49 | Your NICU Story: A Guide for Reflecting on Your Family’s Experience
EPISODE 49
In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, host Andrea Hickson is joined by co-authors Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel to talk about the lasting impact of NICU experiences on families.
Together, they reflect on grief, healing, and how storywork can help parents process these experiences and emotions. The conversation highlights the duality of grief and gratitude, the importance of community support, and the creation of Your NICU Story, a meaningful resource for families navigating life after the NICU, available now.
💛 Content note: This episode includes discussion of child loss and may be emotionally triggering for some listeners. Please care for yourself as you listen.
Quick Notes from the Episode:
The NICU experience can be both traumatic and life-changing.
Storywork helps families process and make meaning of their NICU experiences. Writing can unlock deeper emotions and insights.
Families need space to tell their whole story.
Grief and gratitude can coexist in complex ways.
Support for NICU families is often misunderstood or incomplete.
Meeting basic needs is essential during times of grief. Here are five basic needs you can focus on:
Hydration
Nourishment in some form
Movement
Fresh air
Rest in some form
There is no timeline for grief; each journey is unique. The biggest gift we can give to someone who is experiencing grief is to acknowledge it and thank them for sharing it.
Community and connection can enhance the healing process.
Additional resources mentioned:
Birth Story Brave, Reimagined by Emily Souder
A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney
10 Ways to support NICU families free download
Connect with Emily and Mahaley on instagram at @emily.souder.lcswc and @mahaleyhpatel.
SPECIAL THANKS:
A special thanks to the Prolacta Bioscience Foundation for supporting the NICU Alumni podcast!
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The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.