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Have you sought therapy to deal with NICU/delivery?

tbonegrltbonegrl member
in Preemies

I'm curious how it has worked for you. I am seriously considering seeking some therapy. I still have flashbacks to the hospital/delivery. I had an extreme delivery where I was cut prior to going under, had massive blood loss, and a placenta abrupted. I am concerned about how I will feel with my next pregnancy. My best friend had a baby 8 weeks ago and when I visited her at the hospital, the smell of the hand soap sent me into flashbacks from the NICU.

I think I have some PTSD. Anyone seek help for your delivery/NICU time and how well did it work? What did you do? How long?

 

Thanks! 

 

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Re: Have you sought therapy to deal with NICU/delivery?

  • smfinallymgsmfinallymg
    I am. It is helping a lot. I was diagnoised with PTSD. With the help of therapy and Zoloft, I am doing a little bit better. I take everything day by day.
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  • ShanaNChrisShanaNChris member

    I was seeing a therapist weekly at Lily's bedside while she was in the NICU. She said I had/have PTSD. I kept talking with her, but ended it when Lily was discharged. I just wanted to take her and run out of there and never look back.

    I was good until I went back to work about 2 months ago. Now it seems like when I am by myself in the car driving or at work (whenever I am not with Lily) the thoughts come back and I am not able to push them out. Last week at work I had a total "breakdown" and could not stop crying, I was crying because I missed my room in Labor & Delivery where I spent 20 days, but I don't understand why bc while I was there I just wanted to get out.

     I just want to get over this, I have a healthy, beautiful little girl and I feel like I shouldn't care anymore how she got here, but I do and I am so scared for next time, and I want to be happy next time, not scared. So I called the therapist last week and have an appointment to see her next week, I hope it helps.

    I can't even imagine being cut before being under - OMG!

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  • MrsKelly05MrsKelly05

    Noah wasn't a preemie but had VERY serious issues ( severe brain swelling, stopped breathing) , that were completely unexpected . He is doing?absolutely?wonderful and I have been told on many?occasions?by many people including my husband to simply "get over it". Noah will be one in a few weeks and I am really struggling, the smell's, the sights, the sounds of the NICU and the hospital never really leave me. I drive by the maternity ward almost?everyday?and it makes me cry every single time. I too worry about my next pregnancy and how I will get through it without having a nervous breakdown!!!?

    I really do think therapy is the answer, I just haven't brought myself to pursue it yet....?

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  • Mrs. DestructoMrs. Destructo member

    I haven't, but I should. I'm also having a very rough time, and I still have flashbacks. I'm doing better now than I have since they were born, but I wouldn't exactly say that my state of mind is healthy.

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  • AidgeAidge member
    I definitely have days when I think I should talk to someone.  It's when I'm holding DS when he's all calm and we're just swaying to some nice music... then I start to cry and can't help but feel so guilty about the rough beginning he had to this world. It just makes me so sad for him, even though he is doing so well!  I just have severe guilt, even though there was nothing that I did to have this happen.  I am very worried about the next pregnancy, should we decide to have another baby.
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  • Mrs. Peterson 07/07/07Mrs. Peterson 07/07/07
    I have been diagnosed with PTSD as well. I am currently just in therapy. We are going to see how that works before I am put on any medication. I have only gone one week, so I do not have much to tell you about if it is working.
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  • jennigator3jennigator3

    Nate's pedi thinks I have PTSD because of Nate's NEC and emergency surgery in the NICU. Nate just had a bowel resection because of what happened back then and I kept having breakdowns just thinking of going back to the hospital. Well, the surgery was last Friday and we got home today and the surgery went great. Just being in the hospital and being in control of his care gave me a lot of relief and helped me come to term with what happened. When I was leaving I saw a couple loading a tiny set of triplets into the car that were leaving the NICU and it made me realize that all of the pain and fear was worth it, life is worth the struggle, and I'll do this again even if I'm scared.

    I would definitely suggest talking about it to a therapist or even going back to the hospital and walking down the familiar halls. It seems odd, but it brought me a lot of closure.  I think a lot of NICU parents have PTSD that they need to deal with, this board has actually been a safe haven for me, I am thankful for the women I have met here.

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  • tbonegrltbonegrl member
    I spoke with my OBGYN yesterdayat my annual and she referred me to a therapist who specilaizes in thsi sort of thing. She feels it is important to work through it before my next pregnancy. I'll let you all know how it goes.
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