September is NICU Awareness Month and we are proud to contribute to increased knowledge around the realties of parenting a child in the NICU.
We are thrilled to share insight from Tracy May on the power of holding space and how we can provide better support for new parents while their infant is in the NICU.
Tracy May, author & life coach 
Maggie Runyon, MSN, RNC-OB
Tracy is a happily married mom of two micro preemie boys. Each of their journeys into the world came with shock, overwhelm, and uncertainty. But like tough little warriors they fought their way through a combined 9 1/2 months in the NICU. Tracy’s family continues to navigate the challenges that often accompany a premature birth while celebrating the gift of her two boys.
As a life coach, Tracy invests her time helping other preemie moms process through the stress and overwhelm so that they can begin to embrace their new normal.
Tracy is the CEO of Miracle Moments Matter. She was also an ambassador and public speaker for the March for Babies and a ten year member of the Board of Directors for the March of Dimes.
In her free time she loves early morning quiet coffee time, knitting, reading, scrapbooking, traveling and girls weekends. You can follow Tracy’s work over at facebook or instagram.
It is already challenging to integrate your birth experience, allow rest to heal yourself, and care for a newborn…let alone adding a stay in the NICU on top of it! Parents caring for premature and otherwise medically-complex infants have unique needs. Tracy shares her decades of personal and professional experience to develop our skills as we support clients and loved ones through this journey, or prepare for our own.
Join us in conversation as we explore:
~what holding space looks like during an uncertain NICU stay
~enforcing & honoring boundaries while supporting your preemie
~the benefits of journaling for NICU parents
~offering and accepting help
~creating special memories through a NICU stay
~releasing guilt and caring for yourself
~tempering worry and anxiety of the unknown
For more information and support around NICU stays
check out these resources:
Facebook – Private Group – Inspiration & Hope for Preemie Moms
Instagram Support: Preemie World and Our Little Preemie
3 Part NICU Survival Guide: Recenter Yourself, Building Confidence, Meditation
Understanding the NICU Book for Parents
Tracy’s My Preemie’s Journey Journal is available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Check out this episode’s full transcript or tune in wherever you enjoy podcasts.
We’d love to hear from you; join our community group to discuss!
Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)