Empowering NICU Parents Podcast
Is your baby currently in the NICU? Was your baby born prematurely? Or is your term baby in the NICU for high jaundice levels, low blood sugars, or because they have some Respiratory Distress and need oxygen or additional support? Are you wondering what in the heck is a small baby unit or kangaroo care? Why do NICUs use donor breast milk and what on earth does RDS, BPD, IVH, NEC, ETT, CPAP, HFNC, UVC, UAC, po, ng, NEC, ABG, CBG, CBC, and CMP stand for? Are you asking yourself how will we ever get through this, what questions should I even ask, and when will my baby come home? If you are a NICU parent who is scared, nervous, unsure, and full of questions, then hit the subscribe button so you do not miss another show! Welcome to the "Empowering NICU Parents Podcast" where we will answer ALL of these questions and SO MUCH more! Your host, Nicole Nyberg is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner with years of NICU experience - but she also brings her unique perspective to this podcast as a mother of a 23-weeker. Along with sharing answers to the NICU medical questions you have, Nicole addresses and supports you through the incredibly difficult emotional struggles that only a NICU parent can understand. She provides you with knowledge plus tangible tips to guide, educate, empower, and support you through your baby's NICU journey and once they are home. Tune in to hear from someone who knows exactly what you're going through, another NICU Mama. Check out all of our show notes and additional information at empoweringnicuparents.com
Episodes
April 15, 2024 • 21 mins
On the Empowering NICU Parents' Podcast, we are dedicated to supporting you through every step of your NICU journey. Hosted by NICU parent Nicole Nyberg, this episode is packed with essential tips and insights to ensure you're prepared each time you head into the NICU to spend time with your baby!
Drawing from her own experience of spending three months in the NICU, Nicole shares a comprehensive guide on what to pack in your daily ...
Drawing from her own experience of spending three months in the NICU, Nicole shares a comprehensive guide on what to pack in your daily ...
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February 19, 2024 • 33 mins
In this insightful podcast episode, we explore the challenges faced by families with infants in the NICU. Your host, Nicole Nyberg is an experienced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and NICU parent, who shares insights from her personal experience along with anecdotes from other NICU parents. Join us as we explore ways to offer unwavering support through practical gestures of kindness, from meal trains and transportation assistance to t...
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January 19, 2024 • 37 mins
🌟 Unveiling the Untold Story: Marijuana & Pregnancy Podcast 🌿✨
Your host is a Neontal Nurse Practitiction who dives deep into groundbreaking research on marijuana's impact during pregnancy and breastfeeding in this eye-opening podcast, proudly sponsored by Dr. Brown’s Medical. Whether you're an expecting mom, a dedicated healthcare professional, or a caring family member, this episode is your key to unlocking valuable insights...
Your host is a Neontal Nurse Practitiction who dives deep into groundbreaking research on marijuana's impact during pregnancy and breastfeeding in this eye-opening podcast, proudly sponsored by Dr. Brown’s Medical. Whether you're an expecting mom, a dedicated healthcare professional, or a caring family member, this episode is your key to unlocking valuable insights...
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November 24, 2023 • 39 mins
November is Prematurity Awareness Month!
During the month of November, we reflect on all of the the premature infants born each and everyday, the clinicians who care for them, and the parents. Despite all of the latest technology and advances in healthcare, one in ten children are born prematurely in the United States. Additionally, infants born prematurely are more likely to have long-term academic difficulties, cognitive impair...
During the month of November, we reflect on all of the the premature infants born each and everyday, the clinicians who care for them, and the parents. Despite all of the latest technology and advances in healthcare, one in ten children are born prematurely in the United States. Additionally, infants born prematurely are more likely to have long-term academic difficulties, cognitive impair...
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November 1, 2023 • 42 mins
To close out Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, I sat down with Tasha Ruholl. Tasha was kind enough to openly share the losses and subsequent grief that she and her husband have endured. She speaks about how it was her grief that drove her to make a difference and help so many other families. Tasha wanted to give the gift of time to any other parents who have to endure the unimaginable path of losing a child by donating cud...
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October 25, 2023 • 36 mins
There are some amazing organizations that help to support and provide valuable resources for bereaved and NICU families. Many parents who have had a child in the NICU as well as parents who have endured a pregnancy loss or the loss of an infant have felt led to give back to other families enduring the same experience. Using their personal experience, they have created a platform or organization to pay it forward so they can help ot...
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September 25, 2023 • 49 mins
For our 52nd podcast episode, I was joined by Dr. Jess Daigle. She is a board-certified pediatrician and neonatal/pediatric hospitalist. Additionally, she is the proud mother of two premature infants, Liam and Avery. Her son Liam, was born at 31 weeks’ gestation and spent 5 weeks in the NICU. After her family’s personal experience in the NICU, she founded and is the CEO of Mom & Me, LLC which focuses on helping both mothers and...
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For our 51st podcast episode, I discussed a contensious topic in the neonatal world, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Although it is a common occurrence amongst all infants, the lack of updated, clear, and consistent diagnostic and management recommendations remains, especially for the NICU population.
Due to my personal and professional experiences, it is difficult for me to have one solid ...
Due to my personal and professional experiences, it is difficult for me to have one solid ...
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August 17, 2023 • 64 mins
To celebrate our 50th podcast episode, we wanted to honor and hear from our NICU heroes, the NICU graduates. You will hear from several NICU graduates with ages ranging from 5 years old, up to 36 years old. I was honored to be able to sit down with these amazing NICU graduates and learn their perspective, even from my very own NICU graduate as we debut our first official interview together. I spoke with NICU graduates that were bor...
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May 26, 2023 • 35 mins
For the 49th episode on the Empowering NICU Parents’ Podcast, we review necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which is a life-threatening newborn condition that involves ischemia and inflammation of the bowel. Necrotizing Enterocolitis is a complex disease that despite decades of research, is still not well understood. The evidence continues to support the concurrent presence of several factors that when combined with a trigger, may lead...
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April 13, 2023 • 27 mins
Maternal human milk is the absolute best food for newborn nutrition that supports all of their accelerated growth in the first year. And although we have a basic understanding of the composition of human milk, every woman’s breast milk has a different complexity when it comes to the nutritional content. But, you may be wondering, what exactly is breast milk composed of?
For our 48th podcast episode, I review the general composition...
For our 48th podcast episode, I review the general composition...
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March 3, 2023 • 24 mins
For our 47th podcast episode, I review some of the general benefits of maternal breast milk and why it is so important for all infants, but especially those who are critically ill and in the NICU, to receive maternal milk. Human milk, often referred to as liquid gold, is considered the gold standard feeding plan for all infants. Maternal human milk provides many nutritional advantages for infants, but it is also advantageous in non...
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February 6, 2023 • 41 mins
Infants in the NICU, especially those born prematurely, encounter the challenge of effective bottle feeding and/or nursing due to their maturational development. Recently, to support their development, there has been a shift in the paradigm to move away from volume-driven feedings in the NICU to a cue-based approach. The practice of cue-based feedings, specifically the The Infant-Driven Feeding™ Program (IDF™), begins with a neurod...
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January 12, 2023 • 25 mins
For infants in the NICU, especially those born prematurely, breast or bottle feeding effectively can oftentimes be a challenge. Maturational and developmental issues impact a premature infant’s ability to adequately coordinate their sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Yet, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), attainment of adequate oral feedings that fully support growth without physiologic instability is a skill ...
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December 27, 2022 • 32 mins
For our most recent episode, I continued to summarize the updated recommendations for care of the preterm and low birthweight infant from the World Health Organization (WHO) that were just released on November 15, 2022. The World Health Organization reviews the most up-to-date research findings and they develop global guidelines that are meant to help end-users or clinicians make informed decisions on whether, when, and how to unde...
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December 12, 2022 • 25 mins
Do you often wonder what helps to guide care and policies in healthcare? Guidelines for medical care are driven by research and what the evidence has shown, otherwise known as evidence-based practice. And there are organizations, like the World Health Organization, who review the most up-to-date research findings and develop global guidelines that are meant to help end-users or clinicians make informed decisions on whether, when, a...
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November 25, 2022 • 31 mins
On November 15, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) released some updated recommendations for care of the preterm or low birthweight infant. New up-to-date evidence has emerged regarding the most effective clinical interventions in caring for preterm or low birthweight infants so a group of diverse experts and stakeholders from six different regions were selected and began working on these guidelines back in 2020.
The guideli...
The guideli...
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November 11, 2022 • 37 mins
As a NICU parent, one of the most difficult pieces of the journey is the physical separation that parents have to endure initially and each day that follows. Every time parents walk out of those NICU doors to go home without their baby is devastating. Parents are left sitting at home wondering if their baby is awake, or are they restless, did they gain weight, did they take their full bottle, or were they able to keep their ng tube...
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October 31, 2022 • 29 mins
There are many terms and acronyms commonly used in neonatology that most people are not familiar with. Even medical clinicians who are not familiar with the NICU, are unlikely to know about UACs or UVCs. And most NICU parents probably did not know that you can access a newborn’s venous and/or arterial system through their umbilicus until the providers explained the procedure to them.
For our 40th podcast episode, we reviewed some ...
For our 40th podcast episode, we reviewed some ...
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October 14, 2022 • 28 mins
It is likely that you’ve heard about a child who has had RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus from a friend, a family member, or perhaps you’ve even had your own personal experience with it. But, you may not realize how common it actually is! Did you know that almost all children get RSV at least once before they are two years old. For healthy children, it is likely to present just like a typical cold or virus, but for some children...
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