Dear NICU Mama

In this week's episode, we are joined by Chrissy and Naomi from Courageous Parents Network (CPN), a nonprofit with a mission to orient and empower parents and others caring for children with serious illness by providing resources and tools that reflect the experience and perspective of families and clinicians. Together, we dive into the realities and misconceptions of pediatric palliative care.

Chrissy, a pediatric psychologist and Director of Clinician Engagement at CPN, clarifies the holistic role of palliative care, debunking myths that often equate it to hospice. She explains how palliative care can begin at diagnosis and supports the whole family emotionally and practically throughout the medical journey. Naomi, a life doula and grief coach, shares her personal journey with her son, Noah, who has faced significant medical challenges since birth. She discusses the invaluable support she received from CPN and how palliative care helped her reclaim her role as a mother, not just a caregiver.

This conversation offers a wealth of insights for NICU parents, covering topics like decision-making, self-advocacy, and the importance of family-centered support. We hope that this episode empowers you to seek out resources like palliative care and other support tools that can provide the guidance and compassion every NICU family deserves!

To connect with Courageous Parents’ Network resources:

Facebook | Instagram | Website

To learn more from Naomi:
Videos | Blogs | Website

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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In this episode, Makayla shares her journey of navigating the NICU as a single mom. She opens up about her pregnancy, her intuition that something unexpected was ahead, and the sudden complications that led to an early delivery and a challenging start for her daughter, Winona.

Makayla reflects on the emotional experience of seeing Winona in critical condition, the many moments of fear and hope, and the incredible resilience she witnessed as her daughter defied the odds. She also speaks candidly about the unique challenges and strength required to face the NICU journey without a partner, finding support through her family and Winona’s dedicated NICU team.

As you listen to Makayla’s story, we hope that other single NICU moms and those navigating medically complex journeys in our sisterhood feel seen and supported. You are seen and loved, NICU mama!

To get connected with DNM:
Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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It’s time for another Mamas Call In episode! This episode’s prompt was, "Share a moment, in or out of the NICU, where you experienced unexpected joy."

Thank you to each of you for submitting your stories of unexpected joy for this month’s prompt. It’s an honor to celebrate these moments with this sisterhood!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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In this week’s podcast episode, Taylor shares her unique journey of becoming a NICU mom through adoption. She opens up about her and her husband’s decision to adopt, their struggles with infertility, and the emotional experience of meeting their daughter, Selah, who was born four weeks early and spent a month in the NICU. Taylor reflects on the challenges of navigating both adoption and the NICU experience, how they celebrate Selah’s milestones today, and what life at home looks like as a family of three!

As you listen to Taylor’s story, we hope that other adoptive NICU moms and families feel seen and supported. You belong here, NICU mama.

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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In this episode, Mollie shares her motherhood story of carrying identical twin girls, navigating a high-risk pregnancy, and experiencing both the joy of motherhood and the heartbreak of loss. Mollie opens up about the unexpected challenges she faced as a NICU mom, from giving birth at 26 weeks to her daughter Veronica’s fight for survival in the NICU, and the devastating loss of her daughter Athena. She reflects on the emotional journey of healing, the complexities of navigating life after loss, and how she honors Athena’s memory while celebrating Veronica’s milestones today.

As you listen to Mollie’s story, we hope that any mom who has experienced loss or a NICU journey feels seen and understood. This #infantlossawarenessmonth, we honor you and your Angel babies, loss NICU mamas.

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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On this week’s podcast episode, we hear the story of Anne and her son August’s unexpected unexpected NICU journey. She shares vulnerably about the moments leading up to his delivery, the emotional rollercoaster of seeing her son in the NICU for the first time, and what it was like to navigate their NICU journey as a full-term NICU family. She also shares about life at home and how they celebrate his milestones today.

As you listen to Anne’s story, we hope that other full-term NICU moms in our sisterhood feel seen and validated. You are never ever alone!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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It’s time for another Mamas Call In episode! This episode’s prompt was, “As a NICU parent, what were the moments during your NICU journey when you felt you needed the most courage? Or when do you believe you demonstrated the greatest courage?”

We're now accepting submissions for our October call-in episode: "Share a moment, in or out of the NICU, where you experienced unexpected joy." You can either call 701-404-7573 and leave a voicemail with your name, location, and response, or email your submission to [email protected], and our hosts will read it on the podcast! Submissions will then be reviewed and selected by our team until October 22nd.

Thank you to each of you for submitting your stories of courage for this month’s prompt. It’s an honor to celebrate and recognize the courage that lives in you!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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On this week’s podcast episode, we continue Sarah’s remarkable NICU journey with her twin boys, Noah and Uriah.

Throughout this episode, Sarah shares the challenges of navigating complex medical decisions, including both boys’ heart surgeries and Uriah’s extended NICU stay. She opens up about the emotional process of bringing Noah home while Uriah remained in the hospital and the life-changing decision to give Uriah a trach. We learn more about her journey to becoming a medically complex NICU mama, and how she has navigated and embraced having home health nursing in this season of her family’s life.

As you listen to part two of Sarah’s story, we hope you feel reminded that NICU mama, there is goodness ahead. You can do this, and you are never alone!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Dear NICU Mama podcast is back! While we’re grateful for the extra time we had with our families this summer, we’re so excited to be back in this space with all of you. To kick off Season 9, we are honored to share part 1 of Sarah’s powerful NICU journey with her twin boys.

In this episode, Sarah opens up about the unexpected complications during her pregnancy, her time on bed rest, and what led to their emergency c-section at 25 weeks. She shares her experience navigating those early, uncertain days in the NICU and how she coped with the challenges of having medically fragile preemies.

As you listen to Sarah’s story, we hope you feel seen, empowered, and reminded of the incredible strength we all carry as NICU mothers. This sisterhood is proud to walk alongside you.

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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On this week’s episode we have a conversation about life after NICU with Mary Farrelly with The NICU Translator! Mary Farrelly is a certified NICU nurse, doula, nurse educator, mom of two and the founder of The NICU Translator where she helps to bridge the gap between the NICU and home through education, community and 1:1 support.

In this episode we continue our theme of life after NICU and Mary shares how she got started, and her heart to provide support for NICU families once they are home. She also develops curriculums to train nurses on how to better bridge the gap from being in the NICU and getting discharged.

We hope that as you listen to this episode you are reminded that you are deserving of care and support throughout your entire NICU journey during your NICU stay, but when you are discharged and at home as well.

The NICU Translator is offering the following resources to the Dear NICU Mama Sisterhood:

FREE The NICU Family's Guide to Getting the Most Out of Each Medical Appointment: Includes a detailed checklist and helpful tools for preparing for and navigating each appointment so you can feel empowered to navigate the complex healthcare system and feel confident to best advocate for your NICU baby. 

FREE Friends and Family's Guide to Your NICU Baby: Do you wish your friends and family understood what makes your NICU baby different compared to a “regular” newborn? Let me help break it down for them so you don't have to be the bad cop and they understand how to keep your baby safe as you head home from the NICU.

Head here for a link to join The NICU Translator Community for free!

About Mary:

With over a decade of experience as a Level IV NICU nurse and nurse educator, Mary has supported hundreds of NICU families, both at the bedside and during the transition home. She has created and taught a comprehensive curriculum for new nurses, drawing on her expertise in neonatal pathophysiology and best practices. Her work has been instrumental in preparing healthcare professionals to deliver exceptional care to the most vulnerable infants and their families.

Mary is passionate about enhancing the NICU discharge experience by empowering families with evidence-based education and support, helping them to create a nurturing environment where their family can thrive. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University.

To connect with Mary and her work at The NICU Translator:

Website | Instagram

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the show