I also share free resources, tools and insights on emotional wellbeing and early parenting on Instagram.

@thenicupsychologist

Milestones can bring up more than progress. They can bring grief, comparison, and quiet questions like “are we behind?” If this happens, it’s not a failure. It’s a reflection of how much you care — and what you’ve
There can be a quiet expectation that pregnancy should feel joyful and exciting. But for many, it also brings: anxiety, uncertainty, emotional distance. When we feel pressure to be excited, it can make it harder to acknowledge what’s actually t
NICU teams need clinical language. Parents need human language. Both can exist at the same time. If certain phrases still carry weight for you, that doesn’t mean you’re “too sensitive.” It means you were in one of the most
Pregnancy doesn’t protect you from mental health difficulties. In fact, for many people, it increases vulnerability. We talk a lot about preparing the nursery. We talk less about preparing your nervous system. If you’re finding pregna
Connection in NICU doesn’t require perfection. It’s built through repetition: Voice Smell Touch Rhythm If you’ve ever left the unit thinking ‘I didn’t do enough’… Please hear this: Your baby is biologic
We often call the NICU experience, or any difficult birth or early start, traumatic. But what we often forget is that trauma isn’t just in the emotions, it’s in the tight jaw, jumpiness and sleepless nights. The feeling that your body c
In parenting, self-criticism often becomes a survival tool. But what protected you then may be exhausting you now. CFT (compassion focussed therapy) is my go-to for so many parents. It isn’t about being soft, or stopping caring, or trying &
I'm not sure there is ever enough prep a parent could do for the number of decisions that have to be made in those first hours and early days. Decision fatigue is real, even more real when there are so many competing opinions - between yesterday's c
Milestones are often talked about as moments of celebration — first smiles, first steps, first birthdays. But for some parents, milestones bring a mix of emotions. Alongside pride or relief, there may be anxiety, sadness, or a sense of being p
When a baby arrives into medical complexity, separation, or prolonged uncertainty, the impact rarely sits with just one person. I've seen dads and partners often take on practical responsibility, emotional containment, and decision-making — so