11. Everyone Said “It’s Normal.” Her Gut Said No. | Sheina’s Postpartum and PICU Story (Part 2)

Trusting a mother’s intuition | newborn in the PICU | breastfeeding after a NICU or PICU stay | finger feeding | postpartum after a hospital stay

What do you do when everyone tells you “it’s normal,” but your gut says something is wrong?

In Part 2 of Sheina’s story on the Gentle Beginnings Podcast, we pick up right after her calm, unmedicated hospital birth. Her doula kept telling her, “You have such a good motherly intuition. Listen to yourself.” A few days later, Sheina understood why.

When her newborn seemed unusually sleepy and wasn’t feeding well, she was told it was normal newborn behavior. Sheina trusted her instincts, described exactly what she was seeing to her pediatrician, and got her baby care right away. What followed was a two-week stay in the PICU, a diagnosis of SVT (supraventricular tachycardia), and a turning point that surprised even her doctors.

Sheina is very clear that her experience is rare and won’t happen to most families. She shares it for the mom who does go through something hard, so she has someone to relate to.

We talk about feeling disconnected from your baby in the hospital, the guilt so many parents carry, and the friends who showed up with food. Sheina also shares her emunah through it all: a whole community saying Tehillim, the moment a friend asked, “Have you checked your mezuzos?”, and feeling Hashem with her every step of the way. We end on a hopeful note. After weeks of pumping, bottles and “triple feeding,” Sheina shares how she got her baby back to breastfeeding using finger feeding, with the help of a lactation consultant who believed they could do it.

We also talk about the endless “shoulds” new moms face on Instagram, and why you are the expert on your own baby. Her baby is home, healthy and nursing.

Missed Part 1? Listen to Episode 10, Sheina’s unmedicated hospital birth after an induction.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@gentlebeginningsofficial

COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE:

• What if everyone says my newborn’s behavior is normal, but it doesn’t feel right? Trust yourself and check it out. Call your pediatrician and describe exactly what you’re seeing. As Sheina learned, the details you share matter.
• Is it normal to feel disconnected from your baby during a NICU or PICU stay? Many parents feel this way. It comes from fear and stress, not from a lack of love, and it’s worth talking about with someone you trust.
• Can you get back to breastfeeding after a NICU or PICU stay? For many moms, yes. Sheina pumped the whole time her baby was in the hospital, then used finger feeding with a lactation consultant’s guidance to transition back to nursing. It took time and patience, and the right support made all the difference. If the first lactation consultant isn’t a fit, it’s okay to try another.
• Are lactation consultants expensive? They can be. Sheina’s first one was covered by insurance, and she found community organizations that helped cover the second. It’s worth asking around in your own community.
• How can I support a friend whose baby is in the hospital? Sheina’s answer: drop off real food. A postpartum mom in the hospital needs to be fed too.

This episode shares one family’s experience and isn’t medical advice. If your baby seems unusually sleepy, isn’t feeding, or just doesn’t seem right to you, call your pediatrician. In an emergency, call 911.

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Trusting a mother’s intuition, even when you’re told everything is normal
• A newborn’s PICU stay, an SVT diagnosis, emunah, and the emotions parents rarely talk about
• Breastfeeding after a hospital stay, finger feeding, and why you’re the expert on your baby

CONNECT WITH TOBY:

Follow Toby on IG: https://www.instagram.com/gentlebeginningsofficial/

Website: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/

Need support? Here are a few resources:

Brain Body Birth Course: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/bbb

Free Mindfulness Track: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/FreeMindfulnessTrack

Healthy Breakfast Lactation Cookies: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/cookies

WhatsApp Community for women who are pregnant or love learning about birth: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DAcXJqhMM0aCCBniRr6VPj

About Toby: Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby. Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.