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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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Jul 5, 2023

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 not as easy. How do you help families decide the right course for their situation?

  • What's the best part about being a pediatric surgeon? Most challenging?

  • What's your best advice to a parent who has an upcoming surgery and feels scared and overwhelmed?

 

Tory Meyer is a Pediatric Surgeon at Austin Pediatric Surgery. He is the past Chief of Staff and past Chairman of the Pediatric Leadership Board at Dell Children’s Medical Center and is Clinical Affiliate Faculty at the Dell Medical School. Dr. Meyer is co-founding member of Operation KidDocs, a surgical mission group, and the present Vice Chairman of Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center.

 

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

 

Jun 28, 2023

Our 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:

  • Why did you pursue a career in pediatric psychology?

  • What is the primary purpose of a pediatric psychologist?

  • How did your background as a pediatric psychologist help or hinder your experience as a NICU mom with your fourth child?

  • For parents, how do you know when your child may benefit from psychology and what are the things they might look for, or assess?

  • How do you find a good pediatric psychologist?

  • Some children don't exhibit effects of a NICU stay until they are well into their early adolescent years? How do you differentiate their challenges from NICU vs regular development?

  • How would you define a successful outcome of a child who has undergone pediatric psychology?

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

 

Dr. O'Brien is a licensed pediatric clinical psychologist currently working with Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Harbor Pediatrics in Gig Harbor WA.  She has over 25 years of experience working with the mental health needs of children and teens.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 4 boys, and spotting orcas across the PNW!

 

Connect with Dr. O’Brien:

Website: www.drdinaobrien.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

 

Jun 21, 2023

A 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 to the counseling door?

  • What were some of their reservations about going to counseling?

  • Strategies learned in counseling that benefited their marriage?

  • How did they overcome the stigma of needing help?

  • What's your best advice for a couple that’s reluctant to go to therapy?

 

Scott and Kathryn Whitaker, both Texas natives, are the parents of six children, college to elementary, and have been married 27 years. Kathryn is the author of Live Big, Love Bigger, an award-winning book. Scott is the director of stewardship and development for the Catholic Diocese of Austin. On social media, they each share their honest take on family life and marriage, all while eating BBQ, cheering on the Texas Aggies and hiking national parks.

 

Connect with Scott and Kathryn:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottwhitaker95

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/scottwhitaker95

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

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

Website: www.kathrynwhitaker.net

 

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

 

Jun 14, 2023

Our NICU babies grow up and sometimes find themselves struggling to manage stress, anxiety, depression or navigating a disorder. Dr. Mitnaul, a child psychiatrist, shares how a child or adolescent may benefit from some extra assistance navigating those challenges.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • How did you get from a biology degree to a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist?

  • What is a child psychiatrist?

  • How is that different from a child psychologist?

  • Often, parents of NICU babies don't uncover other challenges in their children until they enter a school environment, or go through puberty. What are some things they should look for that might need to be addressed by a child or adolescent psychiatrist?

  • How can parents find a psychiatrist and what questions should they ask to ensure it's a good fit for their child?

  • Sometimes there's a stigma when a child is seeing a psychiatrist. What myths do you want to bust on that?

  • What types of encouragement and information can people find on your TikTok account or other social media, as well as your PBS Show, Cause for Hope?

  • What's your best advice to a parent seeking psychiatry for their child?

 

Dr. Mitnaul has quickly become a trusted voice in both the parenting and mental health space. When he’s not at the clinic, he’s engaging with his community on socials or on his PBS Show, “Cause for Hope” by helping families navigate parenting in the digital age. 

 

Connect with Dr. Mitnaul:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/doctormitnaul 

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

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

Website: www.bewellacademy.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

 

Jun 7, 2023

Parents of NICU babies often find themselves struggling in relationships or facing difficult feelings. Licensed therapist Regina Boyd shares how to determine if, and when, therapy can help.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • What does a therapist do / not do?

  • What's the difference between a therapist and a licensed therapist?

  • What are some signs you might benefit from seeing a therapist?

  • How do you find a good therapist?

  • The NICU often leaves parents with PTSD, anxiety, depression and unresolved grief, how can a therapist help?

  • Should you do individual or couples therapy?

  • If your spouse doesn't want to go, or is reluctant, how do you work through that?

  • How often should you go?

  • How do you know if therapy is hurting or helping your healing?

  • How does someone deal with the stigma from friends or family that sometimes surrounds therapy?

  • What's your best advice for someone considering therapy?

 

Regina Boyd is the Founder of Boyd Counseling Services, a mental health & coaching practice that provides in-person and virtual services for couples and individuals. She works with clients who are experiencing stress, life changes, desire healthy emotional connection, and seek to develop problem solving strategies within their relationships. Regina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is also a featured contributor to the Hallow app, and lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband and their beautiful daughter.

 

Connect with Regina:

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

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

Website: www.reginaboyd.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

 

May 31, 2023

Traveling with a medically-complex child can be stressful, overwhelming and daunting. Christy Wilkens, a mom of six, including a special needs child, shares how her family has conquered plane trips overseas and domestically, as well as road trips with their children in tow.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • When did you feel safe and secure enough to embark on travel with a special needs child?

  • What things did you do, or specialists did you consult to make you feel that way?

  • How do you balance safety for your child with the well-being of your family to travel?

  • Airplane or car tips you use to make travel easier?

  • For flying, what are things you communicate to the gate agent and flight attendants to ensure a smooth flight?

  • What helped make your overseas trip with a special needs child a positive, less stressful experience?

  • What are your must-have travel items?

  • For those traveling this summer who see a family with a special needs child, is there anything they can do to encourage that family, or something that might be of assistance?

  • What’s your best advice to a parent wanting to travel with their medically complex child?

 

Christy Wilkens is a mom to medically complex kids and a NICU nurse in training. She is the author of Awakening at Lourdes: How an Unanswered Prayer Healed Our Family and Restored Our Faith and writes and speaks about disability, faith, and the power of community. She lives near Austin, Texas with her husband Todd and their six children.

 

Helpful products:

  • Safe Place Travel Bed. Inflatable bed for kids who have outgrown portable cribs. Can use it on top of a bed, but we use it on the floor with a foam mattress topper, or an inflatable mattress pad for airplane trips. Super affordable (by special needs equipment standards). Ours is four years old and going strong.

  • Special Tomato EIO Pushchair or Jogger. Foldable stroller with extra positioning support (for kids up to 90 pounds/50 inches).

  • CARES Child Aviation Restraint System. Provides additional chest harness to be used in-flight, in addition to the lap belt. Designed for kids 22-44 pounds but can be approved for larger children, with prior FAA notice. (This link includes info about how to get approval, and example letter templates to file your request.)

  • Ride Safer Travel Vest. For kids who need mild to moderate support, this wearable child restraint system can take the place of a car seat. Harness connects directly to the car's seat belt and provides additional security.

  • Seat Belt Medical Alert. Has a pocket inside to tuck a one-page document offering EMS (or anyone else!) a quick reference about identifying info, diagnoses, medical needs, and providers.

  • Medication Organizer. Keeps pills in their original containers which can help smooth things over through TSA security.

 

Connect with Christy:

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

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

Website: https://www.christywilkens.com

 

Buy her book:

Awakening at Lourdes

 

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

May 25, 2023

Your diagnosis doesn’t have to determine your outcome. As we conclude our four-part series on pre-eclampsia, Parijat Deshpande, a somatic trauma professional, shares how to heal from trauma.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • What is a somatic trauma professional and what led you to that profession?

  • How does your book, Pregnancy Brain, empower parents, especially those who are high-risk or find themselves in the NICU?

  • If a woman finds herself in a high-risk pregnancy, is there anything she can do to minimize the trauma she may endure either during delivery, or post-birth?

  • Why are you so passionate about serving the BIPOC community?

  • You've said you want pregnant women to know they aren't at the mercy of statistics. Those statistics can often feel overwhelming and limiting to a NICU mom, particularly one who has been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. How can a mom process those emotions, address them and move forward in her pregnancy?

  • If a woman suspects she has pre-eclampsia or is diagnosed with it, what should she be asking her doctor?

  • Many women fear a pregnancy post- pre-eclampsia. Two part question: 1) if she chooses not to have another baby, how can she heal from the trauma her first pregnancy may have triggered? and 2) if she chooses to move forward with another pregnancy how does she do it without being debilitated by fear and anxiety?

  • What's your best advice to a woman diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy, like pre-eclampsia?

 

Parijat Deshpande is an author, speaker and the CEO of a global, boutique company dedicated to reducing pregnancy complications and ending preterm birth. On a mission to end the high-risk pregnancy crisis, she has served and supported hundreds of women through her programs, one-on-one work and bestselling book, Pregnancy Brain: A Mind-Body Approach to Stress Management During a High-Risk Pregnancy.

 

Buy Parijat’s book:

https://parijatdeshpande.lpages.co/pregnancybrain/

 

Connect with Parijat:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthy.highriskpregnancy/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/parijatdesh

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCS-y3p6DfELaZd3Fp7nYtA

Website: https://www.parijatdeshpande.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

 

May 17, 2023

As we continue our four-part series on pre-eclampsia, this couple’s story about infertility, guilt, grief and healing will touch you, particularly NICU dads who often feel unseen in their loss.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • Was your pregnancy considered high-risk from the beginning?

  • When were you given a preeclampsia diagnosis?

  • What do you want people to know about your experience with preeclampsia?

  • How do you honor the life of your baby?

  • As a couple, what did you learn about your marriage through this experience?

  • Steve, what message do you have for NICU dads who might find themselves in a similar situation?

  • What's your best advice to a couple who has received a preeclampsia diagnosis or suffered infant loss?

 

Steve and Kelly Gurvis have been married for 24 years and have three sons: two living and one beautiful angel baby, Liam Anthony. They run their own businesses and stay active honoring Liam in every way possible. Steve and Kelly reside just outside of Chicago.

 

Resources mentioned:

https://www.mollybears.org

https://faithslodge.org

 

Connect with Steve and Kelly:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.gurvis

Website: https://etsy.me/3pALhvZ

 

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

May 10, 2023

As we continue our four-part series on pre-eclampsia, this mom’s story of fear, survival and resilience will both empower and encourage you.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • Was your pregnancy considered high-risk from the beginning?

  • When were you given a pre-eclampsia diagnosis?

  • What was your relationship like with your OB/GYN and maternal fetal medicine doctor?

  • What do you want people to know about your experience with pre-eclampsia?

  • What were some of the challenges you experienced as a mom in the NICU? What about your baby, both in the NICU and beyond?

  • What's your best advice to a woman diagnosed with pre-eclampsia?

 

Dana Adams is currently a Benefits Analyst for the University of California. After the birth of her daughter Kyra, she started a non-profit, 11Eleven45FortyFive. Its mission is to help NICU moms and dads handle any of their disability paperwork which includes but is not limited to calling the doctor’s offices while the parents are tending to the essentials.

 

Connect with Dana:

Email: 11eleven45fortyfive@gmail.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

 

May 3, 2023

Pre-eclampsia affects more than 200,000 pregnancies every year, just in the US alone. Dr. David Berry, a maternal fetal medicine doctor, helps us kick off the first of a four-part series where we dive into the intricacies of this disease by sharing symptoms, signs and treatment options.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • What is pre-eclampsia and how is it diagnosed?

  • As a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor, what percentage of your patients are affected by pre-eclampsia? How does that compare nationally?

  • Why do we see more women of color, particularly black women, affected at a higher rate than others?

  • In 2022 The New Yorker published a story about the rise of pre-eclampsia cases during and post-COVID. How much of that is due to better testing/diagnostics and how much is it really rising? And what does that mean for moms-to-be?

  • What is HELLP syndrome? How difficult is it to accurately diagnose? What should women and their doctors be on the lookout for in the third trimester and after birth?

  • What are the treatment options for pre-eclampsia?

  • If a woman suspects she has pre-eclampsia or is diagnosed with it, what should she be asking her doctor?

  • What's your best advice to a woman diagnosed with pre-eclampsia?

 

Dr. Berry is a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine, a branch of obstetrics that manages and treats complicated and high-risk pregnancies. He is a native Texan and moved to Austin in 1978. He graduated from the University of Texas followed by his medical training in Galveston, Ft. Worth and Houston. He was the founder of Austin Perinatal Associates in 1997 and has served the women of central Texas with complex pregnancies since that time. He is an expert in pre-eclampsia, critical care obstetrics, cancer in pregnancy and cervical cerclage, and currently is employed under Texas Children’s Hospital as they expand their footprint into central Texas.

 

New Yorker article:

https://www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-medicine/why-a-life-threatening-pregnancy-complication-is-on-the-rise

 

Connect with Dr. Berry:

Website: https://women.texaschildrens.org/program/maternal-fetal-medicine/locations

 

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

 

Apr 26, 2023

It might look like child’s play, but child life specialists work with parents in hospitals and other settings to help children cope with the challenges of illness, hospitalization and disability.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • What led her to pursue a career as a child life specialist?

  • How do child life specialists serve babies and children in the hospital or in a specialized doctor's office?

  • How do you gain confidence and speak up in rounds and with the care team?

  • How can you support preemies during painful procedures?

  • How can you integrate siblings into long hospitalizations?

  • What are some of the activities or strategies a child life specialist might employ with a child and his/her family in the hospital?

  • What inspired you to start Child Life on Call and what are some of the features and how can it help NICU parents?

  • What's your best advice to a parent who has a child that's struggling with a procedure or pending surgery?

 

Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 12 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book, and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the creator and host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which focuses on the essential role of child life services to empower caregivers at and beyond the bedside.

 

Resources:

https://childlifeoncall.com/comfort-positioning-guide/

https://childlifeoncall.com/parents/

 

Connect with Katie:

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

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

Website: https://childlifeoncall.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

 

Apr 19, 2023

The truth is, home and career balance look different for every NICU family. Kelly Ferguson, NICU mom and business owner, shares her honest struggle about finding the right balance for her family in her particular season.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • How and why did you start Kelly Wynne handbags?

  • After you gave birth to your first daughter, how did you adjust to being a mom and running your own business?

  • How did your second birth differ from your first?

  • When you found yourself in the NICU, what priorities changed for you?

  • What changed for you, professionally, after Faith's NICU stay and subsequent therapies?

  • How did you decide what to keep and what to give up with your business and your personal life?

  • What things, or people, helped you make that decision?

  • What's your best advice to a parent who is trying to discern the best work/life balance for his/her family?

Kelly Wynne Ferguson is a mom, entrepreneur and founder of Kelly Wynne, a lifestyle handbag brand that's been energizing women's wardrobes for the past decade. Following the birth of her second daughter and a subsequent 42-day NICU stay, Kelly made an announcement that she is winding the business down in order to give her family her best self in this season of her life. 

Connect with Kelly:

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

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

Website: https://kellywynne.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

 

Apr 12, 2023

Black Maternal Health Week is recognized each year, April 11-17, to bring attention and action in improving Black maternal health. Justina Kopp, mom to quadruplets and a NICU baby herself, shares how her experience led her to advocacy.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • The moment she found out she was pregnant with quadruplets.

  • Justina’s relationship with her OB/GYN.

  • Her difficult relationship with her MFM doctor and how that made her feel.

  • Her care in the NICU.

  • How this experience changed how she approaches healthcare, particularly for herself.

  • Her best advice to a woman of color who finds herself pregnant, with one baby or more.

 

Justina Kopp lives in the Twin Cities, Minn., with her husband, Matthew and their quadruplets. She is a 2013 graduate of the University of St. Thomas where she studied Catholic Studies and Biology. Currently, Justina is pursuing a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

 

Justina’s essay:

https://motheringspirit.com/2023/01/fighting-for-our-lives/

 

Resources:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/maternal-mortality/index.html

https://blackmamasmatter.org/2023-black-maternal-health-week/

 

Connect with Justina:

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

 

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

 

Apr 5, 2023

Feeding your NICU baby can often be a challenge. April is Occupational Therapy month and pediatric OT Laurie Layne and I focus on how feeding therapy can be utilized and some of the challenges NICU parents may face.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • For pediatrics, what exactly does an occupational therapist do and how does it differ from other pediatric therapies?

  • When should a parent seek out occupational/feeding therapy?

  • What are some things parents should look for in an occupational/feeding therapist?

  • If you have a sensory seeker who has heavy oral input (puts everything in their mouth), what can you do?

  • What's the most common feeding challenge with NICU babies/premature infants?

  • How does a g-tube affect feeding therapy?

  • Food texture and food aversion sometimes feels overwhelming, how can a parent combat the fear of feeling like it's never getting better?

 

Laurie Layne, OTR, received her B.S. in community health from Texas A&M University and her master of occupational therapy degree from Texas Woman’s University-Houston.  She has 25 years of experience in working with pediatric populations in early intervention, school-based services, and private outpatient clinics.  Laurie treats a varied caseload, including children with feeding aversions, sensory processing disorder, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorders, neuromuscular dysfunction, and genetic disorders. She is trained in various feeding methodologies and is Handwriting Without Tears Level 1 certified.  Laurie is the proud mom of three college kids and she enjoys traveling, reading, and playing pickleball.

 

Links to products:

https://chewytubes.com/products/ps-and-qs/

https://talktools.com/collections/chews-chewy-tubes

 

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

Mar 29, 2023

Birth can be many things: incredible, traumatic, beautiful, scary, empowering or all of them. Birth and postpartum nurse Lo Mansfield will talk about bringing intuition, grace and evidence into the birth experience.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • Why nursing, specifically why labor and delivery?

  • On your social media channels you talk about balancing intuition, grace + evidence. What do you mean by that?

  • You sometimes mention the loss of your own mom while you were pregnant. Many of our NICU parents listening are experiencing grief as they mourn the loss of a "normal" delivery or baby. How did/do you work through that grief?

  • What's the best way to communicate to your doctor and L&D nurses your desires for your baby's birth?

  • If you are designated as high-risk prior to delivery, what are things that may change your delivery?

  • Some moms may feel distant from their NICU baby due to separation at birth, is that normal? If so, what are your suggestions for working through that?

  • What's the best thing a laboring mom can do to ensure the best possible birth outcome for her baby?

  • What's your best advice to a laboring mom?

 

Lo Mansfield MSN, RNC-OB, is a specialty-certified registered nurse in obstetrics, postpartum, and fetal monitoring who is passionate about families understanding their integral role in their own stories. She is tired of you being told what to do or what is “best” - and instead believes you should get all the information and then be supported and cheered for as you make up your own mind. She is the owner of The Labor Mama and the creator of the Your Body, Your Birth courses. She is also a mama of three (6, 4, and 2), a wife to Kelvin, a freelance writer, and a mashed potato enthusiast. 

 

Connect with Lo:

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

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelabormama

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelabormama  

Website: https://thelabormama.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

 

Mar 22, 2023

Your baby knows your voice from the beginning! Dr. Jenny Koo, neonatologist and children’s author, shares why reading is important and her latest project, aimed at NICU siblings.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • This is Dr. Koo's fourth children's book, but her first about the NICU. What prompted her to write the book?

  • Where did she find the time to write a book as a doctor and new mom?

  • What are some of the analogies she uses in the book to explain the complicated world of the NICU to younger children?

  • Of all the medical specialities she could've chosen, why neonatology?

  • How has motherhood changed her outlook on parenting and interacting with parents of NICU babies?

  • We know that reading to young children is important, how can a parent utilize books in the NICU with his/her baby?

  • What are some of your favorite children's authors and books for your own family?

 

Dr. Jenny Koo is a board-certified neonatologist affiliated with Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns in San Diego, CA. Dr. Koo’s interest lies in cardiovascular health of newborns, and she is a part of the Sharp Mary Birch Neonatal Research Institute. Dr. Koo is passionate about family centered care and ensuring that the entire family unit – not solely the neonate – is cared for and supported throughout their NICU journey. As a hobby, Dr. Koo enjoys drawing and has authored four children's books.

 

Connect with Dr. Koo:

Instagram  |  Twitter

 

Buy Dr. Koo’s other children’s books:

Hamilton & Eleanor’s Adventures

 

The Little Giraffe Foundation:

The foundation that funded Dr. Koo’s book aimed at NICU siblings for patients of Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns

 

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  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube  

 

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

 

Mar 15, 2023

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. Her research background focuses on neonatal and pediatric nutrition including mineral absorption, intestinal failure, and human milk fortification for premature infants. Keli was a leader in the national efforts to obtain FDA approval for intravenous omega-3 fatty acid lipid emulsions for infants and children in the US with severe liver damage. She was honored with the Texas Distinguished Scientist Award from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is a past recipient of the Emerging Dietetic Leader award and Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year. When Keli is not in Austin, she can be found at her nearby cattle ranch.

 

Connect with Keli:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

 

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  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

 

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

Mar 8, 2023

It’s one thing to receive a diagnosis and a whole other to live it. NICU mom Katrina Moline shares how cerebral palsy has, and has not, affected their daily life.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • What is Cerebral Palsy (CP)?

  • For children/babies who have CP what are some of the symptoms, developmental challenges?

  • When you learned of the diagnosis, what did you do?

  • How has CP affected your daily family life? What has been the hardest adjustment?

  • How have you grown in the last 13 years since Bryce was diagnosed?

  • What's your favorite service that Hand to Hold offers parents and caregivers?

  • What’s your best advice to a mom, dad or caregiver whose child has just received a CP diagnosis?

Katrina Moline is the Hand to Hold Operations Director. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Texas State University. Katrina has been a part of the Hand to Hold family since 2009, receiving peer-to-peer mentoring after the birth of her son at 24 weeks and later serving as a peer mentor herself. She is grateful for the opportunity to focus her time and talents on a mission so near and dear to her heart. Katrina, her husband Caleb and their two sons live in Austin, Texas.

 

Connect with Katrina:

Instagram  |  Facebook

 

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  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

 

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

 

Mar 1, 2023

No high risk pregnancy is the same. Dr. Summers joins me for a conversation about mitigating the risks, working with your OB/GYN and questions to ask.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • What defines a high-risk pregnancy and what places a woman in that category?

  • If you have some of those risks, what should you look for in an OB/GYN to give you proper care and attention?

  • What are some things women can do to mitigate the risks of a high-risk pregnancy?

  • When should a women consider meds, therapy (or both) during or after a high-risk pregnancy?

  • What are the delivery options for pregnancies that are considered high-risk?

  • How can a woman improve the communication between her regular OB and her maternal fetal medicine (MFM) doctor?

  • What’s the best advice for a high-risk mama?

 

Dr. Jenny Summers is a Texan born and raised, who loves working with women throughout every stage in life in women’s health. She is a longhorn and a former child life specialist, who completed her medical school at UT Health Science Center in San Antonio and her residency training at UT Southwestern, serving as chief resident during her fourth year. She has completed a gynecologic advanced pelvic and robotic fellowship.  She currently serves as a clinical assistant professor at The University of Texas Dell Medical School and has been awarded a Rising Star as one of Texas Monthly’s Super Doctors for the past 4 years.

 

Connect with Dr. Summers:

Instagram  |  Website

 

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  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  | YouTube   

 

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

Feb 22, 2023

As we celebrate American Heart Month, heart mama and two-time cancer survivor, Kasie Marek, speaks openly and honestly about what it’s like to have a son with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrom (HLHS). We have a beautiful discussion about the realities of caring for a child with a serious and rare heart condition.

 

In this episode, we chat about:

  • What is Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)?

  • How does HLHS affect a family: emotionally, logistically and financially?

  • What are the treatment options available for HLHS?

  • What are the effects of a heart transplant on a family?

  • What’s the best advice for a fellow heart mama?

Kasie Marek is a medical mom trying to figure it all out, one day at a time. A two-time childhood cancer survivor who entered the “nurse" mom world after her first-born, Noah, was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Now, she’s trying to navigate the everyday life of medical to-do lists, while still being a MOM, WIFE, and prioritizing self-care.

 

Connect with Kasie:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website (personal)  |  Website (business)

 

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  |  InstagramTwitter  |  YouTube

 

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

 

Feb 15, 2023

It’s a new era in the podcast and new host Kathryn Whitaker shares what listeners (and YouTube fans!) can expect this year.

 

In this episode, Kathryn chats about:

  • Her background and why this podcast means so much to her heart.
  • Why the new format (audio and video)?
  • What are some topics and guests listeners can expect this year?
  • Why don’t more NICUs have Dr Pepper on tap? (ha!)

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  |  Facebook  |  Website

 

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  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

 

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

Dec 15, 2022

Guest: Lauren Aboulafia

Lauren is a writer, actor, director, and animator. Lauren most recently animated and directed an animated comedy-drama called “Super Scar”, based on her own traumatic birth experience and NICU story.

Hear more about Lauren's story, and what motivated her to create Super Scar, an animated comedy-drama about a new moms' support group where Lauren, an aspiring superstar, describes her experience of giving birth 3 months early, and her struggle to stay sane amidst the madness of the NICU. 

- 

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

Nov 21, 2022

Guest: Anissa Scholes

In this episode:

  • Anissa discusses her pregnancy with Elisabeth and finding out she has Trisomy 18
  • What is Trisomy 18, and what are the typical symptoms?
  • What was it like at home for a baby with Trisomy 18?
  • How grief is a singular experience
  • Why it’s important to believe the griever
  • Grieving a child when you have other children at home

 

Content Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics that may bring up emotions or take you back to some difficult memories. If at any time it becomes too much, please make sure to step away, take some deep breaths, go outside, or have some quiet time alone.

- 

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

Nov 18, 2022

Guest: Catherine Tate, bereaved parent and Hand to Hold Peer Mentor

In this episode:

  • Catherine discusses the experience of losing her first child and having a high-risk pregnancy with her second.
  • She discusses her NICU experience and how that affected her emotionally.
  • What are PPD symptoms? 
  • How can you seek help if you realize you’re having these symptoms?
  • How does a NICU stay make moms more susceptible to PPD?

- 

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

Nov 17, 2022

Guest: Rhiannon Giles

In this episode:

  • Rhiannon discusses her preeclampsia and how that led to the premature birth of her son
  • She describes her NICU experience and how that led to her postpartum depression diagnosis
  • How is someone diagnosed with postpartum depression?
  • Rhiannon gives advice to NICU medical professionals how to speak to women who exhibit symptoms of postpartum depression

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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

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