Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family's Experience

The NICU journey is one of profound love, uncertainty, and resilience. Whether your child is now thriving or forever held in your heart, this reflection guide offers a space to process the emotions, questions, and memories that shape your story.

In these pages you will discover:

• Personal stories from NICU parents who have stories similar to yours

• Guided reflections to help you process your NICU experience

• Opportunities for partners to reflect (every prompt is for you, too)

• Compassionate language for those who went home with their baby and those who did not

• Gentleness, ease, and the tools to re-author your unique NICU story

Your NICU Story is an invitation for you to reflect on your NICU experience, providing a place for both grief and gratitude-a space to honor your experience, your child, and your own healing journey. We believe all parts of you and your story are welcome.

No matter where you are on this path, you are not alone. Your love, your loss, your hope-they all matter.

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"I was a NICU mom for "only" six days, but I thought [Mahaley and Emily] covered the spectrum of feelings completely - the anger, the confusion, the overwhelm, the loneliness, the small winks of compassion from unexpected places, the routines, the triggers. I was especially impressed with [their] ability to include a wide array of experiences without getting bogged down in the differences."

-Kara Bosworth, NICU mom

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www.yournicustorybook.com

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About the Authors:

Mahaley Patel, LMFT, PMH-C, bereaved mother to Saachi, is a therapist specializing in perinatal mental health. She serves on the bereaved parent advisory board at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Emily Souder, LCSW-C, PMH-C is a therapist specializing in perinatal mental health. She is the author of Birth Story Brave, Reimagined and Birth Story Held for Loss-books inviting parents to explore and expand their personal stories around birth and perinatal loss.