Sue Ludwig, certified neonatal occupational therapist and founder of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists, joins the Mighty Littles Podcast to discuss some of the themes in her new book. Energy, baggage, joy, and the energy-sucking myth of balance are prime among our topics. Join us as we discuss how lessons learned from babies in the NICU can teach us about living life with energy, intention and purposee.
Read MoreJoin the podcast for the second half of my conversation with Lelis Vernon, discussing her NICU advocacy work.
Read MoreJen shares the story of her twin pregnancy, complicated by placenta percreta.
Read MoreDr. Zimmermann is back with new episodes of the Mighty Littles Podcast.
Read MoreCarl MacDonald's twins were born at 27 weeks. He has started telling his story on his blog and through social media, discussing the NICU from a Dad's perspective.
Read MoreBeing pregnant with triplets is by definition a high-risk pregnancy from the onset. There is no blissful enjoyment of finding out you are pregnant. You immediately get referred to high-risk perinatologist, have weekly ultrasounds and numerous appointments, and immediately start having conversations with your doctors that you never want to have. Parents navigating the decisions that come with higher-order multiple pregnancies (anything more than twins) are faced with impossible decisions from the moment they find out they are pregnant. Impossible decisions. Decisions with no right or wrong answers and every decision simply brings on another question.
Here are the themes we talk about in this episode.
There are no right answers, only answers that feel best for your family.
During your NICU stay, you can and will do hard things. You may not love it or like it, but you CAN and you WILL do the hard thing that is required of you.
While navigating the NICU, there is practically no time to process what is happening. Everything comes so fast, and you are simply focused on the next milestone. And then, finally, there it is — the magical milestone where you get to take your baby(ies) home — NICU Discharge. There is a common belief that if you just can get your baby home, the NICU will be behind you. But in reality, the processing happens after your NICU stay is complete. There is still work to be done so you can process your NICU journey. Additionally, for many babies, medical issues don’t just stay in the NICU. They follow you home.
The gift of therapy.
Do not be afraid to ask for help. And take the help.
Bridging the gap between NICU discharge and initiating intensive therapies.
Join Dr. Anna Zimmermann and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson for a discussion about Bottom Line for Baby.
Read MoreIn our second Practical Parenting Focus on Touch in the NICU Episode, we discuss Kangaroo Care. Also known as Skin-to-skin care, Kangaroo care has benefits to both mothers and babies in the NICU.
Read MoreMarquita had an uncomplicated pregnancy up until she went into preterm labor at 22-weeks. Kas was born weighing 440g. Being born at the edge of viability, she was given the option to “go with it or not” - you don't have time to think about it - you just have to make a decision. Marquita and her family decided to see what Kas would do. He had his misbehaving moments, but it was clear to the family that he was fighting, so they kept fighting for him.
How do you survive an 8 month NICU stay with your baby:
Nurses - they are a combination of your best friend, your favorite teacher, and your therapist.
Reading - Read, read read.
Connecting with your baby when you visit can keep you going and fighting for another day.
Lucas was born at 22 weeks, weighing 1 pound, 3 ounces. His parents join Mighty Littles to talk about having a baby born at the edge of viability.
Read MoreEmily had not one, but two infants in the NICU. Her son was born at 33 weeks and her daughter was born at 23 weeks. Her story kicks off our Mini Mighty Littles Series this week!
Read MoreReign was born at 26 weeks after mom developed severe pre-eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. She spent 80 days in the NICU before being discharged home. Ebony is an advocate for maternal health and preemies She joins the Mighty Littles Podcast today to discuss how miracles are messy.
Read MoreAshley and Time courageously talk about their NICU experience and balancing love and loss in the NICU after delivering 23-week twins. Feeling split loyalty between grieving for Wyatt and celebrating Liam turned out to be one of the most difficult aspects of their NICU stay.
Read MoreCheyenne from @thesmallestfight joins me on Instagram Live to talk about making decisions for our families as the world opens back up with COVID cases increasing.
Read MoreJoin us for a conversation about kids and trauma. From the NICU to divorce to a global pandemic, we explore why we need to deal with our big feelings. When you are afraid of big feelings, you stuff away big feelings and then Act Big.
Read MoreTinySuperHeroes is on a mission to change the way the world sees children with disabilities. These capes are an immediate ice breaker, providing a bridge to communication.
Read MoreCori bravely discusses how fighting for one more day can make all the difference in the world when it comes to the fight for survival at the edge of viability. Her son was born at 24 weeks, 1 day. He is now 2 1/2 years old.
Read MoreBailey joins us and talks about many of the unspoken fears in the NICU. Her biggest takeaway - You have to have hope in the NICU.
Read MoreJoin Mighty Littles in an interview with Christie. She delivered a premature infant weighing just over 1 pound. In this podcast, she describes her journey through the NICU - complete with standard NICU turbulence and curve-balls. We discuss what it is like to meet your baby for the first time over 24-hours after you deliver, the fears of going home “empty-handed” and how NICU journeys are often harder than you imagine. But within that journey, parents find that they are stronger than they ever knew. The NICU is a crazy place, filled with fear, uncertainty, strength, and love, and Christie does a fantastic job of showing how they all mesh in the NICU.
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