Dear NICU Mama

The holiday season is often filled with joy, but for families in the NICU, it can also bring a unique set of challenges and emotions. In this roundtable episode, Aisha is joined by fellow NICU moms Kamille and Taylor, who share their experiences of spending the holidays in the NICU with their babies! Together, they share what it’s like to navigate the holiday season while balancing the realities of a NICU stay, the grief of missing milestones, and the beauty of creating meaningful moments even in difficult circumstances. Kamille and Taylor reflect on the moments of joy and heartache they experienced, how they honored their emotions, and the traditions they’ve carried forward to celebrate their NICU journeys today. Whether you are spending this holiday season in the NICU or processing memories of past holidays spent there, we hope this episode reminds you that your feelings are valid and that you are never alone. 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, we sit down with Rachell Dumas, founder of A Light After Nine [https://www.alightafternine.org/], to hear her journey through loss, resilience, and advocacy. Rachell shares her experiences of multiple pregnancy losses, advocating for herself and her babies, and finally welcoming her son after an incredibly challenging journey. She opens up vulnerably about her path to bonding with her son and offers encouragement to other NICU moms who didn’t or don’t feel an immediate bond with their babies. We also explore medical advocacy, the complexities of bonding after loss or a NICU experience, and the power of support and community. Through her nonprofit, A Light After Nine, Rachell provides resources, mentorship, and advocacy to moms facing similar challenges! We hope this episode reminds you that no matter where you are on your healing journey, you are seen and loved. To get connected with A Light After Nine: Website [https://www.alightafternine.org] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alightafternine/] 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]

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]