Ep.51 NICU Mental Health for Parents with Micro Preemie Mom and Therapist, Tayyibah Chase

Becoming a parent can be exciting and daunting all at once. For parents who know a NICU stay is coming, preparation makes all the difference. For those caught off guard, knowing where to turn for support is key.

Our guest is TayyibahChase, a Mamistad Village Provider, a Perinatal Mental Health Certified, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of Muna Wellness. Tayyibah's sweet baby was born at 27 weeks and, as a micro preemie, spent two months in the NICU. Drawing on her training as a therapist, Tayyibah was able to recognize the mental health struggles tied to her traumatic birth and NICU experience before they overwhelmed her. Now, she creates space for mothers to work through the emotional toll of the NICU journey, and offers therapy for NICU families navigating anxiety, fear, depression and the overall stress related to this experience.From guilt and shame, to adjusting to an intense hospital environment, to the pressure of tracking every detail and learning unfamiliar medical terms, to simple, raw fear — the NICU experience can also place real strain on a marriage.

In this episode, we talk through ways to cope with these challenges, and the silver lining: that real support for NICU families can completely change what would otherwise be a heavier burden carried far longer than it needs to be, throughout the rest of your life as a parent.

Important timestamps:

04:05 Her 27 Week Birth Story

06:21 Micro Preemie and NICU Reality

08:51 Trauma Triggers After Discharge

15:25 Common NICU Mental Health Themes
20:00 Practical Support NeoWell Shoutout
22:47 Coping Tools and EMDR Therapy
27:28 Dads and NICU Stress
31:56 Couples Communication Tools
37:21 Advocacy and Letting Go
40:32 Building Your Village

Where to find Tayyibah:

Her website: https://www.munawellnesstherapy.com/

On Instagram: @muna_wellness

MAMISTAD VILLAGE MEMBERS THAT OFFER SUPPORT FOR NICU FAMILIES:

NEOwell - NICU, Newborn & Pregnancy Support - provide comprehensive support for families at every stage of their journey, from high-risk pregnancy and newborn care to life after the NICU. Wherever you are in your journey, NEOwell is here to help: https://www.neowellpartners.com/

See our list of Mental Health Providers here:

https://www.mamistad.com/tmvmaternalmentalhealth.

Those certified in EMDR:

Sarah Hagan, LCSW, PMH-C

Jennifer Byrnes, LPC, PMH-C

Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C is also an EMDR practitioner.

More about EMDR: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/

Visit us at ⁠Mamistad.com⁠ for more info about Mamistad and to learn more about Mamistad groups! As always, if you're a new mom, even if it's not with Mamistad, please find your MAMA TRIBE.
Visit ⁠MOM CHAT WITH MAMISTAD⁠ for a full list of all episodes.
Thank you - YOU are appreciated! Take care of each other. Mamistad,
Cynthia

~Women are incredible, Moms are limitless, and a Sisterhood of Moms is a force of nature.

Information on this podcast is for general information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical care, to diagnose medical conditions, or to prescribe treatment for any specific health condition. We encourage anyone to seek help from a qualified medical professional where issues deem it necessary. No liability is assumed.