40 | Motherwhelm Bites with Emily & Mahaley | Your NICU Story, Grief & Healing After the NICU

In this episode of Motherwhelm Bites, I sit down with Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel - therapists, authors, and mothers - to talk about NICU trauma, grief, healing, and their book, Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family's Experience.Drawing on both their professional expertise and lived experience, Emily and Mahaley explore the complex emotional landscape of life after the NICU. Together, we discuss the lasting impact of NICU trauma, the many forms of grief families can experience, and the challenge of holding seemingly conflicting emotions—like gratitude for survival alongside heartbreak for what was lost.We also talk about the unique experiences of birthing parents, the often-overlooked perspectives of partners, and how writing Your NICU Story became a way of creating space for families to process, reflect on, and make meaning of their experiences. Their thoughtful, compassionate approach is a powerful reminder that healing doesn't mean forgetting—it means allowing every part of your story to be acknowledged.Whether you've experienced a NICU stay, infant loss, birth trauma, or you're supporting someone who has, I hope this conversation helps you feel more informed, understood, and less alone.Connect with Emily & MahaleyInstagram: @emily.souder.lscwcInstagram: @mahaleypatelYour NICU Story: yournicustorybook.comTopics discussed: NICU, NICU trauma, infant loss, grief, birth trauma, perinatal mental health, neonatal intensive care, trauma recovery, reflective journalling, partners in the NICU, healing after the NICU.