Comments on: PTSD and NICU Parents: What About You?

By: Jolene

Jolene — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:22:54 +0000

Hi Nina,

You are not alone in those emotions and reactions. Treatment is available. Look for an email from me in your inbox. We can talk more via private email, if you like.

Jolene

By: Nina

Nina — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:39:17 +0000

I had a very traumatic premature birth with my daughter June 2010. She was in the NICU for 31 excruciating days. I am a pediatric nurse, but now when I see a newborn baby I want to cry. It is an overwhelming flood of emotions. I was warned by the lactation consultant at the hospital that it is not uncommon for NICU mommies to experience PTSD. My daughter is almost 18 months old now, and I find that these floods of emotions have not subsided, and it is now to the point where I can not watch the delivery of a child on the television with out starting to cry. No matter how much I try to rationalize with myself that everything is OK, and in the end we have a happy, healthy, little girl, I can not stop these floods of emotions. I just wish there was more information out there for mommies like me.

By: Jolene

Jolene — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:42:15 +0000

Hi Gwen,

I’m so glad to hear your babies are home now. If you need help, contact the social worker or child life specialist at the hospital. if they can’t help, email me and we can visit about it.

Jolene

By: Gwen

Gwen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:07:43 +0000

OMG- my twins were 6 weeks preemie and spent 8 weeks in the NICU it was very hard and it was a struggle just to get them discharged… Now as I read this my girls as 12 weeks old and I understand what I’m going through. It makes sense and I wish the NICU had more than Chaplins coming around asking probing questions that would often make me cry.

By: Jolene

Jolene — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:11:26 +0000

Hi Amy,

Thanks for contacting me. How wonderful to use your baby’s NICU experience to teach other nursing students. You are doing the students and the parents they may meet a great service. How is your baby now?

I will contact you via emails concerning the printable material.

Jolene

By: amy

amy — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:44:57 +0000

I am a nursing student and I will be speaking to families who have a child/children in the NICU. I am speaking to them about the stress of having a baby in the nicu and how to cope with it all. I was wondering if you have any advice or printable materials I could share with them. I also had a baby in the NICU for 3 weeks. Thanks

By: Jolene

Jolene — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:15:54 +0000

Dear Michelle,

Thanks for working with NICU infants. I suggest you call the Intensive Trauma Therapy Institute in Morgantown, WV and talk to Louis Tinnin. Their contact information can be found at http://www.traumatherapy.us. Tell the receptionist I referred you to them.

Jolene

By: Michelle G

Michelle G — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:27:26 +0000

After 25 years as a psychotherapist for adults I am now working in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I do not question that trauma occurs with these infants, however, I have been looking for information on how to interface with infants to help ameliorate the trauma. I would love to be directed to anyone who is working in this area.