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In this special Tech Tuesday episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie—neonatologist, author, and co-host of the AAP’s Pediatrics on Call podcast. They dive into her new book, The Baby Bonding Book: Connecting with Your Newborn, a resource designed to demystify early parenting through a blend of evidence-based guidance and real-world experience.

Joanna shares how her background in neonatology and her work in both NICU and newborn nursery settings shaped the stories and structure of the book. The conversation highlights the overwhelming amount of information modern parents face, and how the book’s approachable format aims to reduce stress and empower bonding. The team discusses the science behind early relational health, how clinicians can better support families, and the importance of maintaining humanity in both parenting and medical practice.

Whether you’re a parent, provider, or someone interested in pediatric health communication, this episode offers insights into bridging clinical knowledge with compassionate storytelling—and why it’s critical for both family well-being and professional growth.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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In this week’s episode, Ben and Daphna sit down with Michelle Kelly, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Associate Professor at Villanova University. Michelle is a leading voice in recognizing the lasting impact of preterm birth on long-term health. She shares insights from her co-authored article, Addressing Preterm Birth History with Clinical Practice Recommendations Across the Life Course, which outlines how a history of prematurity should inform lifelong clinical care.

The conversation highlights the gap between neonatal and adult healthcare systems, and why identifying preterm birth history should be a routine part of medical assessments. Michelle also discusses practical strategies to educate families, empower survivors of prematurity, and shift provider assumptions about long-term outcomes. This episode offers a thoughtful and grounded discussion on turning early-life health factors into actionable care across the lifespan.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah discusses the journey of NICU families, focusing on gastroschisis, a condition where a baby's intestines are outside the body at birth. Ruby Bacardi shares her personal experience with her son Oliver, who was born with gastroschisis and spent three months in the NICU. The conversation explores the emotional challenges, medical insights, and the importance of support for families navigating this journey. Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau provides medical perspectives, while Ruby emphasizes the significance of cherishing small victories and finding hope amidst uncertainty.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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In this week’s Journal Club, Ben and Daphna unpack a wide range of recent neonatal studies with pragmatic, practice-centered discussion. First, they explore a study on low-dose dexamethasone for BPD in preterm infants, showing potential benefits in brain development and motor outcomes—despite ongoing concerns about long-term effects. Next, they discuss a large dataset analysis of oxygen and respiratory support trajectories in extremely preterm infants, offering real-world FiO2 trends and benchmarks that may help frame clinical decisions and counseling.

They also examine the diagnostic limits of consumer-grade pulse oximeters, like the Owlet, comparing their accuracy to hospital-grade monitors—raising real concerns about missed events. A safe sleep initiative study offers evidence that modeling and education during birth hospitalization can improve post-discharge sleep practices, especially across different demographic groups. Finally, they review parent engagement with NICU-focused online health communities, identifying both the benefits and potential friction these platforms create in team-family communication.

From cerebral oxygenation during kangaroo care to the use of enemas in ELBW infants, this episode covers it all—with a focus on what clinicians can take back to the bedside.

Listen in and join the conversation. 

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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The new normal: parental use of online health communities in the NICU.

Adams SY, Tucker R, Lechner BE.Pediatr Res. 2022 Jun;91(7):1827-1833. doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01684-3. Epub 2021 Aug 17.PMID: 34404928

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Hydrostatic low-volume enemas in infants with birth weight ≤1000 g or gestational age ≤28 weeks: A controlled interventional study.

Stock T, Kamp AM, Waitz M, Riedl-Seifert T, Jenke AC.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1002/jpn3.70055. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40344423

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Neonatologists' perceptions of uncertainty: a national survey.

Rholl E, Krick JA, Leuthner SR, Pan AY, Challa SA, Kukora S.J Perinatol. 2025 Apr 19. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02292-3. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40253559 No abstract available.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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The effect of maternal position on cerebral oxygenation in premature infants during Kangaroo care: a randomised controlled trial.

Stapleton I, Murphy S, Vaughan S, Walsh BH, Natchimuthu K, Livingstone V, Dempsey E.J Perinatol. 2025 Apr 5. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02287-0. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40186001

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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A Hospital-Based Initiative for Infant Safe Sleep Practice.

Decker CM, Dunlevey E, Nguyen L, Stence KJ, McCarty E, Jean-Charles TG, Trego T, Ma ZQ.Pediatrics. 2025 Feb 1;155(2):e2024067659. doi: 10.1542/peds.2024-067659.PMID: 39799962

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Diagnostic accuracy of an over-the-counter infant pulse oximeter for cardiorespiratory events.

Travers CP, Nakhmani A, Armstead KM, Benz RL, Foshee KM, Carlo WA.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 May 12:fetalneonatal-2025-328540. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2025-328540. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40355254

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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