Latest Handtohold Podcast Episodes
S6 E100: Real or Filtered? Sharing Your NICU Story on Social Media ft. Scott & Kathryn Whitaker
NICU Babies Parent Support - April 17, 2024 07:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsYou’re living your hardest days in the NICU, so you turn to social media for support, encouragement, solidarity and community. Can you share too much? When does your story become their story? Veteran NICU parents and active social media users Scott & Kathryn Whitaker share some tips for sharing ...
S6 E99: This One's For the Dads ft. Will Hay
NICU Babies Parent Support - April 03, 2024 07:00 - 33 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsTo every dad who has endured a NICU stay with his son or daughter, we see you. NICU dad Will Hay shares his hardest day, the thing that gave him hope and how he took his fear and turned it into a beautiful resource for other parents. Dads, this one’s for you. 💚 Connect with the host, Kathr...
S6 E98: Should I Pay That Medical Bill? ft. Marshall Allen
NICU Babies Parent Support - March 26, 2024 07:00 - 40 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsNever pay the first bill, at least that’s what podcast guest and medical investigative journalist Marshall Allen advises. At some point, every NICU family has to deal with an insurance company, government agency, medical billing office or all three. Learn how to speak a language that billing off...
S6 E97: What You Need to Know About Medical Billing & Insurance ft. Kelley Coleman
NICU Babies Parent Support - March 20, 2024 07:00 - 49 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsPaying the medical bills and determining insurance coverage can almost be as stressful as caring for your NICU baby (and sometimes more so). Kelley Coleman - author, disability advocate and mom of a medically complex child - shares questions to ask, provides an overview of programs and shares ad...
S6 E96: Advocating for Paid Parental Leave in your Workplace ft. Sherenne Simon
NICU Babies Parent Support - March 06, 2024 07:00 - 35 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsDoes your employer offer paid parental leave or are you struggling to find a game plan for how to care for your baby after NICU discharge while tending to your job responsibilities? Sherenne Simon, social impact expert, shares how she influenced major policy change in her workplace to accommodat...
S6 E95: Postpartum Depression & Anxiety, One Mom’s Story ft. Britt Moreno
NICU Babies Parent Support - February 21, 2024 07:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsSometimes we are called to share our stories, in a big way. Emmy-award winning journalist Britt Moreno experienced postpartum complications following the birth of her second child. Instead of quietly working through them, she chose to use her platform as an NBC affiliate news anchor to amplify t...
S6 E94: Do I Have Postpartum Depression or Anxiety? ft. Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins
NICU Babies Parent Support - February 07, 2024 07:00 - 38 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsAre you worried you might be suffering from postpartum depression or anxiety? Whether it’s been days, weeks or months since the birth of your baby, board-certified OB/Gyn Dr. Nicole Rankins shares what PPD and PPA are, common symptoms, treatment options and where to seek help. 💚 Connect ...
S6 E93: Season 6, Life after a NICU admission ft. Kathryn Whitaker
NICU Babies Parent Support - January 31, 2024 07:00 - 8 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsYou’ve been admitted to the NICU or you’re in the thick of raising a NICU baby and you look around and might wonder how this is your life and what’s next - for your baby, your family and your life. THIS is the season that will serve you during your NICU admission and long after your discharge. I...
NICU Babies, Parent Support Podcast Trailer
NICU Babies Parent Support - January 24, 2024 18:37 - 2 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsThe NICU is hard. We’re here to help. Hand to Hold® is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents with personalized emotional support, educational resources and community before, during and after their baby’s NICU stay. NICU support is available at no ...
Episode 92: Season Finale for 2023!
NICU Babies Parent Support - November 08, 2023 06:00 - 11 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratings2023 was filled with a plethora of amazing guests and topics. So many exciting things are in store for the podcast in 2024! In this episode, I share: Highlight some of our guests and topics. How listeners can share their feedback on next year’s seasons, by sending us a DM on social media...
Episode 91: New Tech for Moms & Babies ft. Katie Linendoll
NICU Babies Parent Support - November 01, 2023 06:00 - 37 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsTechnology and gadgets, when used with purpose and discernment, can be a true aid to a NICU family’s life. In this episode Emmy-winning tech expert, Katie Linendoll, shares her go-to products for moms and NICU families, all at varying price points. In this episode, we chat about: How did ...
Episode 90: Chaplaincy & the NICU ft. J.S. Park
NICU Babies Parent Support - October 25, 2023 06:00 - 51 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsWe all have preconceived ideas about what a hospital chaplain is, or isn’t. So, in this conversation with author and chaplain J.S. Park, we discuss how families might utilize their services, receive an advocate and find someone to hold space in a difficult moment. In this episode, we chat...
Episode 89: Food Allergies & the Holidays ft. Vanessa Gonzalez Kraft
NICU Babies Parent Support - October 18, 2023 06:00 - 40 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsFood and the holidays go hand-in-hand, but when there is an allergy or restriction they can often be stressful and full of anxiety. Cottage bakery owner and food allergy mama, Vanessa Gonzalez Kraft, walks you through what an allergy might look like, ways to be a hospitable host and tips for adj...
Episode 88: Using TikTok to Normalize Family Life ft. Allison Sullivan
NICU Babies Parent Support - October 11, 2023 06:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsAs we continue to share stories In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, mom of 5 (including a son with DS) Allison Sullivan shares how she uses TikTok to normalize family life. And, with more than 1.2M followers, we say she might be onto something. In this episode, we chat about: Tell ...
Episode 87: Receiving a Down Syndrome Diagnosis ft. Stephanie Weinert
NICU Babies Parent Support - October 04, 2023 06:00 - 37 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsIn honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we shed some light on life with a DS child with PICU mom, Stephanie Weinert. She shares how she received the diagnosis and how Beckett’s entrance into the world changed her life. In this episode we briefly discuss death, dying and grief. In this e...
Episode 86: Did I Leave the NICU with PTSD? ft. Dr. Tiffany Gladdis
NICU Babies Parent Support - September 27, 2023 06:00 - 43 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsThe NICU often leaves caregivers, and babies, with anxiety and overwhelm and sometimes something more complex, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Tiffany Gladdis shares the difference between anxiety and PTSD and what parents can do to address their tr...
Episode 85: Just Landed in the NICU? Start Here. ft Kathryn Whitaker
NICU Babies Parent Support - September 18, 2023 06:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsDid your baby just get admitted to the NICU? Feeling overwhelmed? Scared? Frustrated? Tired? Kathryn Whitaker, mom of six (including her own NICU baby), shares the things she wishes someone had told her upon admission. If you want to be seen in your NICU experience, this episode is for you. ...
Episode 84: An Honest Conversation with a NICU Nurse ft. Dr. Lisa Davenport
NICU Babies Parent Support - September 13, 2023 13:18 - 35 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsThe person that spends the most time with your child is likely a NICU nurse. NICU parent, former NICU nurse and current director of NICU nursing, Dr. Lisa Davenport, and I have an honest conversation about the highs and lows of nursing, what things have changed and how parents can have the best ...
Episode 83: Finding the Best Pediatrician for Your NICU Baby ft. Dr. Ari Brown
NICU Babies Parent Support - September 06, 2023 06:00 - 41 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsYour child’s pediatrician is likely one of their most important; it’s where all things begin. Author of the “411” series and revered pediatrician, Dr. Ari Brown, gives great insight on traits you should look for in your own pediatrician, vaccine schedules and resources to help you be the best ad...
Episode 82: Common NICU Breastfeeding Problems ft. Dr. Leah Jordan
NICU Babies Parent Support - August 30, 2023 06:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsWomen often hear that breastfeeding is natural, but many encounter challenges or hurdles. Neonatologist and breastfeeding advocate, Dr. Leah Jordan, shares tips on establishing a good milk supply, finding good lactation support and advice on managing stress when nursing your NICU baby doesn’t go...
Episode 81: The Importance of Donor Milk ft. Veronica Cogwin
NICU Babies Parent Support - August 23, 2023 06:00 - 23 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsWhen formula or breastfeeding isn’t a viable option for your NICU baby, donor milk may be the next best alternative. Former Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin Board Member and NICU mom, Veronica Cogwin, shares about her daughter’s personal experience as a donor milk recipient. In this episode, w...
Episode 80: Helping Your Child in School Through IEPs and 504s ft. Amber Feller
NICU Babies Parent Support - August 16, 2023 06:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsIEPs! 504s! Sometimes those services provided by the school can feel overwhelming, even when know they can benefit our child. School Board Trustee and NICU mom, Amber Feller, breaks it all down into practical steps, with action items to help you focus so you can assist your child in receiving th...
Episode 79: What to Do When Your NICU Kid is Bullied ft. Sr. Josephine Garrett
NICU Babies Parent Support - August 09, 2023 06:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsJust when you find your rhythm, something like school bullying enters the picture and it can often feel overwhelming and frustrating. Sr. Josephine Garrett, a licensed mental health school counselor talks strategies, perspective and encouragement in dealing with bullying. In this episode, ...
Episode 78: Breastfeeding Awareness, Birth Photography & Doulas ft. Leilani Rogers
NICU Babies Parent Support - August 02, 2023 06:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsToday, you get the trifecta! Doula, birth photographer and breastfeeding advocate Leilani Rogers shares about her breastfeeding awareness passion project, which was an outgrowth of her work as a birth photographer. Those two passions then led her to obtain her doula certification. Her knowledge ...
Episode 77: Palliative Care of Neonates ft. Dr. Elvira Parravicini
NICU Babies Parent Support - July 26, 2023 06:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsTrigger warning: In this episode we talk about death and dying. Not every baby leaves the NICU but it has been Dr. Elvira Parravicini’s passion to serve those families with infants who have life-limited or life-threatening illnesses. The Neonatal Comfort Care Program seeks to address those...
Episode 76: How One Mom’s Grief Moved Her to Action ft. Misti Staley
NICU Babies Parent Support - July 19, 2023 06:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsTrigger warning: In this episode we talk about death and dying. Sometimes, families leave the hospital without their NICU baby. Misti Staley shares about the beautiful life of her son and how the challenges they encountered during his care inspired her to honor his memory after his passing...
Episode 75: Caring for Your Child's Wounds ft. Media Esser
NICU Babies Parent Support - July 12, 2023 06:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsNICU baby skin is sensitive and often requires proper wound care, either from a lack of development or other treatments required by the NICU staff. Media Esser, a board-certified wound nurse shares common causes of skin damage, suggestions on making wound care easier and tried and true rules of ...
Episode 74: Preparing Your Baby for Surgery ft. Dr. Tory Meyer
NICU Babies Parent Support - July 05, 2023 06:00 - 27 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsSo, your baby is having surgery. Whether it’s acute, routine or planned, pediatric surgeon Dr. Tory Meyer, shares what parents can expect, what questions to ask and how to approach the procedure with the best possible information. In this episode, we chat about: What led you to pursue a c...
Episode 73: Mental Health: Can a Psychologist Help My Child? (pt 4) ft. Dr. Dina O'Brien
NICU Babies Parent Support - June 28, 2023 06:00 - 27 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsOur NICU adolescents and teens sometimes find themselves trying to cope with a difficult medical diagnosis or a major life change. Dina O’Brien, a pediatric psychologist and NICU mom speaks from experience, on both sides, on how a parent can help their child. In this episode, we chat about...
Episode 72: Mental Health: Why We Said Yes to Marriage Counseling (pt 3) ft. Scott & Kathryn Whitaker
NICU Babies Parent Support - June 21, 2023 06:00 - 38 minutes ★★★★ - 22 ratingsA NICU stay, and subsequent surgeries, can put extreme strain on a relationship. Scott and Kathryn Whitaker share why they sought out help from a licensed marriage counselor, their barriers to get there and how it changed their relationship. In this episode, we chat about: What led them t...