Miracle Mumma
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NICU parents are at significant risk of mental health problems, and they're slipping through the cracks.
When you are not offered or given access to any supports, you assume that you are expected to cope and to manage on your own. You assume there is something wrong with you if you can’t, that you are alone in your feelings. And with that comes shame.
Yet research shows us this is absolutely not the case. It is well documented that rates of postnatal depression (PND) are as high as 40% among women with premature infants, compared to 5-10% of mothers who give birth to full term healthy babies. And more than half report symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The rates are way too high. NICU parents, especially mothers, are struggling with mental health, and we aren’t getting the help we need. We are slipping through the cracks.
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Baby Puggle’s Nursery Reveal: After Every Storm Comes a Rainbow...
I couldn’t choose just a few photos to share so a full blog it is! And after 3 years in the making (visualising and planning) it certainly deserves its own blog! I have always had a passion for interior decorating, mostly starting with a blank white/crisp canvas and turning it into my very own space. The plan was always a gender-neutral nursery despite us knowing we were having a boy, as I’ve never been one for bright blues or pinks, especially on walls. We were lucky that we were able to transition James into a big boy room about 6 months ago and keep most of the fittings (e.g. cot, dresser, shelves) in his nursery and simply change up the decor for baby #2. This time around we went with earthy tones and a ‘rainbow’ theme to represent our struggles & acknowledge our journey.
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Wear all the babies!
After a lot of research and a lot of tips from experienced wearers, I strapped my teeny little man to my chest and in that moment, I felt more in love than ever before. James fell straight to sleep in his favourite place and my heart exploded with happiness. I can’t even describe the feeling, but it was as though he was back where he belonged, curled up in a ball as close to his Mummy as possible. He should have still been in my tummy at this stage, but wow, this was definitely the next best thing. From that moment, I was addicted! I wore James every single day. Some days the jobs got done, and some days they didn’t. But I didn’t care. -
The struggle is part of the story
My name is Amy. I’m 28 years old and grew up in the Adelaide Hills. I’m a Registered Nurse, and I love coffee – I think these two things go hand in hand! I’m also a wife to Scott, and a Mum to a healthy, happy 20-month-old boy named James. From the outside looking in, my life is pretty textbook, and pretty perfect. And it is! But there’s a reason people say, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ – because you might miss an amazing story. And this is mine… -
My pockets aren't full, but my heart is...
I’ve recently been asked (countless times) why I’ve gone back to my day job as a nurse, considering “Miracle Mumma is so successful”. The truth is, I didn’t have a choice. While it is my dream to run my ‘small business’ from home around my boy’s naps while I also watch him learn and grow, it’s unfortunately not realistic. Yes, Miracle Mumma is successful, but is it making me rich? Hell no! There are two main reasons behind this – one is completely out of my control, and the other is completely within my control. -
Behind the Scenes at Miracle Mumma
Our 30-weeker and inspiration for Miracle Mumma, James, recently turned ONE! We got some beautiful photos and I thought this would be the perfect time to introduce my family & our story to my new followers. Most of my recent followers would have subscribed to our website via an article or news story, so you may already know the basics. I will give another quick run-down on these, and then tell you some things about us you probably wouldn’t know. -
To 18-year-old James : a letter to my son on his 1st Birthday
On your first birthday, we asked our family and friends to place an item into a time capsule that you would open on your 18th Birthday. We hope these memories are something you will treasure and will give you some insight into the first year of your life. As your Mum and Dad, we decided to include this letter (along with some keepsakes from your big day) which describes our rollercoaster journey to becoming a family of three, as well as your fun personality, your unique behaviours and a few of your favourite things. We want to include the little things we probably won’t remember by the time you turn 18. -
The difference between 'he's so tiny' and 'he's come so far' is a SuperMum cape...
For the first 6 months of James’ life, I was constantly anxious about his weight. I’ve written about this before – it was consuming, and it was magnified by the comments I received every single day from strangers about how ‘tiny’ he was. I would defend him, telling people our story and explaining that he was ‘technically’ only X weeks old. Some people got it, and others continued to say ‘but I just can’t BELIEVE he’s 4 months’, like…yes dear you’re right, I’m lying to you. Gotcha! Sometimes I’d even have to remind people who already knew our story that James would take a while to catch up, because, you know, that whole thing where he arrived 10 weeks early and he was fed through a tube & fought for his life... -
James does hospital (Round 2)
James was recently back in hospital for a night. He got a runny nose Friday night, and by Saturday night he was struggling to breathe. James had most likely developed a virus such as the common cold, but being premature meant his lungs were vulnerable and at higher risk for further complications such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. On Sunday morning when he wasn’t improving, we decided to take him to the local doctor for our own peace of mind. The doctor was concerned with the effort James was using to breathe, and he could hear some wheezes and crackles in the base of his lungs. We were sent for an x-ray and the radiologist saw patchy spots reinforcing the earlier concerns of pneumonia. The doctor sent us to hospital immediately, and despite being a nurse and caring for babies with these conditions daily, I broke down in tears. I wasn’t sure whether it was the diagnosis, or the fear of going back to hospital where we had anxiously spent the first five weeks of his life. -
Breast or bottle? Who gives a flying….
World Breastfeeding Week. Who would have thought it would create such a fuss! And this is just on my Facebook feed! I can’t imagine the controversy happening all over the world. The ol’ breastfeeding / formula debate always rears its ugly head – why the hell does it have to be a debate?! I’m bloody anxious about posting this. I think I might hide under a rock for the next week until the backlash has washed over! But after seeing some of the posts recently, I think it needs to be said... -
Taking your premature baby home: from strict routine to complete disorder
I thought having a premature baby in hospital was going to be as tough as it would ever get. And it was. But then we took our boy home. It was one of the best days of my life and one I thought would never come. People said we would be ready – we had spent 5 weeks in hospital getting to know our baby and he was already in a ‘routine’. And I almost believed them. But in actual fact, it was the opposite. -
Going into labour at 30 weeks pregnant : from mucous plug to the final Code Zero
Her words exactly were ‘we need to go NOW’. I heard a ‘Code Zero’ being called on the overheard speakers – and it was for me. Within seconds I had about 10 people surrounding me asking me a million questions. Scott was thrown a pair of scrubs and I was being pushed out the door to theatre. I will NEVER forget this feeling. It was like I was in a movie. I had the anaesthetist running beside me telling me I needed to have a general anaesthetic. I kept saying ‘no, I’m having a spinal block, I need to be awake’ and his stern face saying ‘Amy, there’s no time’...
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