The NICU Space by Miracle Moon

Miracle Moon
  • 5.0 (13)
  • PARENTING
  • TWICE MONTHLY
The NICU Space by Miracle Moon

If you are a NICU parent, past, present or future, this podcast is here to support you through it all. Hosted by the co-founders of Miracle Moon, Frankie, a Clinical Psychologist and Georgie. We are so excited to be back and talking about all things NICU, birth trauma and perinatal mental health with you. We are a couple of past NICU Mums who have got together to support others through their NICU journeys and beyond.

  1. 23 MAR

    NICU during lockdown, OCD & pregnancy after birth trauma with Tori from season 1 | S3E43

    It’s been five years since the first COVID lockdown – it’s gone so fast and feels so long ago all at once.  In that time, our guest Tori, from season one, has watched her little girl Phoenix grow into a happy, healthy five-year-old – after she was born at just 25 weeks. Tori herself has processed her trauma after NICU using EMDR, and is now 25 weeks pregnant again. Tori talks about the fact that she isn’t afraid of what the future holds for this baby, NICU or not. She’s massively worked on her OCD and health anxiety and felt ready to have another baby – this time with all the excitement and joy she didn’t feel she could have after the first time. But how?  Tori opens up in today’s episode, and Georgie also reflects on how incredibly similar her own mental health challenges have been too. 🔥 In this episode, we’re chatting about: ⭐ Our guest Tori’s experience of giving birth to baby Phoenix at just 25 weeks at the start of the first COVID lockdown ⭐ What impact the lockdowns had on Tori’s pre-existing OCD and health anxiety ⭐️ Tori’s fears of how NICU and lockdowns might affect Phoenix, and being unable to see family for such a long time ⭐️ How Tori has processed her trauma after NICU using different types of therapy ⭐️ How Tori decided she wanted to have another baby ⭐️ How Tori feels now that she’s reached 25 weeks pregnant again and why she’s not fearful of another NICU experience If you would love to have another baby, but are worried about going through NICU again, this episode will help you see there may be a way forward. 💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at hello@miraclemoon.co.uk. 🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in. ⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. 🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

    43 min

  2. 9 MAR

    Neurodiversity, Birth Trauma & NICU: Untangling the Overlap with Jo & Lauren | S3E42

    “Is this ADHD? Is this autism? Or is this just trauma?” If you’ve ever asked yourself that question since NICU or birth trauma, you’re NOT alone. Maybe NICU and parenting have made your neurodivergence feel louder than ever. Maybe the sensory overload, emotional dysregulation, or executive dysfunction has hit a whole new level. Or maybe you’re just starting to piece things together, realising that what you thought was “just anxiety” or “just trauma” might actually be something more. Either way, you’re not imagining it. And you’re not the only one. We hear this all the time in The NICU Space, so we brought in the experts. Dr. Jo Mueller and Dr. Lauren Breese from The Neurodiversity Practice help untangle it all. Whether you’ve always known you’re neurodivergent or you’re only just putting the pieces together, this conversation will help you feel a little less alone in it all. In this episode, we’re diving into: - Why NICU & birth trauma can make neurodivergence feel louder, harder to manage, or more obvious- The overlap between ADHD, autism & trauma and how to make sense of it - How neurodivergence may show up in NICU and in life after - How masking can make diagnosis tricky and what to do if you’re worried about misdiagnosis - The reality of neurodivergence (beyond the “it’s a superpower” narrative) - How to set boundaries that actually work for you as a neurodivergent parent - Supporting a neurodivergent partner while still holding space for your own needs - Handling family and friends who just don’t get the way you parent 💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at hello@miraclemoon.co.uk. 🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in. ⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. 🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

    50 min

  3. 23 FEB

    Full-term babies in NICU: Kate & Joanne’s stories of HIE & feeling “out of place” | S3E41

    In recognition of February being Full-Term Awareness Month, Kate and Joanne are joining us to share the unique experience of having a full-term baby in neonatal care, why it can provide different challenges to having a pre-term baby there, and advice on how they handled invalidation and minimisation from others. We hope this episode helps you to realise that whatever has led you and your baby to NICU, you’re not alone and are always welcome in The NICU Space. In this episode, we’re chatting about: - The HIE events that led to Kate & Joanne’s full-term babies needing NICU stays - Developmental milestone worries - Challenges that come with having a full-term baby in NICU - How to handle people minimising your experience - Kate & Joanne’s advice for other full-term NICU parents 💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at hello@miraclemoon.co.uk. 🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in. ⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. 🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

    46 min

  4. 9 FEB

    Feeling disconnected from your partner: Intimacy, sex and connection after birth trauma or NICU | S3E40

    Talking about sex and intimacy after NICU isn’t really a done thing – but it’s a topic we really want to start normalising. So many people have experienced that loss of connection with their partner after a NICU stay and so if you’re going through it too, you really aren’t alone. You might have already discussed this with your friends or with your partner, but if you haven’t discussed with with anyone at all – that’s okay too. It’s such a difficult thing to talk about, but the key here is really to start small and we hope that this episode helps you to take the first step.  We’re also doing a deep-dive webinar into this topic on 28th February 2025, so if it’s something you’d like further support with, you can find the link in the show notes. In this episode, we’re chatting about: - How a NICU stay or birth trauma can impact intimacy in your relationship - The reasons that trauma with often lead to disconnection in your relationships - Why it’s normal for NICU parents to experience exhaustion and feeling “touched out” - What “tokophobia” is and why past birth trauma can cause it - How you can rebuild your relationship with your partner beyond just sex and why it’s important to start small 💌 Check out the full show notes forthis episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us onInstagram or shoot us an email at hello@miraclemoon.co.uk. 🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in. ⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. 🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

    34 min

  5. 26 JAN

    Losing one twin and raising the other with medical complexities: Danielle’s story | S3E39

    Danielle Madden, and her daughter Aleigha spent nine months in NICU, followed by rehab and PICU, too, and sadly, Aleigha’s twin, Madelyn, passed away after one month in NICU. Danielle wanted to join me on the podcast to share all about their experience, how they adapted to life at home with a child with hearing loss and other disabilities, what life after NICU looks like years down the line and how you can look after yourself during your child’s NICU stay. In this episode, we’re chatting about: - Danielle’s NICU & PICU experiences and delivering her twins at 23 weeks and 5 days - The loss of Madelyn - How Danielle and her family adjusted to having a child with medical complexities at home - Looking after yourself during your child’s NICU stay - What going back to work looked like for Danielle  - What Aleigha’s life looks like now, years after NICU 💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at hello@miraclemoon.co.uk. 🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in. ⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. 🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

    50 min

  6. 12 JAN

    Recovering from burnout after a NICU stay with Dr. Claire Plumbly | S3E38

    Going through burnout after a NICU stay is incredibly common, and when you feel like you can’t just have a break from life, how are you supposed to recover? Joining us to discuss all things burnout is Dr. Claire Plumbly, the Director of Good Therapy Ltd and also an experienced HCPC-Registered Clinical Psychologist and EMDR consultant supervisor. As well as 1-1 therapy, she runs regular workshops on burnout; boundaries; anxiety and overthinking and is the author of Burnout: How to Manage Your Nervous System Before It Manages You. You’ll be sure to find some nuggets in this episode that you can try straight away that will hopefully help with your levels of stress.  In this episode, we’re chatting about: What burnout actually is The role the nervous system plays in your body and how to recognise when you’re in the “amber” fight or flight response and the “red” shutdown response How to transition between different activities like your to-do list and putting your child to bed without stress Finding a person you feel safe to open up to and how to ask for (and accept!) help The three types of compassion and especially how you can improve your compassion with yourself 💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at hello@miraclemoon.co.uk. 🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in. ⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. 🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

    52 min

  7. 29/12/2024

    New Year Reflections: Setting Goals, Embracing Uncertainty, and Navigating Identity Changes After NICU | S3E37

    Going through NICU and all the uncertainty it brings can change you as a person. Whether that’s your values or your whole identity, you’ll probably find afterwards you almost feel like a different person entirely. In this episode, I’m giving you some practical advice to handle this, especially during this weird, foggy period between Christmas and New Year. In this episode, we’re chatting about: The hard part of the year between Christmas and New Year Practical tips for how to handle uncertainty when in NICU Reflecting on your experience and praising yourself for getting through it Considering how your values might have changed when creating your New Year’s goals 💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at hello@miraclemoon.co.uk. 🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in. ⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. 🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

    33 min

  8. 15/12/2024

    Tricky In-law relationships, having the “perfect” Christmas and handling spending Christmas in NICU: Christmas Q&A | S3E36

    Social media has a lot to answer for when it comes to feeling like you need to have the “perfect” Christmas. Whether you’re recently home from NICU and don’t know how you’ll handle the first Christmas at home, or in NICU right now, or even just worrying about the pressure this time of year brings, I wanted this Q&A style podcast episode to cut through all the noise and reassure you that you don’t have to do it all this Christmas. A special mention goes to those spending Christmas in NICU. It’s not what you wanted or expected, and hopefully this episode can give you a few ideas of things you can try to make this Christmas as “okay” as it can possibly be for you and your family. In this episode, I’m chatting about: The “perfect” Christmas and why it doesn’t exist Why it can feel harder to enforce boundaries at Christmas and how to do it anyway Getting along with your in-laws over Christmas Having Christmas in NICU or your first Christmas at home Why grief and sadness are very normal emotions at Christmas (and all year!) and how to handle them 💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at hello@miraclemoon.co.uk. 🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in. ⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. 🙏 A huge thank you to Emma at Cover My Bubble for supporting our podcast - you can find out more about all that Cover My Bubble offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.covermybubble.co.uk

    40 min
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    5
    out of 5
    13 Ratings

    About

    If you are a NICU parent, past, present or future, this podcast is here to support you through it all. Hosted by the co-founders of Miracle Moon, Frankie, a Clinical Psychologist and Georgie. We are so excited to be back and talking about all things NICU, birth trauma and perinatal mental health with you. We are a couple of past NICU Mums who have got together to support others through their NICU journeys and beyond.

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