Dear NICU Mama

We are excited to be back after the Thanksgiving break! On today’s episode, we have the opportunity to hear Serenity’s NICU journey with her daughter Amirah. Serenity opens up about her unexpected high-risk pregnancy and her daughter Amirah’s premature birth at 25 weeks. Through her story, she reflects on the challenges of balancing life as a NICU mom and a full-time student, the difficult decisions she faced along the way, and the moments of hope and healing that have shaped her into the fierce advocate and loving mother she is today. Now thriving as a social work graduate, Serenity shares her passion for advocating for Black maternal health and how her NICU journey has fueled her mission to support mothers and families. We also discuss the recent Bundle Up Commute Kits project we collaborated on to provide practical support for rural NICU families during harsh winters! To get connected with DNM: Website [http://www.dearnicumama.com/] | Private Facebook Group [http://ww.facebook.com/groups/286008085639339] | Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/dearnicumama/] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/dearnicumama]

This week’s podcast episode is a replay of an episode from season 3 with Natalie Reiter of Prairieland Counseling! With the holidays approaching and with many of us having hard conversations with loved ones about boundaries, we wanted to share this episode as an extra boost of confidence. This sisterhood believes in you, is so very proud of you, and is wishing you a very gentle Thanksgiving. We will be back first week of December! ———————- 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 [https://www.prairielandcounselingfargo.com/]! 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 a healthy boundary is 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 [http://www.prairielandcounselingfargo.com/] | Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/prairielandcounseling] | Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/prairielandcounselingfargo] To get connected with DNM: Website [http://www.dearnicumama.com/] | Private Facebook Group [http://ww.facebook.com/groups/286008085639339] | Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/dearnicumama/] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/dearnicumama]

In this week's episode, we are joined by Chrissy and Naomi from Courageous Parents Network (CPN) [https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/], a nonprofit with a mission to orient and empower parents and others caring for children with serious illness by providing resources and tools that reflect the experience and perspective of families and clinicians. Together, we dive into the realities and misconceptions of pediatric palliative care. Chrissy, a pediatric psychologist and Director of Clinician Engagement at CPN, clarifies the holistic role of palliative care, debunking myths that often equate it to hospice. She explains how palliative care can begin at diagnosis and supports the whole family emotionally and practically throughout the medical journey. Naomi, a life doula and grief coach, shares her personal journey with her son, Noah, who has faced significant medical challenges since birth. She discusses the invaluable support she received from CPN and how palliative care helped her reclaim her role as a mother, not just a caregiver. This conversation offers a wealth of insights for NICU parents, covering topics like decision-making, self-advocacy, and the importance of family-centered support. We hope that this episode empowers you to seek out resources like palliative care and other support tools that can provide the guidance and compassion every NICU family deserves! To connect with Courageous Parents’ Network resources: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/courageousparentsnetwork] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/courageousparentsnetwork] | Website [https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/] To learn more from Naomi: Videos [https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/video-library/family/naomi] | Blogs [https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/blog/author/naomi-williams/] | Website [https://www.exceptionalliving101.org/] To get connected with DNM: Website [http://www.dearnicumama.com/] | Private Facebook Group [http://ww.facebook.com/groups/286008085639339] | Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/dearnicumama/] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/dearnicumama]

In this episode, Makayla shares her journey of navigating the NICU as a single mom. She opens up about her pregnancy, her intuition that something unexpected was ahead, and the sudden complications that led to an early delivery and a challenging start for her daughter, Winona. Makayla reflects on the emotional experience of seeing Winona in critical condition, the many moments of fear and hope, and the incredible resilience she witnessed as her daughter defied the odds. She also speaks candidly about the unique challenges and strength required to face the NICU journey without a partner, finding support through her family and Winona’s dedicated NICU team. As you listen to Makayla’s story, we hope that other single NICU moms and those navigating medically complex journeys in our sisterhood feel seen and supported. You are seen and loved, NICU mama! To get connected with DNM: Website [http://www.dearnicumama.com/] | Private Facebook Group [http://ww.facebook.com/groups/286008085639339] | Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/dearnicumama/] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/dearnicumama]

It’s time for another Mamas Call In episode! This episode’s prompt was, "Share a moment, in or out of the NICU, where you experienced unexpected joy." Thank you to each of you for submitting your stories of unexpected joy for this month’s prompt. It’s an honor to celebrate these moments with this sisterhood! To get connected with DNM: Website [http://www.dearnicumama.com/] | Private Facebook Group [http://ww.facebook.com/groups/286008085639339] | Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/dearnicumama/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/dearnicumama]