Nicu Now Audio Support Series

Need some hope? Season 8 delivers. Whether you’re needing hope because your grandchild is in the NICU, you’ve suffered a loss, a difficult medical diagnosis, learning challenges or sibling discord - this season has something for you. Set fear aside and open wide the door to hope. We’re ending our year with a powerful set of inspirational voices. Hope lives here!  

Many caregivers and parents have a desire to invite others into their NICU story. But when does sharing become an invasion of a child’s privacy? How do parents share the suffering, but honor the child’s story? Licensed counselor and social media influencer, KC Davis shares healthy boundary touchpoints and examples of how to honor the story and the child.

Necessity is the mother, or in this case, the father of invention. Former exec turned entrepreneur and NICU dad, Ryan Sheedy helped co-found My Mejo, an online medical journal designed to help parents alleviate the stress of keeping track of medications, procedures, allergies, specialists and more.  

The NICU rollercoaster of emotions is real. NICU mom, pediatrician, hospitalist and postpartum expert Dr. Jess Daigle speaks from experience when she shares how to put in better boundaries, understand your baby and take care of yourself while helping both you, and your baby, thrive.  

Mom and author Laura Kelly Fanucci shares how her twin pregnancy was a surprise, as was their diagnosis of twin-to-twin transfusion. She shares how surgery was initially thought to aid in their development, but when it didn’t. Laura tenderly explains how her family walked through grief and found joy and purpose again, amidst deep suffering.  

Kids grieve a loss, too. In this conversation, child life specialist and thanatologist Dr. Korie Leigh discusses strategies for helping kids understand, process and move through grief.  

Stillbirth isn’t often talked about, but it’s a reality for many families. Katie Talman tenderly shares her loss, how it affected her family and what grief feels like.  

Sometimes, tending your home can feel overwhelming. Creator of the Naptime Kitchen and mom of four, Kate Strickler, shares tips and strategies for making it manageable (as well as a free resource for NICU moms!) Whether you’re trying to tackle the medicine cabinet or kid clothes or shifting your mindset, Kate’s ideas are something you can implement today.  

In season 7 - tending the heart, body and home - we tackle making your home work for you, digital medical journaling, loss and bereavement, helping kids understand grief, stillbirth, managing the NICU rollercoaster and finding good boundaries on social media.  

Sex after a NICU stay. Is it an oxymoron? Whether you’re fearful or excited, sexologist Anisa Varasteh with Relate Sexology shares what the postpartum body feels like, how to talk to your partner, how to address fear, tips for developing better intimacy and when to reach out for professional help.  

Feeling overwhelmed and confused by caring for your body through nutrition and exercise? Certified personal trainer and nutrition coach Shalini Blubaugh will share common myths about both, overcoming obstacles and how to integrate realistic habits into your daily life to make your own health a priority so you can better care for your NICU baby.  

Have you ever been told that suffering from pelvic floor leakage, pain or fear is all just “part of parenthood?” Pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Rebecca Maidansky shares how to avoid doing the wrong thing by doing the right one. She will share how to manage your pelvic health with information, exercise and questions to ask your provider so you can take control of your body.   

You’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 your NICU baby’s journey on social media, setting healthy boundaries and inviting people into your suffering.  

To 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.  

Never 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 offices understand, advocate for your rights and save yourself money, headaches and long hours on hold with medical stakeholders.  

Paying 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 advice from both her lived experience, as well as insurance and medical billing experts.  

Does 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 accommodate NICU parents. Her book, Own Your Influence: An Unconventional Journey to Making an Impact at Work, hits shelves in November and can show you how to capitalize on your own power of influence to enact positive change.  

Sometimes 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 the crisis of postpartum depression and anxiety in the hopes of helping other women through her interviews and in-depth investigations.  

Are 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.   

You’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. In season 6 - life after a NICU admission - we tackle postpartum depression and anxiety, paid parental leave, medical billing/insurance, a dad's perspective, pelvic floor physical therapy, sex and intimacy, exercise/nutrition and sharing your story on social media.