Podcast Show Notes

Episode Title: Devon Donkin - NICU Nurse

Episode Overview:

Join your hosts Lea and Sophia as they interview Devon Donkin, RN, about her incredible journey from waitress to neonatal nurse and everything in between. Devon shares her unique perspective from over a decade of bedside experience in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and her passion for supporting families during some of their most challenging moments.

Topics include:

• What to expect when a baby is in the NICU

• Navigating breastfeeding and formula pressure as a new parent

• Postpartum depression, support, and the role of girdles and doulas

• Tools like the BRAIN acronym to help parents make informed medical decisions

Devon’s expertise bridges holistic and traditional care, offering practical advice and heartfelt support for parents and caregivers.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. NICU Experiences

• What parents should know and expect if their baby requires time in the NICU.

2. Breastfeeding and Formula Pressure

• Devon’s insights on navigating societal and personal pressures around infant feeding.

3. Postpartum Depression and Support

• The importance of identifying and addressing postpartum mental health challenges.

• Exploring the role of girdles, doulas, and community support in recovery.

4. BRAIN Acronym for Medical Decisions

• A helpful tool for navigating medical decisions during pregnancy and postpartum:

• Benefits

• Risks

• Alternatives

• Intuition

• Need time/Nothing

5. Devon’s Expertise and Holistic Approach

• Neonatal resuscitation, infant care, and infant safety education

• The use of plant medicine for anxiety and depression recovery

• Integrating fitness, nutrition, and mental wellness in postpartum care

About Devon Donkin:

Devon Donkin, RN, is a NICU nurse with over a decade of bedside experience caring for high-risk infants. She’s also a neonatal resuscitation instructor, craniosacral therapist, certified yoga instructor, and licensed esthetician. Devon is passionate about holistic care, specializing in postpartum recovery, infant care, and mental wellness for new mothers. She’s currently working on her board-certified integrative holistic nurse coaching credential.

A San Francisco native, Devon now resides in Marin County with her 9-year-old son, husband, and therapy goldendoodle.

Connect with Devon Donkin:

• Instagram: @the.mother.baby.nurse

• Facebook: Devon Donkin

• LinkedIn: Devon Donkin, RN

Listen to the Episode:

• Podcast Link: Spotify

• Instagram:

• @sophiabirth

• @bayareahomebirth

• @ninabasker

• @huggasteele

• @familyfocusdoulacare

• @bornwildmidwifery

• Facebook: Podcast Link

Final Thoughts:

Devon’s wealth of knowledge and her holistic approach to mother-baby care offer invaluable insights for parents and birth professionals alike. This episode is packed with practical tips, compassionate advice, and inspiration for navigating the NICU, postpartum recovery, and beyond.

Stay Wild 🌳