Dear NICU Mama

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Welcome to Part 2 of Nicole’s NICU journey! Nicole delivered mono-di twin girls, Harper and Avery, at 26 weeks and 3 days. Tragically, Avery was lost at 15 days old due to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Part 2 is all about Harper’s miraculous 66 day NICU journey, what life after loss has looked like for Nicole and her family, and also how to love a close friend or loved one who has experienced infant loss.

We hope this episode reminds loss mamas and twin loss mama everywhere that you are never alone.

To get connected with DNM:

 Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

** This episode does cover infant loss, and if that may be a trigger for you, we ask that you listen to this episode in an environment that you feel safe and/or at a time when you feel ready.

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

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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.

Resources mentioned in episode:
For the Academy of Pelvic Health PT “Find a PT”
Herman and Wallace Find a Pelvic Health Practitioner

 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 | Instagram

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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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 | 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.

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

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If you’ve been listening to our podcast or following along with us on social media, you know that we love the practice of self-compassion! Which is why we are excited to share an episode talking about self-compassion and our inner narrative with Melissa Dahl with Mindful Healing and Consulting!
In this episode we cover:

• What is the practice of self-compassion and how can we implement it in our daily lives?
• What role does safety play as we begin to process our trauma?
• Conversational examples of simple narrative shifts we can speak to ourselves in anxious moments

We hope that this episode offers some tangible narrative shifts to implement to better honor your heart as you heal both in and out of the NICU. You are never alone!

To learn more about Kristin Neff’s self-compassion work and teaching mentioned in the episode:
Website | Facebook

About Melissa Dahl, MS, LPCC, CCMHC:

Melissa Dahl is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, who specializes in Women’s Mental Health. She has dedicated a portion of her practice to work in Women’s Maternal Health. She is a trained teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion. She is also a strong advocate for education and resources in the community as well as self-compassion and vulnerability as tools for healing. She is the owner of Mindful Healing & Consulting.

To get connected with Melissa:
Website | Instagram | Facebook

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

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This episode is a long time coming! On September 25th, 2019 we heard part 1 of Ava’s miraculous 202 day NICU journey. And as soon as we scheduled a recording date for part 2, miss Ava was discharged from the NICU! So on today’s episode we have the opportunity to hear from Kristi about the remainder of Ava’s NICU stay, as well as what the transition to life at home looked like for their family of 6.

We also have the opportunity to thank Bell Bank publicly for their generous donation through their Pay It Forward Program! We were honored to receive Kristi’s funds for our Walking Letter of Hope Day, and we are forever grateful for their generosity and belief in Dear NICU Mama.

For Kristi’s Part 1 episode, click here!

To learn more about Bell Bank’s pay it forward program, click here!

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

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

Support the show

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

Support the show

Oh, boundaries. We all know we need them, but setting and defining them can feel really complicated! Especially when we are setting boundaries with the people we love most in our lives.

As we approach another holiday, we wanted to sure to have an open and honest conversation about boundaries that not only offers insight into what healthy boundaries can look like, but also offers helpful tools on how to implement these boundaries. We couldn't think of a better guest and teacher to have share about this on our podcast than the one and only Natalie Reiter with Prairieland Counseling!

In this episode we cover:

• What a healthy boundary is and how do define what a healthy boundary is for your family
• How to define and set these boundaries with loved ones without damaging the relationship
• How to navigate boundaries when your partner's boundaries may differ
• Conversational examples of how to verbally have the discussion about boundaries with family and close friends

Whether you are new to setting boundaries or have been doing this for years, we hope that this podcast affirms you and gives you courage as you define what healthy boundaries are for your family!

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

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

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On this week’s episode, we have the honor of chatting with Ebony Ford! Ebony Ford is a native of the Washington D.C. area, a wife, and a preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome survivor. She is also the proud mother of 26-weeker micropreemie Reign Victoria who was born weighing 1lb 15 oz, spent 80 days in the NICU, and is currently REIGNING over her battle with Pulmonary Fibromatosis.

Both Ebony and Reign are ambassadors for March of Dimes and were featured in their "It's Not Fine" Campaign, a national commercial and print ad campaign aiming to improve awareness of the racial disparities as well as the maternal and infant mortality rates in the United States. Her sole mission in sharing her story is to ensure that no other NICU parent feels alone knows that they too can turn tragedy into triumph.

In this episode, Ebony shares about pregnancy after loss, her near death experience with preeclampsia and HELLP, her journey in the NICU with Reign and what it taught her, what she learned about advocating for not only her health and care but also Reign’s health and care, and an honest look into medically complex motherhood.

To connect with Ebony, you can find her on Instagram or by heading to her website!

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

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