NICU Babies Parent Support

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, Keira Sorrells shares her journey through infertility, a high-risk multiple pregnancy, life in the NICU with her triplets, and the heartbreaking lo...

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, we visit with grief counselor Becca Van Tassel about the challenging work of navigating grief after the loss of a baby. We explore why grief can be...

Lynn Harris is a retired U.S. Army veteran and longtime volunteer at St. David's Medical Center in Austin. For more than a decade, he has served in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as a "baby cuddler," providing comfort and gentle care to premature and medically fragile newborns. In this episode, Lynn encourages others, especially men, to consider what he considers to be "the mos...

Avid Noble's introduction to Hand to Hold came first as a third-party vendor, helping a friend of a friend. A few years later, it was Avid reaching out to Hand to Hold for help when his first grandbaby was in the NICU. In this touching episode, Avid shares his greatest fears, how he stepped in to help, what he credits are the hallmarks of good boundaries and how the smallest moments made up his be...

Everything was normal, until it wasn't. Lucas Manring's first baby was born via emergency c-section at 25 weeks and he found himself plunged into fatherhood faster than he imagined. Lucas shares how a strong community of men, physical fitness and honest communication with his wife enabled him to walk out of the NICU with confidence, purpose and deep gratitude.   💚 Connect with Kathryn Whitaker In...

Matt Bialkowski is a two-time NICU dad and bereaved father. His first stint in the NICU left him struggling and seeking purpose, but over the course of their four-month NICU stay, Matt found renewed purpose. After their second pregnancy ended in loss and then another baby placed them back in the NICU, he walked in, and out, a different man. Today, Matt's heart is with other men as he shares import...

Dr. Sheehan Fisher's entire career has been focused on the mothers and fathers unique contributions to the family and child health, with a specialization in the emerging field of father mental health. As a clinical psychologist at Northwestern, he has a heart for helping dads understand the effects of psychosocial stress on their mood, parenting, and ultimately infant/child health outcomes. His ex...

With a military career that spans more than 20 years, Adam Wood thought his training would prepare him for a NICU stay. While there were some similarities, he discovered that learning and advocacy were in his new battle plans as he supported his wife and their miracle baby. That newfound role instilled a strong desire in Adam to author books for NICU families, as well as provide much-needed levity...

When Aaron's (then) wife developed pre-eclampsia and was ushered to the hospital in an ambulance, he quickly found himself the dad of a 29-weeker. He was wholly unprepared for the sleeplessness, the worry and the cadence of the NICU. In this episode, he shares what he did to rediscover his mental health, how he's navigating co-parenting with his ex-wife, the hallmarks of his best NICU days and how...

Identical quadruplet girls + 2 other children, all under 6? If there's a dad that gets multiples and all that comes with it, it's engineer and dad of quads, Jonathan Sandhu. In this episode, Jonathan shares how he reconciled best-case and worst-case scenarios with his wife and the babies, the hilarious difference between mom and dad online support groups, how he integrated work, family and life an...

Dads of big families, welcome to the group chat. Fundraiser and father of 6, including two NICU babies, Scott Whitaker shares how he embraced his role as a NICU dad, his clutch advice for other NICU dads (big or small families) and his honest reaction when his wife said she wanted to have another baby after their 44-day NICU stay.   💚 Connect with Kathryn Whitaker Instagram   |  Facebook   |  Web...

There are so many resources for NICU moms, but what about the dads, the grandfathers, the uncles and the men of the NICU? This season is all about them - their perspectives, their experiences, how they supported their partners, wives, grandkids and friends. The NICU affects an entire family and it's time to introduce the guys to the group chat. Our guests include dads of quads, NICU cuddlers, rare...

In this episode, pediatrician and creator Dr. Mona Amin (@PedsDocTalk) shares her path into medicine, why patient connection is important to her and how she built a meaningful presence on social media. Dr. Amin opens up about her own emotional NICU journey, sharing what she wishes she had known as a new parent and how that experience transformed the way she supports families today. Together, we ex...

Giving birth trauma a voice. Doula and advocate HeHe Stewart explores the emotional journey of NICU parents and the unseen wounds of traumatic birth experiences in this episode. From redefining advocacy to helping families find healing even in survival mode, HeHe shares powerful insights, personal stories, and practical support for those navigating life after the NICU. Whether you're a parent, par...

Special needs mom, Kelly Mantoan, a mother of five and advocate for families raising children with disabilities, gives some solid advice to parents. Two of her children have spinal muscular atrophy and she candidly shares the challenges, surprises, and moments of grace from her early NICU and diagnosis days, offering wisdom on friendship, confidence, faith, and what she wishes she'd known at the s...

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by a medical bill, this episode is for you. Jules Nowak—NICU parent and founder of The Medical Bill Academy—talks about the often-overlooked financial side of a NICU stay. From surprise bills to navigating insurance denials, Jules shares her personal journey through a 73-day NICU experience and the lessons that inspired her to help other families protect their finan...

In this deeply moving episode, Amber Smith, wife to Granger Smith, shares her journey through unimaginable loss after the passing of her son River and how she found light in the midst of profound grief. We talk about honoring River's memory, navigating marriage and parenting through sorrow, and what healing really looks like—beyond clichés and expectations. Amber's honesty offers comfort, perspect...

NICU nurse and content creator Tori Meskin (aka Nurse Tori) sheds light on the unique role of NICU nurses and what families should really know during their baby's NICU journey. We talk about building trust in high-stress moments, common parent fears, and how nurses support both tiny patients and their loved ones through it all. Whether you're a current NICU parent or just want to understand more,...

Twin and special needs mom Missy Haughery shares her journey of raising twins—one with Down syndrome—and the lessons she wishes she'd known from the start. She is as candid about the struggles, in parenthood and marriage, as she is about the lessons and the joy. It all helped shape the family she loves. If you've ever gotten a diagnosis that feels overwhelming, you'll be empowered by Missy's story...

The NICU and the military share common feelings of isolation, mental health challenges like  PTSD, and dependence upon friends and co-workers for support. In this week's episode, NICU military mom Taneisha Stamps shares her experience of being in the NICU with her son while their family was on a military base, far from home and family. She tenderly shares her struggles, how they faced them and whe...

Professional photo organizer Miss Freddy addresses the emotional and logistical challenges of capturing and storing photos during a NICU stay. In this episode, we discuss what we wish we had known earlier—from organizing photos of hard days, how albums can minimize the trauma and magnify the good days so it feels manageable, not overwhelming. Miss Freddy shares how photos can be both a healing too...

Season 10 is here! What I Wish I Knew dives deep into the wisdom and hard-won life lessons parents and experts learned and now want to pass along to you. Our guest lineup includes a diverse group including a NICU nurse, pediatrician, special needs mom, bereaved mom, billing expert, birth trauma expert, twin mom, military NICU mom, and a professional photo organizer. Each episode highlights practic...

As NICU parents, we're all healing from a trauma. So when today's guest, Savannah O'Malley, sought her own healing she found it in a beautiful place, her art. And that healing didn't just benefit her own stories but the stories of thousands more NICU families. Listen in as Savannah shared how her gift is helping other families feel seen, and loved.   💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker: Ins...

In this episode, we sit down with Candace Blair Cronin, Ph. D.—a full-time working mom of four and a passionate advocate for children in the foster care system. From fostering and adopting to mentoring families and serving as a CASA, Candace shares her deeply personal journey and the many ways she's working to support vulnerable children and the families who care for them.   💚 Connect with the ho...

Identical quadruplets. You read that right. The girls, born to Jonathan and Mercedes Sandhu, joined two other siblings, making six kids under the age of three. In this episode, they share about that first ultrasound appointment, how they prepared for the impossible, and what daily life looks like in a home where four babies are the same age—and somehow still have completely different personalities...