Empowering NICU Parents' Podcast

Nicole E Nyberg
  • 5.0 (18)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

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

  1. JAN 30

    From NICU Experience to Nonprofit Mission: A Family’s Journey to Today Is a Good Day

    An unexpected delivery at 23 weeks turned Martha Sharkey into a NICU parent overnight when her identical twin daughters were born far too soon. What followed was a journey through extreme prematurity, devastating loss, and the long road of uncertainty that reshaped her family forever. In this deeply moving episode, Martha shares key takeaways from their NICU journey and from building Today Is a Good Day, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting NICU families. This conversation reflects on twins, grief, resilience, and how lived experience can grow into a mission to ensure not one single NICU parent walks alone. Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com   The Infant-Driven Feeding™ (IDF) Program: https://www.infantdrivenfeeding.com/ Solly Baby: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shop/ Our NICU Roadmap: A Comprehensive NICU Journal: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicujournal/   NICU Mama Hats: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/hats/   NICU Milestone Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicuproducts/   Newborn Holiday Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shop/   Empowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shownotes/   Episode 78 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode78   Empowering NICU Parents Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringnicuparents/   Empowering NICU Parents FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringnicuparents   Pinterest Page: https://pin.it/36MJjmH Thank you for listening to the Empowering NICU Parents Podcast. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review—it helps other families find us. We’re grateful to be part of this incredible community. Visit www.empoweringnicuparents.com for resources and support.

    55 min

  2. 11/18/2025

    The Lifelong Journey and Impact of Premature Birth: What Families Should Know

    Premature infants are incredibly resilient—but their journey can involve long-term health, developmental, and behavioral challenges that many parents aren’t told about. This episode explores these realities in depth, from respiratory and neurological risks to sensory and emotional impacts, along with the lasting effects the NICU can have on families. It’s a compassionate, empowering look at what life after the NICU truly means. Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com   The Infant-Driven Feeding™ (IDF) Program: https://www.infantdrivenfeeding.com/   Our NICU Roadmap: A Comprehensive NICU Journal: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicujournal/   NICU Mama Hats: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/hats/   NICU Milestone Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicuproducts/   Newborn Holiday Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shop/   Empowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shownotes/   Episode 77 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode77   Empowering NICU Parents Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringnicuparents/   Empowering NICU Parents FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringnicuparents   Pinterest Page: https://pin.it/36MJjmH Thank you for listening to the Empowering NICU Parents Podcast. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review—it helps other families find us. We’re grateful to be part of this incredible community. Visit www.empoweringnicuparents.com for resources and support.

    47 min

  3. 10/10/2025

    Wave of Light: Finding Light After Loss

    October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month — a time to remember and honor the babies gone too soon and the families who carry their memory every day. The loss of a child changes everything — the world feels darker, and healing can feel impossible. But with time, love, and support, light begins to return. In this moving episode, Nicole sits down with her dear friend and fellow Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Jamie Summers, whose journey through the loss of her daughter, Peyton, led her to help lift up other parents who have endured loss or are grieving — bringing light back into their eyes through her beautiful Wave of Light tribute. What began as a simple act of remembrance for Peyton has blossomed into a radiant event that now honors more than 2,000 babies each year on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. Together, Nicole and Jamie talk about the power of community, the beauty of hearing your baby’s name spoken aloud, and the ways we can all bring light to those walking through grief. Whether you’ve experienced loss yourself or want to better understand how to support others, this episode will touch your heart and remind you that love continues — even after loss. Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com   The Infant-Driven Feeding™ (IDF) Program: https://www.infantdrivenfeeding.com/   Our NICU Roadmap: A Comprehensive NICU Journal: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicujournal/   NICU Mama Hats: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/hats/   NICU Milestone Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicuproducts/   Newborn Holiday Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shop/    mpowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shownotes/   Episode 76 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode76   Empowering NICU Parents Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringnicuparents/   Empowering NICU Parents FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringnicuparents   Pinterest Page: https://pin.it/36MJjmH Thank you for listening to the Empowering NICU Parents Podcast. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review—it helps other families find us. We’re grateful to be part of this incredible community. Visit www.empoweringnicuparents.com for resources and support.

    37 min

  4. 09/30/2025

    Culture, Belief, and a Committed Team: The University of Iowa NICU Redefines What’s Possible

    Born at 21 0/7 weeks’ gestation, Nash Keen is recognized as the youngest infant ever to survive. In this powerful follow-up to Episode 74, where his mother, Mollie, shared their family’s journey, listeners now hear from two of the neonatologists who cared for Nash at the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital—Dr. Patrick McNamara and Dr. Amy Stanford. The conversation explores what first inspired them to pursue neonatology, how the culture and belief within the walls of the NICU at the University of Iowa shape outcomes, and why their “small baby” program has become a model of consistency, teamwork, and hope. They reflect on the challenges Nash faced in his earliest days, the role of hemodynamics in guiding his care, and the profound meaning of seeing babies like Nash go home after months of critical illness. This episode is a tribute not only to Nash and his courageous family but also to the dedicated NICU teams whose relentless commitment continues to redefine what’s possible for the tiniest and most fragile infants. Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com   The Infant-Driven Feeding™ (IDF) Program: https://www.infantdrivenfeeding.com/   Our NICU Roadmap: A Comprehensive NICU Journal: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicujournal/   NICU Mama Hats: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/hats/   NICU Milestone Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicuproducts/   Newborn Holiday Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shop/   Empowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shownotes/   Episode 75 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode75   Empowering NICU Parents Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringnicuparents/   Empowering NICU Parents FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringnicuparents   Pinterest Page: https://pin.it/36MJjmH

    50 min

  5. 09/18/2025

    Hope Against All Odds: Nash Keen’s Journey as the Most Premature Infant to Survive

    Born at just 21 0/7 weeks and weighing only 285 grams, Nash Keen entered the world with odds that were essentially nonexistent. Yet from his very first breath, he showed a will to live that defied every expectation. Refusing to give up on their son, Mollie Keen and her husband, Randall, made a life-changing decision to transfer to University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital—where an extraordinary team, rooted in a steadfast belief and culture of giving infants at his gestation a chance at life, stood ready to fight alongside them. What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Against relentless setbacks, fragile moments, and months of intensive care, Nash’s determination only grew stronger. Mollie watched in awe as her tiny son—born smaller than a can of soda—met every challenge with quiet, unwavering strength. Today, Nash has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the most premature baby to survive. In this special episode for NICU Awareness Month, Nicole Nyberg sits down with Mollie as she shares their family’s extraordinary journey—the heartbreak that came before, the terrifying and traumatic moments in the NICU, the small but mighty victories, and the resilience that continues to inspire everyone who meets him. This is more than a story about survival—it’s a powerful testament to hope, love, and the belief that even the smallest beginnings can rise into something extraordinary. Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com   The Infant-Driven Feeding™ (IDF) Program: https://www.infantdrivenfeeding.com/   Our NICU Roadmap: A Comprehensive NICU Journal: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicujournal/   NICU Mama Hats: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/hats/   NICU Milestone Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicuproducts/   Newborn Holiday Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shop/   Empowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shownotes/   Episode 74 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode74   Empowering NICU Parents Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringnicuparents/   Empowering NICU Parents FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringnicuparents   Pinterest Page: https://pin.it/36MJjmH

    47 min

  6. 08/29/2025

    Feeding with Confidence: Practical Strategies to Support Families in the Hospital and Beyond

    In this episode of Empowering NICU Parents' Podcast, Elisa Doherty and Lisa Kleinz share practical strategies that care teams can use to promote breastfeeding during the “breastfeeding window”—along with ideas any hospital can adopt to better support families, even if they have not implemented  the Infant-Driven Feeding™ (IDF) Program. We then explore the powerful role of the Infant-Driven Feeding™ (IDF) Program in supporting breastfeeding and empowering families in the NICU. We discuss new research that demonstrated how a hospital system that has implemented IDF™ not only improved breastfeeding success rates in the NICU, but they also had an increase in sustained breastfeeding rates after discharge. Elisa also reflects on the lessons learned and the rewards of building a successful feeding clinic, offering inspiration for other clinicians who may want to create something similar in their own communities. This episode is filled with practical strategies and heartfelt perspectives from clinicians dedicated to providing a holistic, family-centered approach to infant feeding—making it an essential listen for both NICU parents and clinicians committed to empowering families and improving outcomes. Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com   The Infant-Driven Feeding™ (IDF) Program: https://www.infantdrivenfeeding.com/ Our NICU Roadmap: A Comprehensive NICU Journal: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicujournal/   NICU Mama Hats: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/hats/   NICU Milestone Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicuproducts/   Newborn Holiday Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shop/   Empowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shownotes/   Episode 73 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode73   Empowering NICU Parents Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringnicuparents/   Empowering NICU Parents FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringnicuparents   Pinterest Page: https://pin.it/36MJjmH

    41 min

  7. 08/21/2025

    Bridging Gaps, Building Connections: The Infant Feeding Journey

    In this episode of Empowering NICU Parents, we dive into the critical role of infant feeding with Elisa Doherty and Lisa Kleinz. We explore the importance of truly listening to families about their feeding goals and the challenges of breastfeeding—even with healthy, full-term infants. Hear how Elisa’s innovative work led to the creation of a successful Infant Feeding Clinic, bridging the gap between hospital discharge and those first few formative months when families need extra support, guidance, and encouragement. We also discuss how the Infant-Driven Feeding program has evolved to incorporate breastfeeding throughout its content, and you’ll discover practical ways parents can be involved from day one in the NICU—building connection, bonding, and confidence while fostering a family-centered care approach. Whether you’re a clinician seeking to improve feeding practices or a parent navigating the early days at home, this episode is packed with insights, strategies, and inspiration to support meaningful and personalized feeding journeys. Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com   Our NICU Roadmap: A Comprehensive NICU Journal: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicujournal/   NICU Mama Hats: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/hats/   NICU Milestone Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicuproducts/   Newborn Holiday Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shop/   Empowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shownotes/   Episode 72 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode72   Empowering NICU Parents Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringnicuparents/   Empowering NICU Parents FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringnicuparents   Pinterest Page: https://pin.it/36MJjmH

    49 min

  8. 07/10/2025

    The Powerful Impact of Parental Engagement and Proper Nutrition in the NICU with Dr. Elliott

    What if one conversation could completely change how you advocate for your baby in the NICU?   In this episode of the Empowering NICU Parents Podcast, NICU mom and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nicole Nyberg is joined by Dr. Melinda Elliott, neonatologist and Chief Medical Officer at Prolacta Bioscience. Together, they dive deep into the emotional and clinical realities of life in the NICU—highlighting the critical role that parents play in their baby’s care from day one.   You’ll hear powerful insight on why skin-to-skin contact is far more than a comfort measure, how to ask the right questions about your baby’s feeding plan, and why human milk-based fortifiers can be a game changer in preventing serious complications like NEC. And here’s something every NICU parent needs to know: just because something is called a “human milk fortifier” doesn’t mean it’s made from human milk. That’s why it’s essential to ask what your baby is truly being fed—and why it matters. Whether you're a NICU parent navigating the unknown or a clinician committed to improving outcomes, this conversation will leave you feeling informed, supported, and inspired to take action. Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com   Our NICU Roadmap: A Comprehensive NICU Journal: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicujournal/   NICU Mama Hats: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/hats/   NICU Milestone Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicuproducts/   Newborn Holiday Cards: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shop/   Empowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shownotes/   Episode 71 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode71   Empowering NICU Parents Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringnicuparents/   Empowering NICU Parents FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringnicuparents   Pinterest Page: https://pin.it/36MJjmH

    49 min
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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

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

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