Empowering NICU Parents Podcast
57 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsIs your baby currently in the NICU? Was your baby born prematurely? Or is your term baby in the NICU for high jaundice levels, low blood sugars, or because they have some Respiratory Distress and need oxygen or additional support?
Are you wondering what in the heck is a small baby unit or kangaroo care? Why do NICUs use donor breast milk and what on earth does RDS, BPD, IVH, NEC, ETT, CPAP, HFNC, UVC, UAC, po, ng, NEC, ABG, CBG, CBC, and CMP stand for? Are you asking yourself how will we ever get through this, what questions should I even ask, and when will my baby come home?
If you are a NICU parent who is scared, nervous, unsure, and full of questions, then hit the subscribe button so you do not miss another show!
Welcome to the "Empowering NICU Parents Podcast" where we will answer ALL of these questions and SO MUCH more! Your host, Nicole Nyberg is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner with years of NICU experience - but she also brings her unique perspective to this podcast as a mother of a 23-weeker.
Along with sharing answers to the NICU medical questions you have, Nicole addresses and supports you through the incredibly difficult emotional struggles that only a NICU parent can understand.
She provides you with knowledge plus tangible tips to guide, educate, empower, and support you through your baby's NICU journey and once they are home. Tune in to hear from someone who knows exactly what you're going through, another NICU Mama.
Check out all of our show notes and additional information at empoweringnicuparents.com
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Episodes
Supporting NICU Families: Gift Ideas and Acts of Kindness
February 19, 2024 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBIn this insightful podcast episode, we explore the challenges faced by families with infants in the NICU. Your host, Nicole Nyberg is an experienced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and NICU parent, who shares insights from her personal experience along with anecdotes from other NICU parents. Join us as we explore ways to offer unwavering support through practical gestures of kindness, from meal trains and transportation assistance to thoughtful gifts that cater to the unique needs of NICU parents...
Marijuana Use During Pregnancy and While Breastfeeding: Is It Really A Big Deal?
January 19, 2024 13:06 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MB🌟 Unveiling the Untold Story: Marijuana & Pregnancy Podcast 🌿✨ Your host is a Neontal Nurse Practitiction who dives deep into groundbreaking research on marijuana's impact during pregnancy and breastfeeding in this eye-opening podcast, proudly sponsored by Dr. Brown’s Medical. Whether you're an expecting mom, a dedicated healthcare professional, or a caring family member, this episode is your key to unlocking valuable insights. 🔍 What are the short and long-term effects on mothers, growing...
The BIG and Positive Impacts of Skin-to-skin Care in the NICU
November 24, 2023 22:58 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBNovember is Prematurity Awareness Month! During the month of November, we reflect on all of the the premature infants born each and everyday, the clinicians who care for them, and the parents. Despite all of the latest technology and advances in healthcare, one in ten children are born prematurely in the United States. Additionally, infants born prematurely are more likely to have long-term academic difficulties, cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, and/or emotional and behaviora...
Finding the Beauty in Life After the Loss of a Child
November 01, 2023 03:13 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBTo close out Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, I sat down with Tasha Ruholl. Tasha was kind enough to openly share the losses and subsequent grief that she and her husband have endured. She speaks about how it was her grief that drove her to make a difference and help so many other families. Tasha wanted to give the gift of time to any other parents who have to endure the unimaginable path of losing a child by donating cuddle cots to 10 local hospitals. Additionally, she continues to...
Supportive Organizations and Resources for Bereaved and NICU Families
October 25, 2023 23:30 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MBThere are some amazing organizations that help to support and provide valuable resources for bereaved and NICU families. Many parents who have had a child in the NICU as well as parents who have endured a pregnancy loss or the loss of an infant have felt led to give back to other families enduring the same experience. Using their personal experience, they have created a platform or organization to pay it forward so they can help other families. After our son William was home from the NICU, I...
Embracing Parental Advocacy and Empowerment in the NICU
September 25, 2023 10:19 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBFor our 52nd podcast episode, I was joined by Dr. Jess Daigle. She is a board-certified pediatrician and neonatal/pediatric hospitalist. Additionally, she is the proud mother of two premature infants, Liam and Avery. Her son Liam, was born at 31 weeks’ gestation and spent 5 weeks in the NICU. After her family’s personal experience in the NICU, she founded and is the CEO of Mom & Me, LLC which focuses on helping both mothers and infants thrive during the postpartum journey and beyond. Dr. Jess...
Evidence-Based Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in NICU Infants
September 08, 2023 16:45 - 37 minutes - 34 MBFor our 51st podcast episode, I discussed a contensious topic in the neonatal world, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Although it is a common occurrence amongst all infants, the lack of updated, clear, and consistent diagnostic and management recommendations remains, especially for the NICU population. Due to my personal and professional experiences, it is difficult for me to have one solid stance on the topic. As a former NICU nurse, I saw so many i...
NICU Graduate Interviews
August 17, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBTo celebrate our 50th podcast episode, we wanted to honor and hear from our NICU heroes, the NICU graduates. You will hear from several NICU graduates with ages ranging from 5 years old, up to 36 years old. I was honored to be able to sit down with these amazing NICU graduates and learn their perspective, even from my very own NICU graduate as we debut our first official interview together. I spoke with NICU graduates that were born both term and preterm with a variety of diagnoses. It is s...
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC): What causes it and how is it managed in the NICU?
May 26, 2023 11:30 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBFor the 49th episode on the Empowering NICU Parents’ Podcast, we review necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which is a life-threatening newborn condition that involves ischemia and inflammation of the bowel. Necrotizing Enterocolitis is a complex disease that despite decades of research, is still not well understood. The evidence continues to support the concurrent presence of several factors that when combined with a trigger, may lead to a disruption of the normal intestinal bacterial flora foll...
The Composition of Human Breast Milk: How Does Preterm, Term, and Donor Milk Vary?
April 13, 2023 20:08 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBMaternal human milk is the absolute best food for newborn nutrition that supports all of their accelerated growth in the first year. And although we have a basic understanding of the composition of human milk, every woman’s breast milk has a different complexity when it comes to the nutritional content. But, you may be wondering, what exactly is breast milk composed of? For our 48th podcast episode, I review the general composition of human breast milk and what the variations are between pr...
Breaking Down the Milk Expression and Breastfeeding Barriers Common to NICU Mothers
March 03, 2023 11:10 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBFor our 47th podcast episode, I review some of the general benefits of maternal breast milk and why it is so important for all infants, but especially those who are critically ill and in the NICU, to receive maternal milk. Human milk, often referred to as liquid gold, is considered the gold standard feeding plan for all infants. Maternal human milk provides many nutritional advantages for infants, but it is also advantageous in non nutritional aspects as well. Unfortunately, NICU mothers fa...
A Review of the Infant-Driven Feeding Program in the NICU
February 06, 2023 15:46 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBInfants in the NICU, especially those born prematurely, encounter the challenge of effective bottle feeding and/or nursing due to their maturational development. Recently, to support their development, there has been a shift in the paradigm to move away from volume-driven feedings in the NICU to a cue-based approach. The practice of cue-based feedings, specifically the The Infant-Driven Feeding™ Program (IDF™), begins with a neurodevelopmental foundation and promotes positive feeding experien...
A Review of Cue-Based Feeding in the NICU
January 12, 2023 18:51 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBFor infants in the NICU, especially those born prematurely, breast or bottle feeding effectively can oftentimes be a challenge. Maturational and developmental issues impact a premature infant’s ability to adequately coordinate their sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Yet, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), attainment of adequate oral feedings that fully support growth without physiologic instability is a skill that needs to be fully established prior to an infant’s discha...
A Review of the WHO Recommendations for the Care of Preterm or Low-Birth-weight Infant - Part III
December 27, 2022 22:20 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBFor our most recent episode, I continued to summarize the updated recommendations for care of the preterm and low birthweight infant from the World Health Organization (WHO) that were just released on November 15, 2022. The World Health Organization reviews the most up-to-date research findings and they develop global guidelines that are meant to help end-users or clinicians make informed decisions on whether, when, and how to undertake specific actions such as clinical interventions, diagnos...
A Review of the WHO Recommendations for the Care of Preterm or Low-Birth-weight Infant - Part II
December 12, 2022 13:59 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBDo you often wonder what helps to guide care and policies in healthcare? Guidelines for medical care are driven by research and what the evidence has shown, otherwise known as evidence-based practice. And there are organizations, like the World Health Organization, who review the most up-to-date research findings and develop global guidelines that are meant to help end-users or clinicians make informed decisions on whether, when, and how to undertake specific actions such as clinical interven...
A Review of the WHO Recommendations for Care of the Preterm or Low-Birth-Weight Infant
November 25, 2022 18:00 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBOn November 15, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) released some updated recommendations for care of the preterm or low birthweight infant. New up-to-date evidence has emerged regarding the most effective clinical interventions in caring for preterm or low birthweight infants so a group of diverse experts and stakeholders from six different regions were selected and began working on these guidelines back in 2020. The guidelines developed by the WHO are meant to help end-users or clin...
Keeping an Eye on Your Angel in the NICU
November 11, 2022 21:58 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBAs a NICU parent, one of the most difficult pieces of the journey is the physical separation that parents have to endure initially and each day that follows. Every time parents walk out of those NICU doors to go home without their baby is devastating. Parents are left sitting at home wondering if their baby is awake, or are they restless, did they gain weight, did they take their full bottle, or were they able to keep their ng tube out? The company AngelEye Health has developed state-of-the a...
A Review of Venous and Arterial Lines Commonly Used in the NICU
October 31, 2022 17:50 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBThere are many terms and acronyms commonly used in neonatology that most people are not familiar with. Even medical clinicians who are not familiar with the NICU, are unlikely to know about UACs or UVCs. And most NICU parents probably did not know that you can access a newborn’s venous and/or arterial system through their umbilicus until the providers explained the procedure to them. For our 40th podcast episode, we reviewed some of those common NICU acronyms, but specifically the differen...
RSV in Infants and Children: Symptoms, Prevention, and Synagis Criteria
October 14, 2022 19:16 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBIt is likely that you’ve heard about a child who has had RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus from a friend, a family member, or perhaps you’ve even had your own personal experience with it. But, you may not realize how common it actually is! Did you know that almost all children get RSV at least once before they are two years old. For healthy children, it is likely to present just like a typical cold or virus, but for some children, they become very ill with RSV. Due to certain infants bein...
The Wolff Family’s Post NICU Journey Through Home Trach Care, Decannulation, and Unexpected Surprises Too
September 30, 2022 20:30 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBFor this podcast, I continued my conversation with Jessica Wolff. We discussed what their life was like once they brought Lily home. She explains how they adjusted to caring for Lily with her tracheostomy along with the necessary life-saving equipment and how all of that completely changed once COVID hit. We discussed how the plan for Lily’s decannulation went completely sideways, how they coped with it, and how they learned that Lily actually needed a full laryngotracheal reconstructive su...
The Wolff Family’s Journey Through Loss, A Prolonged NICU Stay and What They Have Learned Along the Way
September 15, 2022 14:14 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBFor our most recent podcast episode, I sat down with Jessica Wolff, a mother who has endured loss and 2 very different NICU journeys. For part one of this podcast, she shares personal details on her very complicated twin pregnancy and the difficult choices they had to make along the way. She reflects back on regrets both she and her husband, Pat have experienced as well as what helped them cope through their daughter, Lily’s 256-day NICU stay. Jessica explains what helped them make the deci...
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Infants: A Review of Predisposing Factors, Preventative Measures, and Treatments
September 01, 2022 10:44 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBInfants in the NICU are patients that require specialized care with unique clinical considerations. Specific recommendations must be considered for all systems of NICU patients and the skin is not any different. Infants who are being cared for in the NICU, especially those that were born premature have an increased risk for skin trauma. On this episode, we review some of the skin care guidelines and recommendations available for clinical practice of NICU patients. As NICU clinicians, is is ...
Skin Care: Clinical Guidelines for the NICU
August 18, 2022 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBInfants in the NICU are patients that require specialized care with unique clinical considerations. Specific recommendations must be considered for all systems of NICU patients and the skin is not any different. Infants who are being cared for in the NICU, especially those that were born premature have an increased risk for skin trauma. On this episode, we review some of the skin care guidelines and recommendations available for clinical practice of NICU patients. As NICU clinicians, is is ...
Why are Term and Preterm Infants at an Increased Risk for Skin Injury?
August 04, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.1 MBOur skin is an incredibly important, multifunctional organ. It has many different functions including helping us maintain our body temperature, it assists with the excretion of water and toxins, and most importantly, protective mechanism of acting as a barrier. But in newborns, especially preterm infants, there are developmental differences in the anatomy and physiology of their skin that place them at an increased risk for skin injury. Not only is the immaturity of an infant’s skin problemat...
Elevated Bilirubin Levels in Infants: Screening and Management
July 21, 2022 11:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBFor our 33rd podcast episode, I review the recommendations for screening and managing hyperbilirubinemia. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends universal screening of bilirubin levels in newborns, so I review how that can be done, when it should occur, and when it should be repeated. We discuss which infants are more at risk for elevated bilirubin levels and how those risk factors contribute to guidelines for the treatment plan. I discuss the nomograms commonly used and recommended ...
Elevated Bilirubin Levels in Infants: Why Does it Occur?
July 07, 2022 11:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBIt is likely that you have heard the terms jaundiced and/or bilirubin. And although it is very common for infants to develop elevated bilirubin levels otherwise known as hyperbilirubinemia, do you actually know or understand why? As a NICU provider, I think it is essential that parents know the condition their infant is facing, but it is also important to understand the why behind its occurrence. If you do not understand the why, the treatment plan will also not make very much sense to you....
Trauma-Informed Care in the NICU with Mary Coughlin
July 05, 2022 11:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBFor this podcast episode, I was very honored to be joined by Ms. Mary Coughlin. Mary is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, but also a published author of several pieces of work. She is well-known in the neonatal world for her development of the core measures for developmentally supportive care, but most recently with her published work and creation of the trauma-informed professional certification program as well as additional programs, workshops and masterclasses through Caring Essentials Collab...
The Positive Effects of Kangaroo Care: A Literature Review
May 23, 2022 11:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBFor this podcast episode, we review some recent research studies that not only show the importance of frequent skin-to-skin care, but how it correlates with a more synchronous relationship between the infant and parents, promotes parental attachment, involvement, and breast milk production! You will hear many of the ways skin-to-skin care positively affects the infant and the parents. The practice of kangaroo care between an infant and their parent results in this beautiful, virtuous, posit...
Life Beyond HIE: A Mother’s Journey of Growth and Giving Back
April 30, 2022 15:40 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBFor our 29th Podcast episode and to close out HIE Awareness month, I sat down with Brigid Janousek. She bravely shares the story of her son William's traumatic delivery and his subsequent treatment with therapeutic hypothermia due to his diagnosis of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy or HIE. Infants with HIE have experienced a lack of oxygen to the brain either prior to birth, during the birth process, after birth, or during childhood. Infants with suspected HIE are treated in the NICU with t...
Parental Stress and Trauma in the NICU
April 19, 2022 23:10 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBIf you are a NICU Parent who either currently has a baby in the NICU, or a NICU graduate, this episode is for you! I recently presented at a NICU Leadership conference and spoke on the parental stressors common to NICU Parents and the trauma and PTSD often associated with it. I decided to share some portions of my speech with you due to its’ relevance to all NICU families. I want all NICU Parents to know that you are not alone and your feelings are common. By minimizing your experience or und...
The Positive Effects of Parental Engagement in the NICU
March 29, 2022 01:37 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBIf your baby is currently in the NICU, and you are doubting the importance of your role as a parent, this podcast episode is for you! I hope as NICU parents you have been educated on the importance of your involvement with your baby - even while they are in the NICU! Parental engagement in the NICU has a plethora of benefits and not just for your baby, but for you as parents as well! Although as a NICU parent, you may feel completely powerless, you need to remember that you play a major rol...
Supporting Infant Mental Health in the NICU
March 10, 2022 15:19 - 32 minutes - 30 MBHave you ever heard the term infant mental health? On this podcast episode, we discuss how you, as a parent or caregiver of an infant, can positively shape and support a baby’s early social and emotional skills so they are able to build long-lasting connections in the future! You will not want to miss this episode if you are a NICU parent or member of the NICU care team - it is one of my favorite episodes we’ve done so far! On today’s podcast, I am joined by Katie Ross, a Certified Neonatal ...
The Benefits of Reading to Your Baby in the NICU
January 29, 2022 01:54 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBDid you know that not only is it okay to read to your NICU baby, but that it is strongly recommended? In our 25th Podcast episode, I review all of the benefits of reading to your baby while they are in the NICU as well as tips for success! In the first few months of an infant’s life, their language and speech areas grow exponentially in their brain. But, for our babies in the NICU, many of them not only miss out on months of intrauterine language exposure that promotes normal development, but...
Life After NICU With a Medically Complex Child: What is the Reality? Part II
January 02, 2022 03:22 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBIf you are getting ready to bring your baby home from the NICU or you have a child who has complex medical needs, this episode is for you! Being a parent is difficult, but when you have a sick child or one that requires extensive medical care, therapies, and appointments, it can dramatically change your life and that of your family. Today we continue to spotlight some of the difficulties, stresses, and struggles of parents who have children with complex medical needs. We discuss the importa...
Life After NICU With a Medically Complex Child: What is the Reality?
December 18, 2021 16:07 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBFor NICU Parents, the day they are able to bring their baby home is unforgettable. Many parents have spent weeks and months traveling to the NICU to see their baby and have endured a large amount of stress, worry, and concern each day as they watched their baby fight against so many obstacles. So when parents hear that they are able to take their baby home, they are so thrilled that many underestimate the challenges they will face at home. For many NICU babies, their complex medical journey d...
Questions Parents Should Ask Their Baby’s NICU Care Team Each Day
November 25, 2021 23:48 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBOur NICU Journal called Our NICU Roadmap has officially been published! My vision for this journal stemmed from the lack of a comprehensive NICU journal available when our son was in the NICU. I wanted to develop a journal that not only was a great resource for parents, but also served as a place for you as parents to document your baby’s progress each day while in the NICU. As a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, I had the medical knowledge and experience on my side during our son’s NICU journey,...
NICU Trauma - How Well Are You Coping?
October 01, 2021 21:10 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBAre you suffering from trauma after your baby or babies spent time in the NICU? Have you brushed off symptoms of trauma or PTSD? How could you suffer from PTSD when your baby only spent a few days in the NICU? Trauma is the result from an upsetting experience. That is it. It results from any experience that is disturbing and overwhelms your ability to cope. There is not a definitive scope that defines trauma. I used to minimize my trauma after my stressful pregnancy, our son’s emergent de...
Advice for Current NICU Parents From Mothers of Multiples
September 11, 2021 00:56 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBIf you are a NICU parent and in the midst of your baby’s NICU journey, you must listen to this episode. This episode features great advice, tips, suggestions, and encouragement from former NICU Moms that you must hear! Although the tips are mostly from mothers of multiples, any NICU parent will benefit from what they have to share! Whether you are a seasoned NICU parent or brand new in your journey, you will want to listen to what those that have gone before you have to share! I believe we ...
Infant of Diabetic Mother: What are the potential complications and typical treatment plan?
August 21, 2021 19:45 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBWhat does IDM stand for? In the medical world, IDM is an acronym for Infant of Diabetic Mother. In this episode, we review the common complications associated with Infants of Diabetic Mothers. You may be surprised to hear that there are several complications beyond hypoglycemia or low blood sugars including but not limited to macrosomia, asphyxia, small for gestational age, respiratory distress, cardiac anomalies, neurological impairments, polycythemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hypocalcemia, and h...
Gestational Diabetes: From diagnosis in pregnancy to blood sugar management and its effect on the health of the mother and infant
August 06, 2021 01:31 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBWho is at risk for gestational diabetes? How is it diagnosed? If I have gestational diabetes, how will it affect my pregnancy and my baby? What is the best way to manage my blood sugars? Will my baby be more likely to have diabetes in the future? How will it affect future pregnancies moving forward? We answer these questions plus so much more in this podcast! We start by discussing diabetes mellitus and compare the different types. We review the pathophysiology of diabetes in a way that w...
Optimizing Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in NICU Patients with Occupational Therapy - Part II
July 23, 2021 02:44 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBIf you are a current or former NICU parent, you will want to listen to this episode. There are so many pieces of information you receive as a NICU parent while your baby is in the NICU and it continues once you bring your baby home. Tune in to hear great recommendations on how to best advocate and help your child while they are in the NICU and especially once they are home to optimize their neurodevelopmental outcomes! For our 17th podcast episode, I continued my discussion with Tracey Kond...
Optimizing Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in NICU Patients with Occupational Therapy
July 08, 2021 22:27 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBOur 16th podcast episode focuses on the positive neonatal neurodevelopment outcomes that occur when there is close collaboration and team work with the NICU care team and therapy services. The podcast features, Tracey Kondrasuk-Brander, a certified neonatal and early intervention occupational therapist. She explains the all-important role of the occupational therapist in the NICU and why it is so crucial for premature and critically ill infants to receive therapy while they are in the NICU...
Kangaroo Care in the NICU: How to address the barriers, assess for readiness, and transfer the infant safely
June 28, 2021 13:47 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBIn our episode, we continue our discussion on kangaroo care by addressing some of the common barriers to kangaroo care and why it may not always be encouraged sooner. We review ways to minimize some of the common obstacles NICUs encounter that may prevent daily kangaroo care for parents. We discuss the assessment for readiness of the infant, parents, and unit for daily skin-to-skin care followed by a review of common limiting factors that may prevent an infant from being able to do kangaroo c...
Kangaroo Care in the NICU: How Does it Benefit the Infant and Parents?
June 11, 2021 00:43 - 29 minutes - 27 MBKangaroo care has numerous benefits for the baby and parents! Skin-to-skin care is now a modern day practice in the obstetrics and NICU world. Learn how it was first put into place out of pure necessity and why the practice is so strongly encouraged today. If you are either a NICU parent or a member of the NICU care team, you will hear the many benefits kangaroo care provides babies, especially the preterm population as well as its ability to promote engagement and attachment with parents. ...
Supporting Maternal Mental Health in the NICU - Are We Doing Enough? Part II
May 28, 2021 03:50 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBTune in to hear a continuation of my conversation with Anese Barnett, a perinatal mental health therapist. You will benefit from listening if you are a NICU mother who has experienced or is currently experiencing the stress and associated trauma of having a baby in the NICU. Or if you are a NICU dad, grandparent, or friend to a NICU Mom and need some tangible advice to help her pause and address her own self care. Members of the NICU care team specifically nurses, NNPs, Neonatologists, and s...
Supporting Maternal Mental Health in the NICU - Are We Doing Enough?
May 14, 2021 01:30 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBIn this podcast, we focus on identifying ways to support maternal mental health for NICU Mamas. As May is Maternal Mental Health Month, I sat down with Anese Barnett, a perinatal mental health therapist and clinical psychology doctoral student who is passionate about improving the mental health of all mothers during a high risk pregnancy and/or for those who have a baby in the NICU. We discuss NICU trauma with the unnatural maternal-child separation and many of the common feelings of shame...
Non-Invasive Ventilation in the NICU - A Review of NIPPV, CPAP, HFNC, and LFNC too
April 29, 2021 18:45 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBIn this episode, we review non-invasive ventilation in the NICU, respiratory support without an endotracheal tube, but rather with a nasal cannula or face mask. If your baby currently has or had Respiratory Distress Syndrome, the chances are quite high that they are currently or were previously on at least one of the different modes of non-invasive ventilation, either nIMV or NIPPV, CPAP, HFNC, LFNC. This is a topic, I know so many of you will benefit from hearing. After listening, you wi...
Ventilator Review in the NICU - What Does Positive Pressure, Volume-Targeted, and High Frequency Do?
April 15, 2021 11:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBDo you have a baby in the NICU who is intubated and on a ventilator? Are you desperately trying to understand what the care team is talking about when they mention positive pressure with SIMV, PIP, and PEEP, or volume-targeted with tidal volume, or high frequency ventilation? In this podcast episode, we break down the different modes of invasive ventilation commonly used in the NICU. First, we review respiratory distress syndrome in newborns as well as some key concepts including surfactant...
Living Your Best Life with HIE
April 01, 2021 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBTo honor HIE Awareness Month this April, I sat down with the Executive Director for Hope for HIE, Betsy Pilon. Betsy shares her personal experience after her son, Max was diagnosed with HIE or Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, a type of neonatal brain injury. Listen to hear how repetitive gaps in resources and lack of support for HIE families drove her to make a change. She now spearheads the non-profit organization to help other HIE families navigate their journey. By promoting awareness, e...
Take a Deep Breath - Diving Into Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborns
March 18, 2021 11:00 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBIn this episode, we take a deep dive into Respiratory Distress Syndrome or RDS in newborns. RDS is the dominant clinical problem preterm infants face. But, RDS it is not exclusive to just premature infants. Tune in to learn more about RDS, what causes it, what infants can be affected by it, the common symptoms infants present with, how it is diagnosed, as well as the common methods of prevention and treatment including antenatal steroids, respiratory support, specifically CPAP, and artifici...