Coping and Getting Emotional SupportDavina Frankhauser, MotherI felt guilty that I had my son early.Stacey Molin, MotherSo when I first saw my daughter Maya, I lost it. It was tough emotionally. I cried a lot.NarratorHaving a baby in the NICU can be an emotionally tough experience. Moms are often very physically tied withhormonal changes and fatigue, making it difficult to manage. These feelings are not unusual.Sue Hall, MD, NeonatologistThe signs that a mother might have post-partum depression include excessive fatigue, lack of interest inactivities, even including lack of interest in her baby, failure to bond with her baby, not eating well, not sleepingwell, crying excessively. This has to be distinguished from the usual baby blues that many moms do get.Valencia Walker, MDI think one thing we recognize is the NICU is probably one of the most stressful things you'll go through.There's having your baby, your most precious love of your life going through a tough time. And I think not onlymothers, but fathers experience a lot of trauma and anxiety, and depression associated with it.NarratorThese are normal feelings that many parents in the NICU can go through. Your doctors and nurses can help.Valencia Walker, MDWe spend a lot of time talking with our parents. We really encourage them. You know, mothers will often feelguilty as if maybe they did something wrong, and that's usually never the case. And we also try to reallyreassure them, it's not your fault.I think the other thing that tends to be really helpful is to try to get people to understand not to isolatethemselves.Stacey Molin, MotherI never experienced a NICU before. I didn't know what it meant or what a NICU was. A social worker came inand talked with me a little bit more about what it's like to be a NICU parent it took me several days to wrap mymind around what that really meant.NarratorIt’s key that moms take good care of themselves too while your baby is in the NICU.Lisa GrubbsIt's very important that they take care of themselves so that they can take care of their baby. Some of thethings that they can do for that is get enough sleep. Good nutrition is very important for moms who have justhad a premature baby. So sleep, nutrition, hydration.NarratorBecoming involved with your baby’s care is also a good way to relieve the baby blues.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.NICU00020A EN CopingAndGettingEmotionalSupport.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 2Coping and Getting Emotional SupportValencia Walker, MDThe most important thing is to connect with your baby. Change her diaper. Help the nurses take the baby'svital signs for your son. And then also talk to other parents.NarratorBonding and breastfeeding is another great way to feel more involved with your baby’s care. That nurturing islike emotional medicine.Wendy Slusser, MDBreast-feeding has been associated with a reduced risk of post-partum depression with women. In particular,when you breast feed you release hormones like oxytocin, prolactin, which are hormones that make you feelgood.NarratorIf you need help coping with your feelings, there are a number of parent resources available to you.Peggy KaufmanFragile Beginnings Preemie Parent Alliance is a regional support for preemie parents, part of a nationalnetwork for parents whose babies were born prematurely.Davina Frankhauser, MotherI had my son Brennan, he was born at 28 weeks, and we were in the NICU for 11 weeks.Peggy KaufmanOur group sessions are to meet the individual needs of the group people who come and it provides an avenueof connection, building relationships in the face of isolation.Davina Frankhauser, MotherAfter I had Brennan, there were no phone calls congratulating me that I had a baby. And I didn’t hear fromanyone, and the silence just made me feel, or I felt more shame.Stacey Molin, MotherI felt very close with my daughter when we were pregnant, and then all of a sudden we were very separatefrom each other.NarratorIn the end coping with the baby blues in the NICU is about asking for help when you need it and taking care ofyourself so you can take care of your baby.Davina Frankhauser, MotherI think one thing that is really important for new moms to know when their babies are in the NICU is that it'scritical that they take care of themselves. Eating, making sure they're getting some rest, having somebody totalk to. Because you want your focus to be all about your child.Stacey Molin, MotherSo from one mother to another, you can't be a good mom if you're not in a good place. So for me, it was aboutaccepting help, and accepting help made me feel like I was being a better mom.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.NICU00020A EN CopingAndGettingEmotionalSupport.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 2 of 2
