Ep.39: From NICU to Nurtured - One Mama’s Journey Through Prematurity, Healing & Hope with Gail Gabriel

In this heartfelt episode, Kaili sits down with Gail Gabriel, a fellow occupational therapist, NICU mama, and founder of The NICU Collective. Gail shares her raw and powerful journey from the unexpected early delivery of her son at 30 weeks to navigating the NICU, early intervention, and her own emotional healing.

Whether you’ve experienced a high-risk birth, a NICU stay, or just the intense uncertainty of new motherhood, this episode offers real talk, deep compassion, and hard-earned wisdom.

You’ll hear about:

• What it's really like to bring home a premature baby
• How to shift from fear to trust—even after trauma
• The power of community and sharing your story
• Mental health, NICU PTSD, and finding your way back to self
• Why creating space for your healing matters as much as your baby’s development

Gail’s story will resonate deeply with any mama who’s ever felt out of control, isolated, or overwhelmed—and her insights will help you feel seen, supported, and not alone.

🕒 Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & Kaili’s intro
03:18 – Meet Gail Gabriel: OT, mom, NICU warrior
06:46 – Gail’s birth & NICU story: a 30-week surprise
11:25 – Trauma, healing, and finding her footing again
17:52 – Mental health, fear, and building resilience
22:00 – Finding support when no one else gets it
26:49 – The NICU Collective: creating safe spaces for NICU families
30:25 – Why sharing your story matters
31:40 – Redefining self-care as a NICU mom
36:35 – Gail’s takeaway: the NICU journey shapes you
41:00 – Final reflections + where to find Gail

💜 Connect with Gail:
Instagram: @nicu_collective
Facebook: NICU Collective

📘 Grab Kaili’s Book: Mothering From Within – your compassionate, holistic guide to baby sleep, development, reflux, and more - https://www.kailiets.com/book

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