reminds you that you are your baby's best advocate. You can do this mama!

To get connected with Sanford Health: www.sanfordhealth.org

To get connected with DNM:
Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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.

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WE'RE BACK! While we are so grateful to have had some time to rest and recharge over the month of August, we have greatly missed connecting with you all here on the podcast!

Throughout this episode we talk about some of the new and exciting things happening at Dear NICU Mama, how our summers have unfolded, and Martha shares about her recent hospitalization experience with her daughter. Our hope is that any NICU mama listening would feel affirmed that no matter what you are facing, you are surrounded and supported by this sisterhood.

We are so grateful for this community and we cannot wait to share upcoming interviews with experts and stories of remarkable NICU mamas around the world!

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This week's episode is all about Walking Letter of Hope Day 2021!!! We are SO excited to celebrate our second annual Walking Letter of Hope Day with this sisterhood on August 14th, 2021. Throughout this episode we share how you can get involved and create your own fundraising team, as well as how you can partner with the growing mission and movement of Dear NICU Mama!

To participate and register, head to: www.dearnicumama.com/hope

To listen to our interview with Jess of Only You Podcast mentioned in the episode, head here!

To get connected with DNM:
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For many NICU mothers, the decision on how and if to grow their family after NICU or birth trauma can be complex. And for some, the decision on whether or not they are able to grow their family via pregnancy was made for them due to emergency medical procedures or interventions. This decision can feel additionally complex when questions such as “When are you going to give your child a sibling?” arise in daily conversation, and outdated social assumptions made about only children still exist. But because of the work of communities like “Only You Podcast”, these social norms are changing!

In this episode, Jess shares about her own preeclampsia journey, her daughter’s PICU and medically complex journey, and how her and her husband decided together to be a “one and done” family. She also debunks many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding having an only child and hint - they thrive!

We hope that this podcast episode affirms the NICU mamas in our sisterhood that have decided or are making the decision to be a “one and done” family that your family building journey is celebrated and honored. At the end of the day you know what is best for your family and that is enough.

 About Jess: Pre-eclampsia survivor, NICU mama, co-host of Only You: A One and Done Podcast and mother of a two year old. Advocate for one child families and empowering parents with the right to choose.

To get connected with Jess:
  Website | Instagram | Facebook

To get connected with DNM:
  Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/dearnicumama)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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It’s no secret that each individual will process and navigate trauma in their own way. And when it comes to how we heal and grow alongside our partners in and out of the NICU, having tools for how to communicate and grow together can help immensely. To lead us in this discussion is the one and only Natalie Reiter with Prairieland Counseling!

In this episode we cover:

• How can we communicate with our partners when we process trauma differently?
• How can we communicate with our partners when we are in different places emotionally in our healing?
• How can an inward processor and an outward processor work together and find  common ground?
• How can we communicate our needs to our partners?
• What are some practical and gentle tips to preserve connection both in and out of the NICU?

We hope this episode offers some tangible tools and wisdom for how to communicate and heal alongside your partner. You are never ever alone!

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 | Facebook

To get connected with DNM:
 Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/dearnicumama)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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On this week’s episode we hear from our editorial team member, Sarah! Throughout pregnancy, Sarah was monitored very closely for significant ovarian cysts. At her 37 week OB appointment, she was admitted to the hospital due to lack of fluids and Mason was born 24 hours later!

Upon delivery, he was rushed to the NICU because of lack of oxygen and they discovered that his lungs did not inflate and were the size of raisins.  After his lungs had fully developed in size and strength he was able to come after one week in the NICU.

Throughout the episode Sarah shares about what it was like to journey through the NICU as a full-term mom, and some of the misconceptions she has encountered from people regarding her son’s stay. We hope that this episode affirms other full-term mamas with “shorter” stays that your NICU journey is significant, valid and honored.

To get connected with DNM:
 Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/dearnicumama)

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In an effort to celebrate Father's Day and NICU dads everywhere, we have a very special podcast episode to share with you this week! On this week's episode, we have the opportunity to hear from NICU dad Jose.

Throughout this episode he shares what it was like for him to walk through the NICU journey as a NICU dad, how him and his wife supported each other throughout their son's stay, and how he is still processing his son's NICU and medically complex journey today.

We are so grateful for his vulnerability and for the time he took to share his perspective of NICU fatherhood! We hope this episodes affirms the NICU dads listening that your voice is an important and invaluable part of your child's NICU stay too.

Happy Father's Day, NICU dads! We are so grateful for all you do.

To get connected with DNM:
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Welcome to SEASON 4! We are kicking off season 4 with a roundtable episode with co-hosts Martha and Ashley, and founding board member Kendra!

Throughout this episode, Martha, Ashley, and Kendra share about what their transitions home looked like, when they started to process their NICU journeys and prioritize their mental health, and they also offer words of encouragement to newly discharged NICU mamas.

The Dear NICU Mama sisterhood exists for the past and the present NICU mom. No matter where you are in your personal NICU journey, know that you do not walk it alone.

To get connected with DNM:
 Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month! And for today’s episode, we have the opportunity to sit down with Rebekah Tompkins, MD to chat about not only preeclampsia, but also HELLP Syndrome. Rebekah Tompkins not only specializes in high-risk pregnancy, but she personally experienced preeclampsia, HELLP, and a NICU stay with her firstborn son. Not only does she offer sound doctrine on the medical and physical effects of preeclampsia, but she also offers the firsthand perspective of journeying through this herself. We are so grateful for the wisdom and empathy that she brings to this conversation!

In this episode we cover:

• What is preeclampsia? 
• What is HELLP and how is it different than preeclampsia?
• If I developed preeclampsia in my previous pregnancy, how likely am I to develop it again in future pregnancies? Is there anything I can do to prevent preeclampsia from reoccurring?
• Are there any additional health risks for either mom or baby associated with preeclampsia after birth?

We hope that this episode offers some sound wisdom on all things regrading preeclampsia, and reminds you once again of how miraculous both you and your little one are. You are a survivor, mama!

Rebekah Tompkins, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, specializing in high-risk pregnancy, infertility and menopause. She practices at Sanford Women’s at Sanford Southpointe Clinic in Fargo. Dr. Tompkins earned her medical degree from the University of North Dakota and completed her residency at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. 

Dr. Tompkins and her husband, Matt, have two children and two dogs. Dr. Tompkins loves traveling, experiencing new cultures and doing almost anything outdoors. In addition to English, she speaks Japanese and Spanish. She also enjoys baking and reading - although most recently her reading is limited to OB/GYN textbooks and the Curious George collection.

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 Sanford Health Women’s:
Website 

To get connected with DNM:
Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/dearnicumama)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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