Some NICU journeys begin long before delivery — and Natascha Bohmann’s story is one of them. After a high-risk mono-mono twin pregnancy, a lengthy inpatient hospitalization, and a NICU stay for her daughters, she walked through every chapter of uncertainty a family can face: fear, waiting, grief, advocacy, and rebuilding life on the other side. In this episode, Natascha shares how her experience as a NICU mom, combined with her deep background in yoga therapy, grief support, end-of-life care, and healthcare communications, shaped her calling to become a NICU doula. Her story is a powerful reminder that the NICU doesn’t end at discharge — and that families need more emotional, informational, and integrative support than our current system offers. We explore what it’s really like to prepare for an inpatient stay, navigate high-risk pregnancy, transition home after NICU, and rediscover your voice as both a parent and a professional. Whether you’re a NICU parent or a doula building NICU-informed skills, Natascha’s wisdom offers grounding, clarity, and a path forward. NICU Support & Resources for Families and Professionals: Stay connected with me @thenicutranslator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenicutranslator/Want to learn more about how to best support NICU babies and their families before, during and after a NICU experience? Grab the FREE guide here to get started: https://app.thenicutranslator.com/5things Download my free NICU Birth Plan Template to help your clients feel more prepared, ask informed questions, and navigate the unexpected with confidence. A supportive, easy-to-use tool for doulas, professionals, and NICU families alike: https://app.thenicutranslator.com/nicubirthplan Learn more about how you can become a Certified NICU Doula (C-ND) here: https://www.thenicutranslator.com/nicu-doula-academy Guest Spotlight: Natascha Bohmann; MBA, Yoga Therapist, Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, NICU Doula, Grief + Bereavement Specialist, End-of-life Doula Natascha is mom of mono-mono twins. After a lengthy antepartum stay due to a high-risk pregnancy and NICU stay for her girls, as well as navigating the transition home and beyond, she felt called to find meaningful ways to support other families faced with a similar journey. She participated in the beta cohort of the NICU Doula Academy and is working toward certification. In addition, Natascha is a yoga therapist, Ayurveda wellness counselor, grief and bereavement specialist, and end-of-life doula for people and companion animals. She also has a background in healthcare in both marketing/communications and sales. These various experiences have given her insights both from a patient perspective as well as a view of the challenges clinicians face, fueling her inspiration to be the change, and finding a way to bridge the gaps. Her vision is to provide peer-to-peer support to families from inpatient to the transition home and beyond, while weaving in foundational and sustainable yoga-inspired tools to buoy through uncertain and challenging times. She is currently building her offerings and providing support both in-person and virtually. Specific to her NICU doula work, Natascha is looking to create a collaborative network of birth and postpartum doulas, lactation consultants, PTs/OTs, speech therapists and other holistic professionals to help provide supportive resources to families (both in the Pacific Northwest and virtually). Connect through social media or hello.nourishedbeing@gmail.com if interested. Connect with Natascha: www.nourishedbeingnow.com Instagram: @_nourishedbeing_: https://www.instagram.com/_nourishedbeing_/ Facebook: Nourished Being: http://facebook.com/nourishedbeing Inside This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to NICU Journey 05:42 Discovering the Pregnancy and NICU Reality 10:34 The Birth Experience and Initial NICU Stay 15:37 Navigating NICU Life and Logistical Challenges 20:04 Mindset and Coping Strategies During NICU 24:43 The Role of Community and Support 29:32 Advocacy in the NICU 34:07 Transitioning Home After NICU 38:54 The Future as a NICU Doula Links, Resources & Mentions: Check out the NICU Doula Directory mentioned in the episode: https://www.thenicutranslator.com/find-a-nicu-doula Loved this episode? Share this episode with a doula or care provider who could bring NICU-informed care to their community or leave a 5-star review and let me know: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nicu-translated-podcast/id1838158332 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for decisions about your health or your baby’s care. Until next time, remember: The NICU is only the beginning, and together we can make this journey less overwhelming, and a lot more empowering. SEO Keywords: NICU doula, NICU doula training, NICU support, trauma-informed NICU care, NICU parent support, navigating the NICU, doula education, preemie parent resources.
