Maternal mental health after NICU: Common conditions and where to find support | S3E46
There’s something people don’t talk about enough: maternal mental health after a neonatal stay. It’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week & Month, so in honour of that, Dr. Frankie is going solo this week to share her own story of neonatal care at 31 weeks, the emotional whiplash that followed and what healing has really looked like since then.
She covers everything from feeling frozen and disconnected, to navigating anxiety and postnatal mental health struggles that no one warns you about – and why it’s an incredibly common thing to go through after NICU. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it just me?” – this episode will make you feel so much less alone.
In this episode, Dr. Frankie dives into:
- Her personal experience of “emotional freeze” during and after NICU
- How postnatal anxiety showed up for her – and why it’s so common among NICU parents
- The hidden ways trauma can show up after NICU
- How to recognise when emotions shift from “normal hard” to needing support
- Different types of perinatal mental health conditions (like postnatal depression, anxiety, OCD & PTSD)
- Why it’s never too late to seek support (and where you can find it)
- Practical steps for reconnecting with yourself and your baby after a traumatic start
Take what you need!
[00:48] Dr Frankie’s personal experience of neonatal care & mental health struggles
[11:00] What can cause post-natal mental health difficulties
[15:53] Post-natal depression
[17:22] Post-natal anxiety
[18:28] Post-natal OCD
[19:55] PTSD
[21:36] Post-partum psychosis
[23:07] Getting the help you need
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
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