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NICU Babies Parent Support

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English & Spanish. Learn more or get support at handtohold.org Follow Hand to Hold: Facebook.com/HANDtoHOLD Instagram: @handtohold Twitter: @NICUHandtoHold YouTube: @handtohold
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Now displaying: Page 1
Mar 26, 2024

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.

 

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

 

💚 Connect with the guest, Marshall Allen:

Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Website  |  Substack 

 

🔗Links to resources:

Book, Never Pay the First Bill

Dollar For (helps patients access charity care)

Billy (hospital pricing information)

Jason Health (walk-in blood tests)

Green Imaging (affordable medical imaging)

Cost Plus Drugs (affordable medications)

 

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

 

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Mar 20, 2024

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.

 

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

 

💚 Connect with the guest, Kelley Coleman:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

 

🔗 Links to resources:

Book, Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child

Department of Developmental Services in (your state)

Department of Health and Human Services in (your state)

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

 

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

 

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Mar 6, 2024

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.

 

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

 

💚 Connect with the guest, Sherenne Simon:

Instagram  |  LinkedIn  |  Website

 

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

 

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Feb 21, 2024

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.

 

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

 

💚 Connect with the guest, Britt Moreno:

Instagram  | FacebookTwitter/X

 

🔗 Links to resources:

Anchor opens up about postpartum complications

Mothers with high-risk pregnancies more likely to face mental health concerns

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or call 988

 

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

 

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Feb 7, 2024

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. 

 

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

 

💚 Connect with the guest, Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website  |  Podcast

 

🔗 Links to resources:

Postpartum Support International

Reprotox 

LactMed

 

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

 

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Jan 31, 2024

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.

 

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathrynwhitakertx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynwhitakertx 

Website: https://kathrynwhitaker.net  

 

📺Socials 📺

⚡Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold 

⚡Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HANDtoHOLD 

⚡Twitter: https://twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold 

⚡Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/handtohold/

 

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Nov 8, 2023

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 with their six children in Austin, Texas.

 

Connect with Kathryn:

Instagram: @kathrynwhitakertx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynwhitakertx/

Websites: https://kathrynwhitaker.net/

 

Buy her book:

Live Big, Love Bigger

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Nov 1, 2023

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 and series such as the TODAY Show, The Rachael Ray Show, The Weather Channel and CBS Sports Radio, just to name a few. Katie has been named a Silicon Valley Visionary and leads a faith-filled, active lifestyle while also devoting a large percentage of her time to select philanthropic causes in healthcare, retired K9s, and US veterans. Katie is also passionate about music and her songs and music videos in the country music genre have hit the charts.

 

Shop Katie's recommendations:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/katielinendoll

 

Connect with Katie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielinendoll/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielinendollmusic/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.linendoll 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/katielinendoll 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw-APg2HrgO8LkJ-gBpx6ww 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katielinendoll 

Website: https://katielinendoll.com/ 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Oct 25, 2023

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. What's your best advice to a family struggling through a hard day and how can a chaplain help?

J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, published author, and viral blogger. For eight years he has been an interfaith chaplain at a 1000+ bed hospital that is designated a Level 1 Trauma Center. His role includes grief counseling, attending every death, every trauma and Code Blue, staff care, and supporting end-of-life care. He also served for three years as a chaplain at one of the largest nonprofit charities for the homeless on the east coast. J.S. has a MDiv completed in 2010 and a BA in Psychology. He also has a sixth-degree black belt. He is the author of The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise (published by Northfield). His next book, on grief, released May 2024. J.S. currently lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife, a nurse practitioner, and his three year old daughter and adopted dog. 

 

Read the CNN article:

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/09/18/health/hospital-chaplain-lessons-wellness-cec/index.html

 

Connect with J.S.:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jspark3000

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jsparkblog 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jsparkblog 

Website: https://jsparkblog.com/ 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Oct 18, 2023

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 has a food allergy and she's feeling overwhelmed?

Vanessa Kraft is a mom of six daughters. One daughter has multiple food allergies and Vanessa’s twins were preemies that spent time in the NICU. Because of her daughter's food allergies she started Que Bueno Bakery, one that is safe for people with food allergies and dietary restrictions, but also delicious because everyone should get to be in on the fun of celebrations!

 

Connect with Vanessa:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quebuenobakery/ 

Website: https://quebuenobakery.com/ 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Oct 11, 2023

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 causes to cultivate love and hope. Allison is a trauma-informed yoga instructor. For fun, she enjoys creating wholesome content through a family lens for over 1.2 million TikTok fans, long road trips with her family, girls’ nights out with her friends, thrifting, reading, and spending time at the beach. To relax, Allison watches Modern Family on the couch with her dogs.

 

Connect with Allison:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sullivanfamilytiktok  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonmsully 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/allisonsullivan 

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sinner-saint-sister/id1234435619 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Oct 4, 2023

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 know now, about having a child with DS?

Stephanie Weinert is a wife, mother, writer and media personality. She served as a radio host before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Stephanie has spoken nationally and internationally on topics related to faith, family life, homeschooling, motherhood, and the suffering path to salvation. She and her husband Peter share openly about their youngest son, Beckett, who was born in 2019 with a surprise diagnosis of Down Syndrome and a serious heart defect. Beckett’s short life of 18 months changed the Weinert family forever. Caring for a special needs child and walking through grief and child loss helped Stephanie see motherhood through a new lens..

 

Connect with Stephanie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieweinert 

Website: https://www.motherandhome.co/ 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Sep 27, 2023

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 is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Neonatology and the Medical Director of the Office of Equity and Diversity at Children’s Mercy Hospital, as well as an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Dr. Gladdis provides therapy and support to families in the Fetal Health Center, NICU, and NICU follow-up clinic and her clinical interests include attachment and bonding, trauma, infant and perinatal mental health, and BIPOC populations. Dr. Gladdis also serves on the board of Hand To Hold.

 

Connect with Dr. Gladdis:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tiffany-gladdis-willis-214ba1107 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope.love.heal/ 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Sep 18, 2023

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 and her husband, Scott, live with their six children in Austin, Texas.

 

Connect with Kathryn:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathrynwhitakertx 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynwhitakertx/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kathrynwhitakertx 

Websites: https://kathrynwhitaker.net/ 

 

Read her letter, Dear NICU Momma:

https://kathrynwhitaker.net/2013/11/dear-nicu-momma/

 

Buy her book:

Live Big, Love Bigger

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Sep 13, 2023

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?

  • Let's talk about this "golden hour" you championed.

  • What's the best part about your job? Most challenging?

 

Dr. Lisa Davenport is a former NICU parent and the Director of Nursing for Texas Children’s NICU in Houston, Tex. Lisa’s experience as a NICU bedside nurse for 9 years fueled her passion for becoming a quality driven and people centric nursing leader. Additionally, Lisa serves as faculty for Texas Tech Health Science Center School of Nursing.

 

Connect with Dr. Davenport:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-davenport-dnp-rn-rnc-nic-5363b075

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Sep 6, 2023

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 the ideal pediatrician-patient relationship.

  • Let’s talk about delayed vaccination schedules for medically fragile children.

  • Tell us about your books: Baby, Expecting and Toddler 411. What can reader’s expect?

  • For a NICU parent who feels hyper-sensitive to every symptom their child presents, what’s your best advice?

Ari Brown, MD is a practicing pediatrician in Austin, Texas, for over 25 years after completing her pediatric residency and fellowship in developmental/behavioral pediatrics at Harvard Medical School/Children's Hospital Boston. Her passion to advocate for children and educate families extends beyond the office setting. She is the author of the bestselling "411" parent education book series including Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby's First Year with the new 20th anniversary/10th edition out this year, Toddler 411, and Expecting 411 available where books are sold and on Amazon. She also hosts online courses on newborn care and sleeping through the night. She has appeared on numerous national news and talk shows including NBC's Today Show, Dr. Phil, and CNN. She is a trusted voice for children's health, serving as a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dr. Brown has received the American Academy of Pediatrics Lifetime Achievement Award for child health advocacy.

 

Connect with Dr. Brown:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/baby411  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/expecting411 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aribrownmd 

Website: https://baby411.com/ 

 

Buy Dr. Brown’s books:

https://amzn.to/3drAzH3

 

Learn about Dr. Brown’s online newborn care and sleeping courses:

https://store.draribrown.com/

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Aug 30, 2023

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 NICU mom who is stressed about nursing her new baby?

Dr. Leah Jordan is a board certified pediatrician from Minnesota who loves supporting NICU moms in reaching their breastfeeding goals. She recently completed her fellowship and joined  Children’s Minnesota as a neonatologist. Her research centers on the use of quality improvement methodology to promote breastfeeding in the NICU and beyond. 

 

Learn more about breastfeeding:

https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/ 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Aug 23, 2023

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 24 weeks. Veronica is a strong advocate of donor milk after it played a major role in helping her daughter grow and thrive in the NICU. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin.

 

Connect with Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin:

https://milkbank.org/ 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Aug 16, 2023

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 based on testing they do or is that up to the parent and an outside medical professional?

  • What do you think parents should know about IEPs?

  • Sometimes there's a negative stigma with receiving help through special services. How can a parent (and a child) overcome that stigma?

  • What's your best advice to a parent seeking an IEP for his/her child?

 

Amber Feller has been actively involved in Round Rock ISD schools since 2008 serving in various volunteer roles and she currently serves as a Trustee on the School Board. Amber has also been very active in the community while serving through Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, her church and her children’s extracurricular activities. Amber earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Sociology, with a Minor in Math, from Texas A&M University and her Master’s of Education in Counseling from the University of North Texas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a Nationally Board Certified Counselor.

 

Connect with Amber:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmberFellerForRRISDSchoolBoard/ 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Aug 9, 2023

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 with the school counselor to address that?

  • What are some things you do with your students to help them process trauma, work through hard emotions or feel comfortable in who they are?

  • When should a parent be concerned?

  • What's your best advice to a parent who has a child struggling in school, academically, socially or emotionally?

Sr. Josephine is a native Texan born and raised in Houston. She completed a BA in Politics with a Business concentration at the University of Dallas. Following graduation she began a 10-year career in banking, serving as Vice President in the Home Loans division of Bank of America. In 2011, she shifted her focus and began formation to be a Religious Sister with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. She is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor for her local school and she also serves children in private practice.

 

Connect with Sr. Josephine:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine 

Website: https://nazarethretreats.org/people/sister-josephine-garrett 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Aug 2, 2023

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 photographer or a doula, what are some questions you should ask to ensure it's a good fit?

  • Do all doctors/hospitals allow for a photographer or a doula? What questions should a new mom ask?

  • How can a NICU mom benefit from services like birth photography or a doula?

  • What's your best advice to a parent who wants to hire a photographer or a doula?

Leilani Rogers became interested in birth as a young mom with preterm labor with all four of her children. She became more empowered and informed with each pregnancy, and when she documented her first birth in 2011 her life as an artist intersected with her love for and knowledge of birth perfectly. She is also a trained doula and a mentor to budding young photographers worldwide.

 

Connect with Leilani:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photosbylei

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PhotosbyleilaniRogers 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leilani.rogers.photographer 

Website: https://PhotosByLei.com

 

Learn more about the Public Breastfeeding Awareness Project:

https://www.photosbylei.com/2014/07/29/public-breastfeeding-awareness-project/ 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Jul 26, 2023

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, what are some things a parent can do, or people they can reach out, to assist them in giving honor to their baby's life?

  • What's one myth you'd like to confront when it comes to palliative care?

  • What's your best advice to a parent who has a child who won't be leaving the NICU?

 

Dr. Elvira Parravicini is an attending neonatologist at NewYork Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, the Director of the Neonatal Comfort Care Program and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center. She obtained a certification in palliative medicine from Harvard University. She was born, raised and went to school in Milan, Italy, and moved to the United States in 1994. Her passion for helping the most fragile patients in the neonatal population inspired Dr. Parravicini to create a unique and innovative program for infants affected by life-limiting or Life-threatening conditions. The Neonatal Comfort Care Program addresses the complex medical and non-medical needs of infants and their families. The interdisciplinary Neonatal Comfort Care team supports expectant mothers of babies diagnosed with a life-limiting condition during the perinatal journey, from diagnosis to delivery and beyond.


Palliative Care Training Course:

https://www.neonatalcomfortcare.com/events-2/2023/9/20/2023-next-level-perinatal-palliative-care-training-course

 

Connect with Dr. Parravicini:

Website: www.neonatalcomfortcare.com 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Jul 19, 2023

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 months in the NICU, was home for 5 weeks and then spent 5 long months in the PICU, before sadly losing his battle with pulmonary hypertension at 10 months old. After Freeman's passing, Misti built Freeman Playground in Helena, Arkansas; an ADA playground with ramps and a poured in place rubber surface. Through all that Misti learned through Freeman's tube feeding journey, Misti also created the FreeArm- a tube feeding device that holds gravity syringe feeds, pump feeds and infusions at the hospital home and on-the-go. Freeman's legacy of love continues through Freeman Playground and the FreeArm.

 

Connect with Misti:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/freemanplayground/

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/FreeArm

Instagram: www.instagram.com/freearm.tube.feeding.assistant/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/staley-house-llc-creator-of-the-freearm/

LinkedIn: /www.linkedin.com/in/mististaley/

 

Learn more about FreeArm:

https://freearmcare.com/ 

 

Find additional “fun” products to help your medically fragile child:

https://freearmcare.com/friends 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Jul 12, 2023

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-certified wound nurse, currently in a Level II NICU in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dr. Esser also holds the position of Assistant Professor and Neonatal NP Program Chair at Alverno College in Milwaukee. She is a consultant for evidence-based practice, a NICU review course content, quality improvement, skincare research, and she presents on all those topics on a local and national level. Dr. Esser is passionate about neonatal skincare, specifically diaper dermatitis in the NICU, and has published many manuscripts and chapters on the topic.

 

Links to Media’s research:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Media-Esser 

 

Connect with Media:

National Association of Neonatal Nurses: https://my.nann.org/myprofile/profile?UserKey=a5ab1838-c37d-4dfe-8ed1-7de4d8c12dca 

 

The 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 cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.

 

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

 

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/  

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold 

 

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

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