NICU Babies Parent Support

Latest Episodes:

NICU Babies, Parent Support Podcast Trailer Jan 24, 2024

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Episode 92: Season Finale for 2023! Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

2023 was filled with a plethora of amazing guests and topics. So many exciting things are in store for the podcast in 2024!

In this episode, I share:

Highlight some of our guests and topics.
How listeners can share their feedback on next year's seasons, by sending us a DM on social media or emailing us at podcast@handtohold.org
Take a quick 30-seconds and review, rate and subscribe to our podcasts. It's how more people find us.

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:

Instagram: @kathrynwhitakertx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynwhitakertx/

Websites: https://kathrynwhitaker.net/

Buy 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 and Spanish.

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 91: New Tech for Moms & Babies ft. Katie Linendoll Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

Technology and gadgets, when used with purpose and discernment, can be a true aid to a NICU family's life. In this episode Emmy-winning tech expert, Katie Linendoll, shares her go-to products for moms and NICU families, all at varying price points.

In this episode, we chat about:

How did you get interested in the field of technology and coding as a woman?
What do you hope people take away by utilizing new gadgets or participating in new technology?
Let's chat about your best ideas for tech with newborns, babies and toddlers.
What's your best advice to a parent who wants to use technology to aid in their child's development rather than interfering with it?

Katie Linendoll is an Emmy Award-winning TV personality, consumer technology expert, and one of the leading women in the field of technology. Katie has hosted numerous TV and digital series and special events. She has contributed hundreds of print and online written pieces for top outlets, and can regularly be seen on TV and digital segments and series such as the TODAY Show, The Rachael Ray Show, The Weather Channel and CBS Sports Radio, just to name a few. Katie has been named a Silicon Valley Visionary and leads a faith-filled, active lifestyle while also devoting a large percentage of her time to select philanthropic causes in healthcare, retired K9s, and US veterans. Katie is also passionate about music and her songs and music videos in the country music genre have hit the charts.

Shop Katie's recommendations:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/katielinendoll

Connect with Katie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielinendoll/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielinendollmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.linendoll

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/katielinendoll

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw-APg2HrgO8LkJ-gBpx6ww

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katielinendoll

Website: https://katielinendoll.com/

The NICU is hard. We're here to help.

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 90: Chaplaincy & the NICU ft. J.S. Park Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

We all have preconceived ideas about what a hospital chaplain is, or isn't. So, in this conversation with author and chaplain J.S. Park, we discuss how families might utilize their services, receive an advocate and find someone to hold space in a difficult moment.

In this episode, we chat about:

What led you to pursue a career as a hospital chaplain?
When we hear the word "chaplain" that may conjure up many things for many people. What's your primary role as a hospital chaplain?
Do chaplains go through training and if so, what does that look like?
When are some reasons a chaplain may come into your hospital room?
What can patients ask of a hospital chaplain?
Can you explain how the role of chaplain differs from, say, someone's pastor or leader figure at their place of worship?
How do you recover from the hard days as a hospital chaplain so you can be present to the next family in their time of need?
I think chaplains are often an underutilized resource for patients in a hospital setting. What's your best advice to a family struggling through a hard day and how can a chaplain help?

J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, published author, and viral blogger. For eight years he has been an interfaith chaplain at a 1000+ bed hospital that is designated a Level 1 Trauma Center. His role includes grief counseling, attending every death, every trauma and Code Blue, staff care, and supporting end-of-life care. He also served for three years as a chaplain at one of the largest nonprofit charities for the homeless on the east coast. J.S. has a MDiv completed in 2010 and a BA in Psychology. He also has a sixth-degree black belt. He is the author of The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise (published by Northfield). His next book, on grief, released May 2024. J.S. currently lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife, a nurse practitioner, and his three year old daughter and adopted dog.

Read the CNN article:

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/09/18/health/hospital-chaplain-lessons-wellness-cec/index.html

Connect with J.S.:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jspark3000

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jsparkblog

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jsparkblog

Website: https://jsparkblog.com/

The NICU is hard. We're here to help.

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 89: Food Allergies & the Holidays ft. Vanessa Gonzalez Kraft Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Food and the holidays go hand-in-hand, but when there is an allergy or restriction they can often be stressful and full of anxiety. Cottage bakery owner and food allergy mama, Vanessa Gonzalez Kraft, walks you through what an allergy might look like, ways to be a hospitable host and tips for adjusting to an allergy-free kitchen.

In this episode, we chat about:

Tell me a little bit about your NICU stay with your twins.
When did you first notice food allergies in your children?
How did you go about introducing new foods to them?
When did you seek the advice or intervention from a specialist?
What was the toll on that experience like for your family?
How did you respond?
What surprised you the most about your new-found love for baking?
As families enter into the holidays, the dinner table can often be a source of stress if your child has food allergies. What are some tips you have to make it less stressful and more manageable?
What's your best advice to a NICU mom who just learned her child has a food allergy and she's feeling overwhelmed?

Vanessa Kraft is a mom of six daughters. One daughter has multiple food allergies and Vanessa's twins were preemies that spent time in the NICU. Because of her daughter's food allergies she started Que Bueno Bakery, one that is safe for people with food allergies and dietary restrictions, but also delicious because everyone should get to be in on the fun of celebrations!

Connect with Vanessa:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quebuenobakery/

Website: https://quebuenobakery.com/

The NICU is hard. We're here to help.

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 88: Using TikTok to Normalize Family Life ft. Allison Sullivan Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

As we continue to share stories In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, mom of 5 (including a son with DS) Allison Sullivan shares how she uses TikTok to normalize family life. And, with more than 1.2M followers, we say she might be onto something.

In this episode, we chat about:

Tell us a little about your family.
When and why did you decide to launch a TikTok account?
What's your primary content on your account?
One of your children has Down Syndrome. Did you ever worry that sharing about him on your social media accounts might elicit negative reactions?
Best part about having a child with DS? Most challenging?
During Down Syndrome Awareness Month, what do you want another DS mom to know?

Allison Sullivan is married to Seth and a mom of five. She believes in playing her part in the renewal and transformation of communities through walking humbly, acting justly and loving mercy. She is a writer and podcaster, loves good hospitality and meaningful service and is active in social justice causes to cultivate love and hope. Allison is a trauma-informed yoga instructor. For fun, she enjoys creating wholesome content through a family lens for over 1.2 million TikTok fans, long road trips with her family, girls' nights out with her friends, thrifting, reading, and spending time at the beach. To relax, Allison watches Modern Family on the couch with her dogs.

Connect with Allison:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sullivanfamilytiktok

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonmsully

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/allisonsullivan

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sinner-saint-sister/id1234435619

The NICU is hard. We're here to help.

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 87: Receiving a Down Syndrome Diagnosis ft. Stephanie Weinert Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we shed some light on life with a DS child with PICU mom, Stephanie Weinert. She shares how she received the diagnosis and how Beckett's entrance into the world changed her life. In this episode we briefly discuss death, dying and grief.

In this episode, we chat about:

The day she learned her son was diagnosed with Down Syndrome.
What were some of the things you had to re-learn as a mom after Beckett's diagnosis?
What were some of Beckett's challenges and how did those affect your family?
What are some of the greatest things Beckett brought to your family?
Often, we fear what we do not know. What's something you feared that either never came to fruition or was less stressful than you imagined it might be?
What are some ways you honor Beckett's life and how are you managing your grief particularly during anniversaries or the holidays?
What's something you want people to know about Down Syndrome?
What would you tell old Stephanie, knowing what you know now, about having a child with DS?

Stephanie Weinert is a wife, mother, writer and media personality. She served as a radio host before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Stephanie has spoken nationally and internationally on topics related to faith, family life, homeschooling, motherhood, and the suffering path to salvation. She and her husband Peter share openly about their youngest son, Beckett, who was born in 2019 with a surprise diagnosis of Down Syndrome and a serious heart defect. Beckett's short life of 18 months changed the Weinert family forever. Caring for a special needs child and walking through grief and child loss helped Stephanie see motherhood through a new lens..

Connect with Stephanie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieweinert

Website: https://www.motherandhome.co/

The NICU is hard. We're here to help.

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 86: Did I Leave the NICU with PTSD? ft. Dr. Tiffany Gladdis Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

The NICU often leaves caregivers, and babies, with anxiety and overwhelm and sometimes something more complex, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Tiffany Gladdis shares the difference between anxiety and PTSD and what parents can do to address their triggers and receive treatment.

In this episode, we chat about:

How did you get interested in clinical psychology, specifically focusing on the NICU?
What's the difference between anxiety and PTSD?
What are some symptoms/markers of PTSD and how does a parent receive that diagnosis?
What are the treatment options?
A new term and diagnosis people are starting to hear is C-PTSD (complex PTSD). What's the difference between the two and might a NICU parent experience one or the other?
Can a baby experience PTSD? If so, symptoms? Treatment?
What's your best advice to a parent who's feeling overwhelmed, triggered or otherwise feeling like they need professional help to manage everything?

Dr. Tiffany Gladdis is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Neonatology and the Medical Director of the Office of Equity and Diversity at Children's Mercy Hospital, as well as an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Dr. Gladdis provides therapy and support to families in the Fetal Health Center, NICU, and NICU follow-up clinic and her clinical interests include attachment and bonding, trauma, infant and perinatal mental health, and BIPOC populations. Dr. Gladdis also serves on the board of Hand To Hold.

Connect with Dr. Gladdis:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tiffany-gladdis-willis-214ba1107

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope.love.heal/

The NICU is hard. We're here to help.

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 85: Just Landed in the NICU? Start Here. ft Kathryn Whitaker Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

Did your baby just get admitted to the NICU? Feeling overwhelmed? Scared? Frustrated? Tired? Kathryn Whitaker, mom of six (including her own NICU baby), shares the things she wishes someone had told her upon admission. If you want to be seen in your NICU experience, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Kathryn shares:

A letter to NICU moms
How to advocate for your baby
Finding resources for your mental health
How to accept help and what to ask for

Connect with Kathryn:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathrynwhitakertx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynwhitakertx/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kathrynwhitakertx

Websites: https://kathrynwhitaker.net/

Read her letter, Dear NICU Momma:

https://kathrynwhitaker.net/2013/11/dear-nicu-momma/

Buy her book:

Live Big, Love Bigger

The NICU is hard. We're here to help.

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 84: An Honest Conversation with a NICU Nurse ft. Dr. Lisa Davenport Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

The person that spends the most time with your child is likely a NICU nurse. NICU parent, former NICU nurse and current director of NICU nursing, Dr. Lisa Davenport, and I have an honest conversation about the highs and lows of nursing, what things have changed and how parents can have the best relationship possible with their baby's NICU nurse.

In this episode, we chat about:

Of all the professions, why nursing and why NICU nursing?
What differentiates a NICU nurse from a pediatric or ICU nurse?
What are some of the first things a family can expect from their NICU nurse?
Can you explain a "primary nurse" and what that means to a family?
Share a bit about the family's access to their NICU nurses.
If a family has a difficult relationship with their NICU nurse, what should they do?
What are some of the key things NICU nurses do to be more effective in the NICU environment?
What's something that we're doing now in NICUs that we weren't when you first started? How has it changed the outcomes?
Let's talk about this "golden hour" you championed.
What's the best part about your job? Most challenging?

Dr. Lisa Davenport is a former NICU parent and the Director of Nursing for Texas Children's NICU in Houston, Tex. Lisa's experience as a NICU bedside nurse for 9 years fueled her passion for becoming a quality driven and people centric nursing leader. Additionally, Lisa serves as faculty for Texas Tech Health Science Center School of Nursing.

Connect with Dr. Davenport:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-davenport-dnp-rn-rnc-nic-5363b075

The NICU is hard. We're here to help.

Connect with Hand to Hold:

Learn more or get support at handtohold.org

Follow Hand to Hold on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handtohold

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtohold/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NICUHandtoHold

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HandtoHold

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles