The NICU Space by Miracle Moon

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Julianne Boutaleb, a perinatal psychologist specialising in fertility, reproductive trauma, and perinatal mental health. We explore the often-overlooked emotional impact of fertility struggles, IVF, pregnancy loss, and how these experiences can intersect with neonatal care (NICU).

We talk about reproductive trauma, disenfranchised grief, and the concept of the “reproductive story” and why so many parents feel stuck in survival mode long after their baby is here. This conversation explores identity, shame, and the layered impact of fertility and NICU experiences on mental health and parenthood.

In this episode, we talk about:
What reproductive trauma is and how fertility, IVF and NICU experiences build over time
Pregnancy loss, miscarriage and disenfranchised grief
The “reproductive story” and disrupted expectations of parenthood
Why many parents feel stuck in survival mode after NICU
Identity, shame and the long-term mental health impact of fertility journeys

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:

⁠⁠The NICU Space Community⁠⁠
An online support space for NICU parents at all stages of their journey. Inside you’ll find specialist resources, coping tools and connection with parents who understand what this experience can feel like.

Make Birth Better Article- Is My Baby Affected by Birth Trauma and What Can I Do to Help? https://www.makebirthbetter.org/blog/is-my-baby-affected-by-birth-trauma

Rescripted Article: Parenting After Infertility: Do We Ever Truly Move on from Fertility Trauma?https://rescripted.com/posts/parenting-after-infertility-do-we-ever-truly-move-on-from-fertility-trauma

Stay connected
Instagram: ⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠
Website: ⁠⁠⁠miraclemoon.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
The NICU Space community: ⁠The NICU Space

Connect with our guest, Dr. Julianne Boutaleb
Instagram: @parenthoodinmind

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In this episode, Danielle joins me to share her journey through infertility, pregnancy with triplets, vanishing twin syndrome, and the premature birth of her twin girls during COVID.

We talk about the trauma of unexpected early labour, being separated from her babies after birth, and the emotional reality of navigating NICU life with twins. Danielle also opens up about how the experience impacted her relationship, led to single motherhood, and how she now manages the ongoing stress of raising three children while navigating a recent Type 1 diabetes diagnosis for one of her daughters.

In this episode, we talk about:
Infertility, pregnancy with triplets, and vanishing twin syndrome
The premature birth of twins during COVID and NICU separation trauma
How NICU experiences can impact relationships and identity
The realities of single motherhood after neonatal care
Living in survival mode while parenting three young children
Navigating a new Type 1 diabetes diagnosis after NICU trauma

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:
The NICU Space Community: An online support space for NICU parents at all stages of their journey. Inside you’ll find specialist resources, coping tools and connection with parents who understand what this experience can feel like.

Stay connected
Instagram:⁠ ⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠
Website: ⁠⁠⁠miraclemoon.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠The NICU Space community: ⁠The NICU Space⁠⁠⁠

Connect with our guest, Danielle
Instagram: @Surthrivalmode 

One last thing! Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. ⭐️

In this episode, I’m joined by Lottie from Leo’s Neonatal and NICU Neuroscience to explore what happens in the brain and body during and after neonatal care.

We talk about the NICU nervous system response, what survival mode actually means, and why hyper vigilance, snapping, overthinking, and the inability to switch off make so much sense after trauma. We also explore matrescence, the neuroscience of becoming a parent, and how neonatal care can shape identity, stress responses, and long-term wellbeing.

Lottie and I discuss why so many NICU parents feel stuck in survival mode long after discharge, how trauma can show up physically in the body, and the powerful role of validation, community, and nervous system support in healing.

In this episode, we talk about:

⁠The NICU Space Community⁠An online support space for NICU parents at all stages of their journey. Inside you’ll find specialist resources, coping tools and connection with parents who understand what this experience can feel like.
The NICU Parent Handbook A new resource I’ve created to help parents make sense of the thoughts and feelings that often follow neonatal care. It explores common experiences like guilt, grief, hypervigilance and anxiety, alongside practical tools to help parents cope. Coming soon.

Stay connected
Instagram: ⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠
Website: ⁠⁠miraclemoon.co.uk⁠⁠⁠
The NICU Space community: ⁠The NICU Space⁠⁠

@nicu_neuroscience

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In this episode, I’m joined by Hayley, NICU mum and creator behind The SEN and Prem Mum, who shares her experience of premature birth during COVID, her daughter’s neonatal journey, and the path to discovering autism and ADHD within her family.

We talk about Hayley’s experience of severe preeclampsia and delivering at 29 weeks, alongside her daughter’s autism diagnosis and her own late diagnosis of ADHD and autism. We explore the complex overlap between prematurity, trauma, and neurodivergence, as well as the realities of parenting neurodivergent children while navigating sensory overwhelm and finding support.

In this episode, we talk about:
Premature birth at 29 weeks due to severe preeclampsia
NICU experiences, separation after birth, and early emotional impact
Recognising early signs of autism and navigating diagnosis
The overlap between prematurity, trauma, autism, and ADHD
Receiving a late diagnosis of autism and ADHD as a parent
Parenting neurodivergent children and managing sensory overwhelm

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:

The NICU Space CommunityAn online support space for NICU parents at all stages of their journey. Inside you’ll find specialist resources, coping tools and connection with parents who understand what this experience can feel like.

The NICU Parent Handbook
A new resource I’ve created to help parents make sense of the thoughts and feelings that often follow neonatal care. It explores common experiences like guilt, grief, hypervigilance and anxiety, alongside practical tools to help parents cope. Coming soon.

Stay connected
Instagram: @miraclemoonuk
Website: ⁠miraclemoon.co.uk⁠
The NICU Space community: ⁠The NICU Space⁠

Connect with our guest, Hayley
Instagram: @the_sen_and_prem_mum

One last thing! Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. ⭐️

In this episode, Lorna Tallowin, NICU parent and founder of Super Dinky, turns the questions back to me, inviting me to share my own NICU journey.
We talk about my pregnancy, delivering unexpectedly at 31 weeks, and what the early weeks in neonatal intensive care were like. We also explore survival mode, dissociation, ongoing anxiety, and the identity shift that comes with being a NICU parent.
Lorna and I discuss why community, validation, and psychological support are so important for parents after NICU, and the gaps that still exist in care.

In this episode, we talk about:
My premature birth at 31 weeks and early NICU experiences
Survival mode, dissociation, and emotional overwhelm
Ongoing anxiety, hypervigilance, and health-related worry after NICU
Guilt, grief, and the pressure to “make it up” to your child
The importance of community and validation for NICU parents
How Miracle Moon began and grew from lived experience

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:
The NICU Space Community
An online support space for NICU parents at all stages of their journey. Inside you’ll find specialist resources, coping tools and connection with parents who understand what this experience can feel like.

The NICU Parent Handbook
A new resource I’ve created to help parents make sense of the thoughts and feelings that often follow neonatal care. It explores common experiences like guilt, grief, hypervigilance and anxiety, alongside practical tools to help parents cope. Coming soon.

Super Dinky
Founded by Lorna, NICU Mum and Beth NICU nurse, @superdinky creates meaningful products for NICU families while raising awareness of the experience and helping parents feel part of a wider community. SuperDinky - Premature Baby Clothes and NICU support based in the UK

Stay Connected
Instagram: @miraclemoonuk
Website: miraclemoon.co.uk
The NICU Space community: The NICU Space

One last thing! Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. ⭐️