Nicu Now Audio Support Series

Diet and nutrition are top priorities in helping your baby grow and thrive in the NICU. Registered dietitian Keli Hawthorne shares how you can play a pivotal role in your baby's daily nutrition.   In this episode, we chat about: Why did you choose to pursue a career in nutrition and dietetics, specifically neonatal/pediatric? What's the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian? Where can parents go for assistance and help? What are some questions a parent should ask their child's nutritionist/dietitian? What are the pros/cons of milk fortification in micropreemies or babies smaller than 1600kg? You led the effort in getting FDA approval for intravenous omega-3 fatty acid lipid emulsions, but what does that mean for the average NICU baby? Keli Hawthorne, MS, RD is a Registered Dietitian and the Director for Clinical Research for the Department of Pediatrics at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to UT, Keli worked as a NICU dietitian and researcher for over 15 years.