Finding the bond after the storm. This book pulls back the curtain on the physiological and emotional reality of delayed attachment. Shedding compassionate light on the "hidden" struggle many parents feel. Which isn't from a lack of love; it's a trauma response.
This deeply honest picture book offers comfort and validation to mothers navigating the emotional aftermath of NICU stays, high-risk pregnancies, or surrogacy journeys. Told through lyrical verse, it follows a mother who struggles with delayed attachment to her baby-an experience often left unspoken and misunderstood.
As she reflects on loss, trauma, and the weight of expectations, she begins to unravel the truth: love is not always instant, and healing takes time. Through grief, guilt, and ultimately self-compassion, she discovers that her response was not failure-but survival.
With gentle reassurance, this story creates a safe space for mothers to feel seen, heard, and understood. It challenges the myth of immediate connection and replaces it with a powerful message: attachment is a journey, and every path is valid.
This book is a permission slip to be human. It's time to stop apologizing for how you survived and dissolve the shame. Attachment is a relationship; it isn't always instant, you're not cold and hollow.
About the Author :
Nadeane Jackson is an author for children and families, registered nurse, and mother of two whose writing is rooted in compassion, lived experience, and a deep desire to support families navigating medical trauma. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and drawing on more than twelve years of critical care experience, Nadeane brings both professional insight and personal vulnerability to her work.Her books-including The Aftermath: A Book on Attachment with NICU and Surrogate Babies, When the Dust Settles; My Child is in Remission, Now What?, and The Secret Signal series-are inspired by her own journey through a high-risk pregnancy, her daughter's NICU stay, and the experiences of close friends facing childhood leukemia. Through these stories, she explores themes of attachment, resilience, sibling support, and what she calls "The Survival Gap"-the emotional phases families move through during and after medical crises.Nadeane believes vulnerability is at the heart of every meaningful story. Her work aims to normalize complex emotions, reduce shame, and provide practical, age-appropriate tools that help children and caregivers feel seen, understood, and supported. By blending research with real-life experiences, she creates resources that empower families and the communities around them.Originally from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Nadeane now lives in St. Louis, Missouri. When she's not writing, she enjoys traveling, hiking, staying active, and spending time outdoors with her family. She is deeply grateful to her husband, Darius Dashtaki, for his unwavering support and encouragement throughout her journey.
Review :
"As someone who has gone through the NICU and the aftermath of the journey, I don't believe it's talked about enough. My daughter was in the NICU for 339 days and I was in fight or flight the entire time. I never had the opportunity to sit and mourn what could have been, this book reminds me I need that. I truly believe this will resonate with a lot of families." Lakethia, Mighty Little Giants
"The Aftermath by Nadeane Jackson is such a powerful and honest book. Reading it felt like sitting with someone brave enough to say out loud the thoughts so many NICU parents carry silently. The vulnerability in her writing is incredible. She captures the grief, guilt, numbness, fear, and complicated emotions around attachment after the NICU and trauma in a way that feels deeply real and validating. So many mothers will see themselves in these pages. I certainly did. What I appreciated most is how she challenges the idea that attachment is always instant and magical. She reminds parents that attachment is a relationship, and after the trauma, it can take time and that is okay. This book creates the safe space so many parents need. Honesty, beautifully written, and incredibly important." Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director of Canadian Premature Babies Foundation.
"This book put into words this jumble of emotions inside of me. This severe guilt that I still feel. It's so well written and so true." Nabeelah, mother of four (three in heaven), NICU Survivor.
