Dear NICU Mama

On today’s episode of the Dear NICU Mama podcast we have the very special privilege to talk with NICU mama and NICU nurse, Kerrie! Kerrie’s daughter Kate was born prematurely at 25 weeks gestation due to an abruption and fetal distress. She spent three months in the NICU before coming home to meet her brother and sisters, and she is now three and thriving! Kerrie has been a registered nurse for over 15 years working mostly in a hospital setting caring for the adult population. Her NICU journey gave her a whole new respect for being a patient and the feelings of helplessness experienced while in the hospital, and was the motivation for her to become a NICU nurse. Kerrie has been a NICU nurse for over two years and has had the privilege to work alongside the very team that saved her daughter's life. She is currently working toward becoming a Nurse Practitioner with a dream of focusing on developmental growth and early intervention for our vulnerable NICU babies! Throughout this episode, Kerrie talks about the unique experience she has to provide care as a NICU nurse, encouragement for NICU mamas that are building trust with their baby’s medical team, and the importance of valuing your mental health both in and out of the NICU. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April is C-Section Awareness Month! And this week’s podcast episode Part 2 of a special roundtable episode all about c-sections with co-hosts Ashley and Aisha, and team members Lindsay + Kristen! Throughout this episode they each share more about their healing journey post delivery both emotionally and physically, and what they wish others knew about c-sections. We hope these episodes have been validating and hope-filled for the c-section mamas in our sisterhood, and that you would be reminded that healing is a lifelong journey. We honor you and your remarkable birth story! To listen to part 1, head here. For the episode transcription, head here. (Please note that it is computer generated and not perfect!) To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April is C-Section Awareness Month! And this week’s podcast episode is a special roundtable episode all about c-sections with co-hosts Ashley and Aisha, and team members Lindsay + Kristen! Throughout this episode they each share openly about their own c-section deliveries, what they knew about c-sections prior to their deliveries, and how they have processed their birth plan not going to plan. The best part? This is only part 1 meaning we get to hear part 2 next week! We hope any c-section NICU mamas feel validated and seen throughout this episode, and that you are reminded that your body did not fail. For the episode transcription, head here. (Please note that it is computer generated and not perfect!) To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time for another Mamas Call In episode! The topic of developmental milestones, and when and if our NICU grads reach those milestones, can be a very tender subject. On one hand, we are so PROUD of the milestones our children are reaching, and on the other, we can feel exhausted by the amount of charts and graphs that are continually tracking and telling us where our kids should be. This duality of emotion inspired Ashley to write and create the “Right On Time” poem and merchandise collection, and we thought it would be beautiful to hear stories from mamas of this sisterhood of when their NICU miracles were right on time. This episode’s prompt was, “Tell us a story that your NICU miracle was right on time.” It was an honor to share responses from this community, and know that this sisterhood celebrates ALL of the milestones your miracles are reaching. You are not alone! To listen, you can find us on iTunes or Spotify, Google, or by clicking the link below! For the episode transcription, head here. (Please note that it is computer generated and not perfect!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast episode is a replay episode from season 6 of the Dear NICU Mama podcast! For the NICU mamas in our sisterhood who find themselves splitting time between their children at home and children in the NICU, we hope you feel seen and heard by this episode. Use code “nicumama” for 50% off Katie’s How to prepare, support and respond to your child during shots course! Find the episode transcription here. ------- This week, we have the privilege of speaking with Katie Taylor from Child Life On Call! One of the most commonly asked questions in our support forum is how to not only balance being a mom to kids at home and in the NICU, but also how to include their older kids with their new sibling’s NICU journey in a way that feels safe and easy to comprehend. And we couldn’t think of a better guests to talk about this today than Katie! In this episode we cover: We hope this conversation affirms that NICU mama, you are the best mother to ALL of your children, and your love is and will always be more than enough. 💕 To get connected with Katie: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Child Life On Call Podcast To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram This podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's podcast episode, we have part two of team member Carolissa’s journey with her daughter Elizabeth! Elizabeth was born at 31 weeks and had a 56 day NICU stay. Throughout this episode, Carolissa shares openly about what it was like to split time in the NICU with Elizabeth and time with her older daughter Sophia at home, and what it was like to transition to life as a family of four at home. To any other NICU mamas listening who split time with their baby(ies) in the NICU and older kiddos at home, we hope you are reminded that you and your love are enough. You are never alone! To listen to the podcast episode with Child Life On Call mentioned in this episode, head here! Head here for the episode transcription. The Dear NICU Mama Podcast is made possible by the generosity of this community. To give to the mission and movement of Dear NICU Mama, head to: dearnicumama.com/give! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's podcast episode, we have part one of team member Carolissa’s journey with her daughter Elizabeth! Elizabeth was born at 31 weeks and had a 56 day NICU stay. Throughout this episode, Carolissa shares vulnerably about the rollercoaster of a ride her motherhood journey has been, including experiencing secondary infertility and the emotions that arise when things don’t go the way we hoped they would. Our hope is that as you listen to this episode, you are reminded how powerful your mother’s intuition is and that you and your steadfast love are more than enough! Read Carolissa’s DNM letter here! Head here for the episode transcription. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram The Dear NICU Mama Podcast is made possible by the generosity of this community. To give to the mission and movement of Dear NICU Mama, head to: dearnicumama.com/give! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As NICU families, birthdays often come with a variety of emotions. Joy for the life of our NICU miracles, and grief for their entrance into the world. It’s not uncommon to feel a variety of emotions on birthdays, and in an effort to explore this more we reached out to this sisterhood to share their experiences with navigating and processing birthdays! This episode’s prompt was, “How have you processed and felt on your NICU baby’s birthdays? What words of hope would you offer another NICU mama before a birthday?” It was an honor to share responses from this community. To the NICU mamas navigating and processing all of the emotions that come with your NICU baby’s birthday, we hope you feel validated and seen throughout this episode. You are not alone! Head here for the episode transcription. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's podcast episode, we have the honor of hearing DNM team member and podcast co-host Aisha’s NICU journey with her daughter Eva. Eva was born prematurely at 26 weeks at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 and had an 82 day NICU stay. Eva is Aisha’s second preemie baby after losing her first, Enzo, earlier in 2018. Throughout the episode Aisha shares what it was like to have a pregnancy after loss, the miracle of watching your baby defy all odds, and the duality of emotions you feel through it all. To the loss mamas in our sisterhood, we hope you feel heard throughout this episode. This sisterhood honors not only your children's resilience, but also yours. To listen to part 1 of Aisha’s motherhood journey with her son Enzo, head here! Head here for the episode transcription. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's podcast episode is the recording from our live podcast event hosted by Thrivent for Giving Hearts Day! At this free event, members of our local community were able to order a coffee and hear Tyler + Carrie's NICU journey with their son Jett, and learn more about Dear NICU Mama and who we are as an organization. It was such a special way to kick off the week of Giving Hearts Day! Because of your generosity and the generosity of our local community, Dear NICU Mama exceeded our goal and raised $22,409.81!!! We are SO grateful for your continued support and we cannot wait to see what is in store for 2024. Thank you so much for listening and for being a part of this sisterhood! For the episode transcription, head here. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 8 and Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful mamas! We hope you are all having a cozy winter and that your 2024 is off to a wonderful start. We are so excited to be back on the podcast with you all and share a Mamas Call In episode! This week’s prompt was, “What is a fun date night you and your partner did in the NICU, or a fun memory you have with your partner in the NICU?” We are excited to be kicking off another season of the podcast with you, and we can’t wait to share amazing expert interviews, round table discussions, and NICU motherhood stories with you throughout this season. Thank you to each and every one of you for being here with us and for making this sisterhood so special! For the Instagram post mentioned in the episode, head here. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram For the episode transcription, head here. (Please note that it is computer generated and not perfect!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode is very bittersweet as we say farewell to Season 7 of the Dear NICU Mama Podcast! We will never be able to fully express the honor and joy that it is to connect with each of you through this podcast and what it means to us to have you listen each and every week. To those of you who are celebrating this holiday season, we wish you a very gentle holidays and a gentle beginning of 2024! Know that in your grief and in your joy, this sisterhood is with you. 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.

As NICU mothers, our breastfeeding journeys often times look different than the ones we may have envisioned. It’s not uncommon to first be hooked up to a breast pump, and it can be days, weeks, or months before we have the chance to try feeding our babies at the breast. As we continue talking about feeding, we wanted to publish an episode for NICU mothers that long to pump or breastfeed, and we are so excited to have Bethany Hill, RN, IBCLC of Fargo Milk Market on the podcast today to share all about pumping and breastfeeding in and out of the NICU! In this episode we cover: We hope any NICU mother navigating the journey of breastfeeding feels encouraged throughout this episode. At the end of the day, you are enough and fed is best. You are not alone! About Bethany Hill, RN: Bethany Hill is an RN, IBCLC. Bethany has spent her career working in the hospital setting as a Registered Nurse. She has worked as a NICU RN for 7 years and another 8 years specializing in lactation in the NICU. She recently founded the Milk Market in Fargo, ND. With plenty of product available at big box stores and online, the piece that was missing was someone to educate on the product prior to purchase. So, the Milk Market was born. A comprehensive one stop retail store with educated staff to help you purchase items to help you in your feeding journey. Bethany resides in Hawley, MN with her husband and 3 daughters. With personal and professional experience in lactation Bethany is passionate in providing support to lactating parents in the Fargo-Moorhead and surrounding areas.  ** This podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. To get connected with Bethany + Fargo Milk Market: Website To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Head here for the episode transcription. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the holiday season, we thought it would be timely to talk about feeding and eating! As NICU parents, we know that our child’s feeding journey begins in the NICU, but it certainly doesn’t end there. Which is why we are really grateful to have such a gentle and informative conversation with two special guests from the organization Feeding Matters, CEO Jaclyn Pederson and Director of Programs (and NICU mom herself!) Jen Lambert! In this episode we cover: WebsiteFeeding Matters Infant and Child Feeding Questionnaire© Power of Two Parent Mentor ProgramPFD Alliance AppProvider DirectoryRoadmap for Family Support We hope any NICU parent navigating their child’s feeding journey feels validated and empowered throughout this episode. You are not alone! About Feeding Matters: Established in 2006, Feeding Matters is the first organization in the world uniting the concerns of families with the field’s leading advocates, experts, and allied healthcare professionals to improve the system of care for pediatric feeding disorder through advocacy, education, support, and research. Learn more about Jen + Jaclyn by heading here! ** This podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Head here for the episode transcription. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's spooky season! And this week we are sharing a replay of an amazing episode we had the pleasure of recording with Natalie Reiter of Prairieland Counseling back in season 5 all about "spooky" or intrusive thoughts. In this episode we cover: We hope this episode reminds all NICU mamas listening that no matter the thoughts you may find yourself experiencing, that you are and always will be the best mother for your baby. You are not alone! For the book “Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts: Breaking the Cycle of Unwanted Thoughts in Motherhood” mentioned in the episode, head here, and for the book “Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts”, head here! Head here for the episode transcription. Natalie specializes in reproductive mental health which includes peri-natal, post-partum, infertility, infant loss, paternal mental health, and the impact on couples. She has received specialized training in perinatal and post-partum mental health from Postpartum Support International, and was recently selected as the 2019 Outstanding Mental Health Counselor by the North Dakota Mental Health Counseling Association for my work with reproductive mental health. Her work as a child birth educator and her two children have sparked her passion of working with reproductive mental health! To get connected with Natalie: Website | Instagram | Facebook To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram This podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As NICU parents, we are trained to track milestones and be hypervigilant about our child’s development. And as we enroll our NICU grads in school, it can feel vulnerable to trust other individuals to be as vigilant as we are! Which is why we are really excited to have an in-depth conversation with Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed of Master IEP Coach about Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and how to partner with our child’s teachers and education professionals. In this episode we cover: We hope any NICU parent feeling overwhelmed about navigating the educational system feels empowered and encouraged throughout this episode. You can do this! Head here for the episode transcription. About Catherine Whitcher M.Ed and Master IEP Coach Catherine Whitcher, MEd, founder and CEO of Master IEP Coach®, experienced the struggles of the Special Education system both as a certified teacher and as a sister to a wonderful man with Down syndrome. For the past 25 years, she has been creating nationwide change in special education by assisting parents and teachers in developing IEPs that work in the real world. Catherine currently leads the largest independent organization nationwide of parents and teachers working together to build better special education outcomes for the real world. She’s an expert in conflict resolution and leadership at the IEP table while always keeping the focus on preparing every child for further education, employment, and independent living. ** This podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Master IEP Resources: Website | Podcast | Email To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Head here for the episode transcription. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Thursday, beautiful sisterhood! If you are a frequent listener of the DNM Podcast, you may have noticed that we are a day late in posting this week’s podcast episode due to technical issues. BUT we are just as excited to share this week’s mini episode with you all today! In September we launched our “There is Goodness Ahead” collection. And on today’s podcast episode, Ashley shares a bit about the meaning and hope for this new collection, as well as a fun podcast exclusive shop discount code! We also have two letters read aloud from Allie and Danielle, and we hope these letters provide hope and encouragement to you today. Read Allie’s letter here, and Daniell’s letter here! Thank you to each and every one of you for being a special part of this community! We are so grateful for each of you. Head here for the episode transcription. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s podcast episode, we have the honor of hearing DNM team member Jess’ NICU journey with her twin boys, Jamie + Morgan! Jess was admitted to the hospital at 30 weeks and 2 days due to preterm premature rupture of the membrane (PPROM). After 2 days in the hospital, Jess went into a very quick labor and delivered her boys via an emergency c- section. Jamie was discharged after 41 days, and Morgan was discharged after 60 days. Throughout the episode Jess shares openly her high-risk pregnancy and her boy’s early delivery, what it was like to journey through the NICU during the Covid pandemic, and how her boys are thriving today. To twin and multiples mamas in our sisterhood, we hope you feel heard throughout this episode. This sisterhood honors not only your children’s resilience, but also yours NICU mama. Head here for the episode transcription. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast episode is all about fevers and illness after NICU! (Cue the tears.) As we enter into what is formally known as cold and flu season, we wanted to have a conversation with a pediatrician who can help us understand some truths and misconceptions about illness. We are so excited to have this conversation with Dr. Jess Daigle of Mom & Me MD! Not only is Dr. Jess a board certified pediatrician, but she is also a NICU mom herself and comes to this conversation with empathy for NICU families that find themselves dreading this time of year. In this episode we cover: We hope any NICU parent feeling overwhelmed or anxious about cold and flu season find hope and practical wisdom throughout this episode. You can do this! About Dr. Jess: Dr. Jess Daigle is a board-certified pediatrician, neonatal/pediatric hospitalist, and the Founder/CEO of Mom & Me LLC. She offers life coaching for NICU moms to help them navigate their NICU journey and be the confident mom they want to be. She also has a concierge medical practice in Atlanta, GA that provides in-home/virtual care services to newborns (with focus on NICU babies) and support for their mothers to make the transition home easier and less overwhelming. She is a wife and the proud mother of 2 kids both born prematurely, with 1 staying in the NICU for 5 weeks. She believes moms and their babies should thrive, not just survive on their postpartum journey and onward. She can be found on IG at @momandme_md. ** This podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast episode is a special back to school roundtable episode with co-hosts Martha and Ashley, and team members Kendra and Sara! Throughout this episode we hear about their own personal experiences of sending their kids to school, how they advocate for their kids alongside the school system, and some of the triumphs and challenges they’ve experienced along the way. We hope any NICU mothers that find themselves sending their NICU grads to school, or who have anxiety about sending their kids to school, hear this episode and feel seen, heard, and reminded that you can do this and your kids will thrive! For episode transcription, head here! To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.