Firstly YAYYYYYY! Congratulations on graduating NICU/SCBU. It is such a milestone to get your baby home. 

Even if this was a long time ago (my NICU baby is 7!) you are still part of the SuperDinky crew. We exist to support NICU, SCBU, micro-preemie or term families past and present. 

Its like a club.. we didnt ask to be part of it, wouldnt wish it on anyone, but now its part of us and our story. I'm a proud member of Nicu Mums Club(™) (merch coming this year!) and I try to use my experience to uplift others currently in the thick of it. 

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and I need support 

It is very common to be at home and feel like you should move on but the NICU still feels very raw for you. Perhaps you cant talk about it without crying or your chest feeling really tight. Perhaps you have really strong health anxiety for your little one. No matter how long ago it was, I would love to offer you solidarity and community. 

Its hard. I had a lot of grief and anxiety after NICU when I felt like I "should" just be happy and grateful that we made it home. But we are complex humans who are allowed to feel all the different things at once; grief and gratitude, fear and joy.  

There is a much higher rate of Postnatal depression and PTSD rates in the NICU community and this often hits months after NICU as we have a chance to process what we have been though and try to shift our bodies out of a state of high alert.

I'm not telling you this to scare you, more just to let you know if this is you, you are not alone and this is a really reasonable response to the prolongued sense of stress the experience brings. 

There are many things which can help, talking about your experience with people who deeply validate it (yes it was traumatic! You have a right to feel allll your feels), for some people myself included anxiety medication can help (I took Sertraline for 6 months and weaned off fine - it helped a lot), talking therapy or EMDR therapy via NHS peri-natal mental health teams or via private services like Miracle Moon can be life changing to help process trauma. 

Right now I would encourage you to reach out to your health visitor, your GP, ask for them to do the Edinborough Score for Postnatal depresssions and to speak about possible PTSD. 

You can also read our parents stories in our 'Parents Room' which share the stories of other community members, recieve our emails and join our post-nicu instagram community @superdinkyuk and I promise I will do my very best to help you know you are not alone and if you are feeling it, odds are most NICU parents are too. 

I feel good and I can give support 

If you are feeling great and ready to help other NICU families there are loads of things which you can do to help others RIGHT NOW! You can gift a vest to a baby at the nicu of your choice via our Parcel of Hope service, fundraise for us, donate your time, share our content and much more. Check out my list of 8 things here.

I'm so glad you are here. Together, we can ease the path for the next NICU families. 

With love,

Lorna x 

preemie mum & co-founder