Nicu Now Audio Support Series

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

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 Sc

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:

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

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. 

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 F

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

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 -  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

Guest: Kathryn Whitaker, author and NICU mom In this episode: Kathryn discusses her son Luke’s premature birth and diagnosis with NEC How Kathryn found her way to Hand to Hold Luke’s feeding journey and feeding therapy How to handle your preemie’s medical journey, when much of it is out of your control How Kathryn used her NICU journey to write 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 & Spanish. Learn more or get support at handtohold.org Follow Hand to Hold:  facebook.com/HANDtoHOLD Instagram: @handtohold Twitter: @NICUHandtoHold

Guest: Keira Sorrells Keira talks about her infertility issues and experience getting pregnant with quintuplets, then reducing the pregnancy to triplets Keira talks about the birth of her daughters, Avery, Lily and Zoe, and her experience in the NICU Keira discusses the journey grief after losing Zoe and still having Avery and Lily at home How the loss of a child affects marriages differently What led Keira to found the Zoe Rose Foundation How grief changes over time and how to process that change What is the difference between shame and guilt? 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

Guest: Lee Cordon of Do Say Give Lee discusses her diagnosis of PPROM and the premature birth of two of her daughters. How she handled bringing home NICU babies with other children at home Intentional motherhood The importance of reading, especially to preemies How to set a routine that works for your family A note on breastfeeding -  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

Guest: Shifra Mehl Shifra describes her own experience with postpartum depression She discusses how this experience led her to begin Eim Leah What Eim Leah does to support new moms The importance of self-care for new moms Self-care techniques   -  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

Guest: Becca Van Tassel, LCSW Why Becca decided to specialize in grief and loss in her career as a counselor Why is processing the pain of grief so difficult? The difference between depression and grief What can couples do in order to move through the grief process together? How can parents help their children process grief? How can we memorialize those we have lost? How to deal with the guilt associated with grief 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 Englis

Guest: Mia Durairaj, MSc, NICU mom and founder of Mindful Return Mia discusses her own NICU experience The emotions surrounding going back to work How to be transparent at work and in the NICU Importance of practicing self-care How the NICU trains you to be an advocate and leader After we recorded this interview, we received news that Mia’s daughter lost her battle with congestive heart failure and passed away at just two years, seven months. Mia’s family has set up an endowment fund in their daughter’s name to support research at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California. Click here to visit the endowment fund. -  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 handtoho

In this episode: Guest: Dawn Yu Renwick, NICU Nurse, Author/ Illustrator of "Dog Coats What are the benefits of reading aloud in the NICU for your baby? How does reading aloud to your baby in the NICU benefit you as a parent? As a NICU parent, how do I overcome the intimidation of reading aloud in the NICU? Purchase your copy of Dog Coats on Amazon here. More information about read-aloud in NICUs at babieswithbooks.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 & Spanish. Learn more or get support at handtohold.org Follow Hand to Hold:  facebook.com/HANDtoHOLD Instagram: @handtohold Twitter: @NICUHandtoHold

Hand to Hold’s Occupational Therapy Intern, Eliana Cutler, sits down with Kelli to discuss what an occupational therapist (OT) does, and what the role of an occupational therapist is in the NICU. Eliana also shares tips on how to integrate therapy into play with your baby.  Eliana is an occupational therapy student and doctoral candidate at Midwestern University’s College of Health Sciences - 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

Our guest, Amber, sits down with Kelli to share her experience of being diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Amber discusses how she advocated for herself and her unborn twin girls throughout the treatment of TTTS. Amber also shares more about her family's experience in the NICU, and how her girls are doing today.  Introduction of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome by Dr. Moise. Dr. Moise is a Fetal Medicine Specialist and is also the Co-Director at the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center at Dell Children’s in Austin, Texas.  - 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: @NICUHan

Our guest, Dr. Kenneth Moise, sits down with Kelli to discuss what a fetal medicine specialist does, what conditions they treat, and what parents can expect while in the care of a fetal medicine specialist. Dr. Moise is a Fetal Medicine Specialist and is also the Co-Director at the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center at Dell Children’s in Austin, Texas.  - 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

Kelli welcomes guest, Lexi Losch, MA, LPC, NCC, discuss why maternal mental health matters, and the difference between “baby blues” and PPD. Lexi shares the symptoms of PPD, who is most likely to experience PPD, and the importance of addressing your physical needs as a new mom. In addition, Kelli and Lexi share resources for anyone who may be struggling.  - 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

Katrina discusses her preterm birth with her son, Bryce, and how the NICU can precipitate anxiety. Katrina also shares how her experience of bringing home a medically fragile baby impacted her anxiety, and which resources she found most helpful throughout her journey.  - 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