Therapy for NICU Moms in Long Beach, CA

Being separated from your baby, worried about their health, and overwhelmed by the unpredictability of an intensive hospitalization is not what you expected.

Having a baby stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a stressful experience full of emotions for new moms.

Feelings of sadness, fear, confusion, guilt, and anger are common reactions when your baby is born early or born needing medical care. These feelings make sense and you’re not alone. I understand, and I’m here to support you in caring for yourself and your baby - in the NICU and beyond.

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My Approach to Supporting NICU Moms

Therapy can be incredibly helpful for mothers of babies who are currently or formerly in the NICU. NICU stays can be long, frightening, and emotionally distressing and exhausting. NICU moms are at an increased risk for developing a Perinatal Mood or Anxiety Disorder (PMAD), like postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. Studies place the rate of PMADs for NICU parents as high as 70% and rates of acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder are also elevated after a NICU stay (up to 40%).

This makes sense! A NICU stay is an extremely stressful experience. The fear of the unknown outcome for your baby is often combined with feeling helpless, alone, and confused. And that distress doesn’t just end when your baby is discharged. 

My goal as a therapist for NICU moms is to help you make sense and meaning of your NICU journey and feel confident and attached as a mother. Whether your baby is currently in the NICU or you have finally returned home, therapy can help you understand and process your emotions about your NICU experience. Taking care of yourself makes you more capable of taking care of your precious new baby. If you are looking for this kind of support, contact me today for a free intro call.

NICU Support FAQs

  • Our work together in therapy can help you:

    • Understand and manage the emotional and mental health impacts of the stress of having a baby in the NICU

    • Build skills to navigate the ups and downs of intensive care

    • Bond and foster a loving, secure attachment with your baby

    • Communicate your needs and advocate for your baby, in the NICU and through ongoing medical needs and appointments

  • The prolonged stress and trauma of having a baby in the NICU (sometimes coupled with an unexpected or intense labor and delivery) can keep you in a “fight or flight” mode and can put you at higher risk for developing a Perinatal Mood or Anxiety Disorder. This is not your fault and there is support and treatment! Taking care of yourself is extremely important - for both you and your baby.

    Here are some signs you might need more support:

    • Feelings of detachment and guilt

    • Feeling overwhelmed and avoiding thinking or talking about your NICU experience

    • Irritability, hypervigilance (feeling on edge), insomnia, flashbacks, or nightmares

    • Blaming yourself for your baby’s NICU stay

    • Experiencing PMAD symptoms that make it difficult to care for yourself or your baby

    If you feel that your thoughts are out of your control or that you cannot manage the intrusion, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

    If at any time you feel you or your baby are not safe, please call 911 or have someone take you to an emergency room.

    If you have been told that your thoughts are worrisome to others but they seem real and make sense to you, let someone close to you know how you are feeling and tell them it’s an emergency.

  • Your baby being discharged from the NICU is such an exciting and long-awaited milestone! And it can bring up a lot of concerns and feelings, too. This is a great time to get therapy. Adjusting to life as a NICU mom may feel difficult - your body and mind may need time and help to adjust and reset. Be patient with yourself and know you are not alone. Therapy after a NICU stay can help you process your experience and manage your emotions, both from the NICU and as a new mom. Therapy can address grief, trauma, anger, and ongoing worries about your baby. It can also support you in bonding with your baby and strengthening your attachment.

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YOUR therapist in Long Beach, California

Postpartum and early parenting can be so disorienting. I’m here to help you find some solid ground so you can bloom in motherhood.

Hi! I’m Molly.

Get help from a therapist today!

As a therapist with specialized training in supporting NICU parents and the mother of a NICU graduate myself, I know how stressful and lonely a NICU stay can be and how different life feels when you get home.

I see you and I can help. Contact me for a free intro call today - I’m here for you.