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A NICU Dr. Shares Her Own Experience with Preterm Babies, PTSD and Anxiety
Postpartum PTSD and anxiety insight from NICU Dr. Alison Hansen, whose two preterm babies each spent time in the NICU, offering a new perspective. Join her story.
About Dr. Alison Hansen
Alison Hansen is a pediatric clinical pharmacist, wife, and the mother of two children. She loved with a passion her work in the NICU which lasted almost seven years. She was blindsided by severe postpartum anxiety and PTSD after her daughter was born prematurely and spent three weeks in the NICU. After working through a lot of healing, she was again caught by surprise by her son’s traumatic birth which resulted in a four-week NICU stay and more postpartum anxiety and PTSD. Alison hopes that sharing her story will help others who work in healthcare and struggle to return to work after facing postpartum anxiety and/or PTSD.
Preterm Babies, PTSD and Anxiety Show Highlights:
Alison’s story of how she came to specialize in pediatrics and work in the NICU
How her first pregnancy, in 2019, brought anxiety, sudden preeclampsia, and a premature daughter at 34 weeks
How Alison recognized the signs of anxiety and PTSD when her daughter came home from the hospital after three weeks in the NICU—even though life seemed perfect in many ways
How she became obsessive about not being separated from her baby during her maternity leave
Why she talked to her Ob-gyn about her anxiety and started medications but couldn’t find time for therapy
How Alison began having panic attacks back at work in the NICU and pushed herself harder and harder
How Alison began therapy and was diagnosed with PTSD when her daughter was 9 months old–and her healing journey began
How Alison’s second pregnancy resulted in another preeclampsia diagnosis at 28 weeks and a two-month hospitalization until her son was born at 37 weeks
How other medical complications necessitated a four-week hospital stay for her son
How the second NICU experience was much more manageable because of the support system Alison had put into place
What Alison wants other people to know about PTSD
Resources:
Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/
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