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 MoreWe all want to protect our infants when they come home. But there is some added stress when you bring home a winter baby. We know to wash hands, limit sick contacts, and disinfect surfaces. But what about family? Daycare for siblings? Travel? We talk about some of these circumstances and more. Join us!
Read MoreCountry music star Jimmie Allen and his wife Alexis share their RSV story. Their 6-week-old daughter Zara was hospitalized with RSV in 2021 and they are sharing their story to raise awareness for RSV. Visit www.knowingrsv.com for more information.
Read MoreNew episodes of the Mighty Littles Podcast are back in 2023! Join us as we discuss transitioning home with a newborn and life at home after the NICU.
Read MoreMadeline joins Dr. Zimmermann to discuss her preterm labor, 91 day NICU journey, and her desire to change medical terminology away from terms that place blame and guilt on mothers.
Read MoreDr. Zimmermann discusses the importance of words and labels in medical terminology. Let us stop placing blame and shame on women during their pregnancy and motherhood journey.
Read MoreGretchen continues her story this week with the details of Alex’s NICU stay, and the effects the NICU stay and the pandemic had on her parenting after their NICU journey.
Read MoreBirth stories are important. Hearing real birth stories is an important step in feeling prepared for your own birth, and equally important, healing from a delivery that didn’t go as planned. While every birth is unique and different, there are commonalities that births share - and through listening to stories, you can feel empowered and connected with other mothers.
Here at Mighty Littles, we want to share birth stories of mom’s whose infants have gone to the NICU, normalizing this experience, and sharing stories that help you with your healing. Birth has so many unknowns, and we can never prepare fully for what might occur. On this episode, Gretchen relays her birth story, discussing what happened when she went into labor at 22 weeks, away from home, away from family while on a training trip for her job with the coast guard.
Read MoreDr. Zimmermann is back with new episodes of the Mighty Littles Podcast.
Read MoreJoin Dr. Anna Zimmermann and Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie for an honest discussion about apnea of prematurity and the “brady countdown” at the end of the NICU stay that can feel like torture. We discuss definitions, physiology and give practical examples of what may (or may not) qualify as a bradycardia significant enough to warrant an additional 5-7 day stay in the NICU.
Read MoreWord have power, and Mighty Littles is going to Focus on words this month.
Read MoreJoin Dr. Anna Zimmermann and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson for a discussion about Bottom Line for Baby.
Read MoreWe have read books about how our bodies will change during pregnancy, but this book outlines the emotional journey of becoming a mother. Join us for this great discussion about expecting wonder and becoming a mother.
Read MoreJoin Dr. Zimmermann and Dr. Parga-Belinkie to discuss Respiratory Distress Syndrom (RDS). In this podcast, we will discuss the cause, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of RDS in the NICU.
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 MoreA few of the many quotes I love from this podcast:
The day I went home, I wasn’t prepared for how empty I would feel not pregnant and not with my baby. That night was the hardest night that I had.
Just because you are grieving what you wanted, doesn’t mean you aren’t grateful for what you have.
There is no right way to react to having a baby in the NICU.
The NICU is an experience in the juxtaposition of emotions.
As time has passed, instead of thinking things went wrong and my body failed, MAYBE, I’m living the best-case scenario of an alternative outcome that would have been devastating - and that would have been losing our baby at 20 weeks. In that world, the NICU would have been my dream scenario.
I didn’t feel strong when I was going through the NICU. But I was strong. And if I could tell preemie moms anything, it would be that they are strong. And their baby is strong.
You are not alone.
Ashley 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.
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