Dear NICU Mama

On this week’s episode we have a conversation about life after NICU with Mary Farrelly with The NICU Translator! Mary Farrelly is a certified NICU nurse, doula, nurse educator, mom of two and the founder of The NICU Translator where she helps to bridge the gap between the NICU and home through education, community and 1:1 support.In this episode we continue our theme of life after NICU and Mary shares how she got started, and her heart to provide support for NICU families once they are home. She also develops curriculums to train nurses on how to better bridge the gap from being in the NICU and getting discharged.We hope that as you listen to this episode you are reminded that you are deserving of care and support throughout your entire NICU journey during your NICU stay, but when you are discharged and at home as well.The NICU Translator is offering the following resources to the Dear NICU Mama Sisterhood:FREE The NICU Family's Guide to Getting the Most Out of Each Medical Appointment: Includes a detailed checklist and helpful tools for preparing for and navigating each appointment so you can feel empowered to navigate the complex healthcare system and feel confident to best advocate for your NICU baby. FREE Friends and Family's Guide to Your NICU Baby: Do you wish your friends and family understood what makes your NICU baby different compared to a “regular” newborn? Let me help break it down for them so you don't have to be the bad cop and they understand how to keep your baby safe as you head home from the NICU.Additionally, use the code “DEARNICUMAMA” for 30% off your first 1:1 session or use the code "NICUMAMA" for 30% off of the annual membership.About Mary:With over a decade of experience as a Level IV NICU nurse and nurse educator, Mary has supported hundreds of NICU families, both at the bedside and during the transition home. She has created and taught a comprehensive curriculum for new nurses, drawing on her expertise in neonatal pathophysiology and best practices. Her work has been instrumental in preparing healthcare professionals to deliver exceptional care to the most vulnerable infants and their families.Mary is passionate about enhancing the NICU discharge experience by empowering families with evidence-based education and support, helping them to create a nurturing environment where their family can thrive. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University.To connect with Mary and her work at The NICU Translator:Website | InstagramTo get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Walking Letter of Hope Day is THIS SUNDAY, July 28th! And to celebrate, we have the honor of sharing Daniela’s NICU journey with her full-term son Mateo. She shares openly about her unexpected complications during labor that lead to an extended NICU stay, what it was like to deliver and navigate the NICU during the pandemic, and how she found the courage to grow her family again. We also chat about what being a #walkingletterofhope means to her and how she found hope and healing after the NICU.We hope that as you listen to Daniela’s story you feel seen and validated, and are reminded that no matter the differences in each of our journeys there is a through line that connects us all. You are never alone!To join us this Walking Letter of Hope Day and to help raise crucial funds for Dear NICU Mama’s programs and services like this podcast, head to dearnicumama.com/hope. Thank you to Gate City Bank for being a sponsor for this year’s Walking Letter of Hope Day!

Three years after Ashley’s first son, Vinson, was born at 21 weeks gestation and passed away shortly afterward, she welcomed her second son, Kolin, at 25 weeks gestation via emergency c-section. Just days after his birth, Kolin was diagnosed with bilateral brain bleeds. During his stay he also developed hydrocephalus and required a shunt, not to mention the PVLs. Despite being told of all the things Kolin might never do, he defied the odds. After 183 days, Kolin was discharged and finally went home.In this episode, Ashley shared vulnerably about her experience of navigating grief amidst a series of challenging hardships. She discusses managing countless appointments and assessments upon returning home, and sheds light on the journey of advocating for herself and Kolin as he grows. Despite the difficult path they've traveled, Ashley reflects on the beauty and healing of their story.We hope Ashley and Kolin's story offers a beacon of hope to this sisterhood, reminding you that you're not alone and that there is goodness ahead.To connect more with Ashley:Instagram | WebsiteTo get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

What if indecisiveness is a result of our birth and NICU trauma? On today’s podcast episode, we have speaker and somatic trauma consultant Parijat Deshpande on the podcast and we have an insightful conversation all about indecisiveness how we can identify it as a signal rather than a problem to be fixed.Throughout this episode we talk about:• The different types of “threat state patterns” and a quiz to identify them• How identifying our threat patterns can help us move through indecisiveness• Gentle practices a NICU mom can utilize to make decisions and not feel “stuck”• Encouragement for NICU mamas feeling discouraged by their lack of ability to make quick decisions after birth and NICU traumaOur hope is that NICU mamas listening who are feeling discouraged by feeling like they are in a state of indecisiveness feel empowered and encouraged throughout this episode. You are not alone!For the month of July, members of the Dear NICU Mama community have access to The Ruvelle Experience for 25% off using the code “RUVELLEDNM2024”!To connect with Parijat and her work at Ruvelle: Website | InstagramAbout Parijat:Parijat Deshpande is a founder of Ruvelle, the only truly trauma-informed company specifically dedicated to improving high-risk pregnancy outcomes, reducing preterm birth, and supporting parents on the entire high-risk pregnancy journey. On a mission to end the high-risk pregnancy crisis, she has served and supported thousands of clients through her live events, one-on-one work, Ruvelle’s private members’ club, her bestselling book, Pregnancy Brain: A Mind-Body Approach to Stress Management During a High-Risk Pregnancy, and the Body Language Journal.

This week is part 2 of Trisha’s motherhood journey! Throughout this episode, Trisha shares about the early days at home with her twins, what it was like being pregnant after a high-risk pregnancy and NICU journey, and her daughter’s diagnosis with Down Syndrome. She also shares openly about the journey to becoming the advocate she is today, encouragement for medically complex families who are navigating summers without routine, and what lead her to launch Inclusion Ink!To connect with Trisha and her work at Inclusion Ink: Website | InstagramAbout Trisha Stibbe:Trisha Stibbe was born and raised in Fargo. After marrying her high school sweetheart they moved to Omaha, NE where they spent the next decade. Finally back in their hometown, Trisha and her husband Adam are raising four kids with big personalities. Twins Sam and Jack were born in 2010 at 28 weeks, thrusting Trisha and her husband into the world of special needs parenting. A few years later, in 2012, Adam and Trisha welcomed son Eli. Not content with stopping when things seemed easy, they welcomed daughter Claire into their family in 2015. Claire was a surprise for many reasons, but the biggest of all came at her birth when they were told she had Down Syndrome and a heart defect. Trisha recently launched Inclusion, Ink - an information portal dedicated to making advocating easier. She spends most of her “free time” advocating for special needs and inclusion, going to various and plentiful doctors appointments, acting on the Board of Managers of GiGi’s Playhouses, and meeting her caffeine limit by about 9:00 a.m. every day. She deals with her crazy life best with sarcasm and has found a creative outlet through her blog. You can follow her on Instagram @tstibbe and @inclusioninkTo get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

On this week’s episode, we talk with Trisha Stibbe and hear the story of her identical twins, Sam + Jack who were born at 28 weeks! Trisha shares about her journey navigating twin to twin transfusion, an early delivery, and advocating for her twins in the NICU. She also opens up about isolation, how friendships shift and change, and the new identity that NICU moms often go through on top of navigating complicated NICU journeys.We hope that as you listen to Trisha’s story, you see that regardless of all the changes that you experience because of the NICU, that the new version of you is worthy of getting to know. Stay tuned for part 2!About Trisha Stibbe:Trisha Stibbe was born and raised in Fargo. After marrying her high school sweetheart they moved to Omaha, NE where they spent the next decade. Finally back in their hometown, Trisha and her husband Adam are raising four kids with big personalities. Twins Sam and Jack were born in 2010 at 28 weeks, thrusting Trisha and her husband into the world of special needs parenting. A few years later, in 2012, Adam and Trisha welcomed son Eli. Not content with stopping when things seemed easy, they welcomed daughter Claire into their family in 2015. Claire was a surprise for many reasons, but the biggest of all came at her birth when they were told she had Down Syndrome and a heart defect. Trisha recently launched Inclusion, Ink - an information portal dedicated to making advocating easier. She spends most of her “free time” advocating for special needs and inclusion, going to various and plentiful doctors appointments, acting on the Board of Managers of GiGi’s Playhouses, and meeting her caffeine limit by about 9:00 a.m. every day. She deals with her crazy life best with sarcasm and has found a creative outlet through her blog. You can follow her on Instagram @tstibbe and @inclusioninkTo get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

It’s time for another Mamas Call In episode! In honor of Father's Day soon approaching, we want to celebrate the NICU dads and partners in your life! We asked our community to share a time, inside or outside the NICU, when they felt deeply supported by their partner and/or when their partners showed remarkable courage as a NICU parent.We also want to acknowledge that this topic may be sensitive for those whose partners were not present or available during their NICU stays. Please know that this community recognizes and honors the strength of your parenting journey.To all of the NICU dads, know that we honor you this Father’s Day and appreciate you more than you know!To get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

On this week's podcast episode, we have part one of team member Carrie’s journey with her daughter Hattie! Carrie is a full-term NICU mom to Hattie who spent 19 days in the NICU. Throughout Carrie’s pregnancy, Carrie worked alongside a doula and took hypnobirthing classes with the hope of having an all-natural birth. However once at the hospital, it was discovered that Hattie was breech and Carrie was leaking fluid, and an emergency c-section was ordered.5 hours after Hattie was born, Hattie was transferred to the NICU for additional breathing support. After a handful of unsuccessful attempts at trialing room air in the NICU, Hattie’s care team ordered additional testing at 2 weeks old and she was diagnosed with a coarctation of the aorta, aortic and mitral valve stenosis, and left ventricular hypertrabeculation/ non-compaction.For Hattie, this diagnosis means she is continually monitored by cardiology and will likely require a few repairs to her aortic arch to continue living a healthy life. Hattie turns 3 in July and despite her diagnosis is a thriving, active, and wildly fun toddler and big sister!Our hope is that full-term NICU mamas in our sisterhood feel validated and are reminded that your story is significant and worthy of recognition. And to the NICU mothers who are wrestling with what their bodies could or couldn’t do in birth, we hope this episode reminds you that your body did not fail.To get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! And this week’s podcast episode is a special roundtable episode all about mental health with co-hosts Ashley and Aisha, and team members Lexxa + Kamille! Throughout this episode they each share vulnerably about their own mental health journeys both in and out of the NICU, and how they have continued to prioritize their mental health throughout each motherhood season.We hope this episode is a gentle reminder that healing is a lifelong journey. No matter where you are on your mental health journey, we hope you know how loved and valuable you are. This sisterhood heals with you!For the PSI Help Line, head here. For the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, dial 988 or head here.To get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram