Nicu Now Audio Support Series

2023 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 or emailing us at podcast@handtohold.org Take a quick 30-seconds and review, rate and subscribe to our podcasts. It’s how more people find us. Kathryn Whitaker is the author of Live Big, Love Bigger, an award-winning book about living an intentional life and how her NICU baby helped her get there. She's a sixth-generation Texan who loves queso, cowboy boots and southern hospitality. On social media and her blog, Kathryn shares her honest take on family life and living in the chaos, all while drinking Dr Pepper and cheering on the Texas A&M Aggies. She has appeared in USA Today, radio and TV stations around the country and is a frequent guest/sometimes host on SiriusXM Radio. Kathryn and her husband, Scott, live

Technology 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 you get interested in the field of technology and coding as a woman? What do you hope people take away by utilizing new gadgets or participating in new technology? Let's chat about your best ideas for tech with newborns, babies and toddlers. What's your best advice to a parent who wants to use technology to aid in their child's development rather than interfering with it?   Katie Linendoll is an Emmy Award-winning TV personality, consumer technology expert, and one of the leading women in the field of technology. Katie has hosted numerous TV and digital series and special events. She has contributed hundreds of print and online written pieces for top outlets, and can regularly be seen on TV and digital segments an

We 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 about: What led you to pursue a career as a hospital chaplain? When we hear the word "chaplain" that may conjure up many things for many people. What's your primary role as a hospital chaplain? Do chaplains go through training and if so, what does that look like? When are some reasons a chaplain may come into your hospital room? What can patients ask of a hospital chaplain? Can you explain how the role of chaplain differs from, say, someone's pastor or leader figure at their place of worship? How do you recover from the hard days as a hospital chaplain so you can be present to the next family in their time of need? I think chaplains are often an underutilized resource for patients in a hospital setting. Wh

Food 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 adjusting to an allergy-free kitchen.   In this episode, we chat about: Tell me a little bit about your NICU stay with your twins. When did you first notice food allergies in your children? How did you go about introducing new foods to them? When did you seek the advice or intervention from a specialist? What was the toll on that experience like for your family?  How did you respond? What surprised you the most about your new-found love for baking? As families enter into the holidays, the dinner table can often be a source of stress if your child has food allergies. What are some tips you have to make it less stressful and more manageable? What's your best advice to a NICU mom who just learned her child

As 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 us a little about your family. When and why did you decide to launch a TikTok account? What’s your primary content on your account? One of your children has Down Syndrome. Did you ever worry that sharing about him on your social media accounts might elicit negative reactions? Best part about having a child with DS? Most challenging? During Down Syndrome Awareness Month, what do you want another DS mom to know?   Allison Sullivan is married to Seth and a mom of five. She believes in playing her part in the renewal and transformation of communities through walking humbly, acting justly and loving mercy. She is a writer and podcaster, loves good hospitality and meaningful service and is active in social justice c

In 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 episode, we chat about: The day she learned her son was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. What were some of the things you had to re-learn as a mom after Beckett's diagnosis? What were some of Beckett's challenges and how did those affect your family? What are some of the greatest things Beckett brought to your family? Often, we fear what we do not know. What's something you feared that either never came to fruition or was less stressful than you imagined it might be? What are some ways you honor Beckett's life and how are you managing your grief particularly during anniversaries or the holidays? What's something you want people to know about Down Syndrome? What would you tell old Stephanie, knowing what you kno

The 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 triggers and receive treatment.   In this episode, we chat about: How did you get interested in clinical psychology, specifically focusing on the NICU? What's the difference between anxiety and PTSD? What are some symptoms/markers of PTSD and how does a parent receive that diagnosis? What are the treatment options? A new term and diagnosis people are starting to hear is C-PTSD (complex PTSD). What's the difference between the two and might a NICU parent experience one or the other?  Can a baby experience PTSD? If so, symptoms? Treatment? What's your best advice to a parent who's feeling overwhelmed, triggered or otherwise feeling like they need professional help to manage everything? Dr. Tiffany Gladdis i

Did 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.   In this episode, Kathryn shares: A letter to NICU moms How to advocate for your baby Finding resources for your mental health How to accept help and what to ask for   Kathryn Whitaker is the author of Live Big, Love Bigger, an award-winning book about living an intentional life and how her NICU baby helped her get there. She's a sixth-generation Texan who loves queso, cowboy boots and southern hospitality. On social media and her blog, Kathryn shares her honest take on family life and living in the chaos, all while drinking Dr Pepper and cheering on the Texas A&M Aggies. She has appeared in USA Today, radio and TV stations around the country and is a frequent guest/sometimes host on SiriusXM Radio. Kathryn

The 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 relationship possible with their baby’s NICU nurse.   In this episode, we chat about:   Of all the professions, why nursing and why NICU nursing? What differentiates a NICU nurse from a pediatric or ICU nurse? What are some of the first things a family can expect from their NICU nurse? Can you explain a "primary nurse" and what that means to a family? Share a bit about the family's access to their NICU nurses. If a family has a difficult relationship with their NICU nurse, what should they do? What are some of the key things NICU nurses do to be more effective in the NICU environment? What's something that we're doing now in NICUs that we weren't when you first started? How has it changed the outcomes?

Your 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 advocate for your NICU baby.   In this episode, we chat about: After receiving your degree in child development, what made you pursue a career in pediatrics? What are things your pediatrician should be looking at and considering if your child is a NICU graduate? What traits should you consider in your pediatrician to best serve your child? When should a parent consult a pediatrician and when should they seek counsel from an additional specialist for their child? What should the relationship look like between a child’s pediatrician and their other specialists? In an age of digital medicine, i.e. Dr. Google, how do you counsel your parents on when to seek medical care and when to treat things at home? Describe

Women 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 as planned.   In this episode, we chat about: What led you to pursue a career in neonatology? Why are you so passionate about breastfeeding and health equity? What should a new mom know about breastfeeding if she's expecting a NICU stay? Establishing milk supply, particularly for a NICU mom, can often be highly stressful. Tips and suggestions? What's safe and what isn't? How can a mom advocate for getting good lactation support? Once she leaves the NICU with her baby how can she get support if she runs into challenges or subsequent hospital stays? If your baby is NPO (Latin nil per os) "nothing by mouth", what support can the hospital provide for storing your pumped milk? What's your best advice to a N

When 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, we chat about: Tell us about Victoria’s birth. What did your breastfeeding journey look like with your micropreemie? When did donor milk become a viable possibility for your daughter? What were some of the risks Victoria faced without donor milk? How long did she receive donor milk? How is your daughter doing now, nearly eight years later? What role did donor milk play in her early development? Explain your role advocating for donor milk. How can a mom donate her milk to a local milk bank? What is the screening process like? What's your best advice to a parent considering utilizing donor milk for her NICU baby?   Veronica Cogwin is the mom of five children, including a micropreemie, Victoria, born at 2

IEPs! 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 the services he or she needs.   In this episode, we chat about: What led you to pursue a fulfilling, but sometimes contentious, spot on the local school board? You have both school board and parent experience with services provided by the public school system. Biggest take home lesson from both experiences? Some parents may be familiar with early intervention (looks different in every state), but what is an IEP and how does it differ from a 504? When a child graduates from high school, how do they get help in college? How does a parent begin the process of asking for help for their child from PK-12? What questions should they ask and how do they know their rights? Does the school district make a diagnosis b

Just 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, we chat about: How and why did you pursue counseling? You serve both a school and have a private practice. What are the similarities and differences in serving those two populations? Some NICU babies have challenges that are easily detected once they leave the hospital, but sometimes parents find themselves encountering hard things as their babies become older and enter school. How do you, as a counselor and mental health professional, advocate for students differently than other school staff? What's an ideal student to counselor ratio? Often, a NICU baby becomes a target, if you will, for school bullies. Maybe they have a device, a physical challenge or their size makes them vulnerable. How can the family work w

Today, 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 and experience in all three is certainly a gift!   In this episode, we chat about: How did you find your calling in birth photography? Your birth photography accolades are many! You even hosted the public breastfeeding awareness project for five years. What was the purpose of that project and why were you inspired to create it? How did birth photography lead you to pursue certification as a doula? What does a doula do, particularly in the case of a high-risk pregnancy? What is a "doulatog" as you share on your website? Women and their partners might be apprehensive about hiring a birth photographer, a doula or both, what would you say to alleviate some of those fears? When you're considering hiring a phot

Trigger 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 needs and support those families from diagnosis, to delivery and beyond.   In this episode, we chat about: How were you led from your specialty of perinatology and neonatology to your work in palliative care? Can you define what palliative care means? What is the Neonatal Comfort Care Program and how does it assist parents? If a parent has a baby who has a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, what can they expect in a neonatal program and how does that differ from adult palliative care? End of life issues are complicated and very personal, how do you accompany a family through an extraordinarily difficult experience while respecting their wishes? If a hospital does not have a service similar to yours,

Trigger 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. That outgrowth of generosity is now blessing NICUs and their families around the world.   In this episode, we chat about: Freeman’s birth. What devices/assistance came home with him and how did you adapt to those changes? What is the Freearm and how did the idea of it come about?  What were some of the challenges (design or otherwise) you encountered when designing and marketing it? How do you think this device can honor Freeman's memory? What's your best advice to a NICU mom who is stressed about the devices or assistance her baby is discharged with?   Misti Staley's son Freeman was born in 2015 after a healthy pregnancy, but after birth, Misti learned of his many medical complexities. Freeman spent 3.5 mo

NICU 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 thumb when caring for damaged neonate skin.   In this episode, we chat about: What is a wound care specialist? What is it that makes NICU/micropreemie babies’ skin so sensitive? What are some common causes of skin damage in the NICU? What are some questions parents or caregivers should ask to ensure they understand wound care treatment and techniques? How do you know when what you’re doing is hurting, or helping, your baby’s skin? What are some rules of thumb you use as a wound care specialist when working with NICU skin? What is your best advice to a parent who is feeling overwhelmed by their baby’s wound care treatment or care?    Media Esser is a nurse scientist, neonatal nurse practitioner and board

So, 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 career in pediatric surgery? What are the most common surgeries you perform? For planned surgeries, parents have time to prepare their child for the procedure. What can a parent expect at the appointments leading up to the surgery? What kinds of questions should a parent be asking of the surgeon and the surgical team? In your opinion, what makes for a successful surgical experience for both the child and the parent? For emergency surgeries it can often feel overwhelming and chaotic for both the child and the parent. How can a parent make the best decision with limited time? What questions should they be asking? Sometimes there is a clear answer for a family when making a surgical decision and other times, it's