Ep. 13 - Preemie Care Guide: With You In the NICU Episode Thirteen

One of the greatest struggles in being the parent of a preterm baby is the worry. Anxiety and overwhelm are common companions of a NICU journey. Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help parents process these feelings, but learning how to bring this techniques into a hospital setting can be tricky. In this episode of With You in the NICU, social worker and founder of Postpartum Support Toronto, Olivia Scobie, walks us through the differences between some of these approaches and shares a short meditation with us. With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Natus and support from Chronically Simple. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.  

During a premature birth and NICU stay, parents are often operating on auto-pilot, just trying to survive each day. It’s hard to make space to fully grasp the emotions and reactions we are experiencing. In this episode, counsellor Mary Bell offers some insight and advice. She is an author, a proponent of acceptance and commitment therapy, and is part of the mindfulness team in adolescent medicine at Sick Kids in Toronto. With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Natus and support from Chronically Simple. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.  

Sometimes, a parent’s journey through premature birth leads to unexpected places. This has been the case for Kate Robson, mother of two preemie daughters. As her children grew older, Kate took on roles with the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, as a family support specialist for other NICU parents, and is now pursuing a career in psychotherapy. Her combination of educational training, work involvement, and personal experience give her a unique perspective that she shares with parents trying to find their footing during a NICU stay. With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Natus and support from Chronically Simple. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.  

Welcoming a child into your family is an experience filled with unpredictable twists and turns. Parents who are faced with premature birth and NICU stays know this all too well. Finding a path through the emotional turmoil can be tricky, but it can be done. Dr. Mara Tesler Stein is a clinical psychologist and author who specialises in perinatal trauma and mental health, and the guest expert for this episode of With You in the NICU. With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Natus and support from Chronically Simple. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.  

Technology is playing an ever-increasing role in our daily lives, including the lives of infant patients in neonatal intensive care units and their parents. Units around the world are introducing webcam technology - NICView cameras - that allows parents to see their children at any time. One such unit is the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, where Dr. Jennifer Toye works. Dr. Toye is a neonatologist, as well as a board member of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation. On this episode of With You in the NICU, she shares her thoughts on how the technology works in her unit and how it impacts both families and healthcare providers.With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Medela and support from AbbVie and Prolacta. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.

Navigating the world of health care often feels overwhelming, especially when you feel that the staff don’t understand your concerns and worries. Sue Robins is trying to change that by reminding us all about the power in sharing our own stories. She is the author of Bird’s Eye View: Stories of a life lived in health care. She is also a mother who has spent many, many hours interacting with the health care system as both parent, patient, and professional.   With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Medela and support from AbbVie and Prolacta. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.  

There is a growing focus on mental health and well-being, both among healthcare officials and society in general, but we sometimes skip over the simple discussions that help us understand just what terms like anxiety and post-partum depression actually mean and how they might show up in ourselves and our loved ones. Kasia Pytlik is a social worker who helps parents with children in the neonatal intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She offers some insight to the various emotional ups and downs parents experience in the NICU. With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Medela and support from AbbVie and Prolacta. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.

While it's true that children don't really come with a manual, two Canadian nurses have made sure that preemie parents have a book to guide them along the beginning of their journey. Karen Lasby and Tammy Sherrow published Preemie Care: A Guide to Navigating the First Year with Your Premature Baby in early 2019. The book is a mix of first-person stories and facts to help families navigate the first few months of a premature baby’s life. With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Medela and support from AbbVie and Prolacta. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.

  The importance of breastmilk is not difficult to understand – but finding the determination to work through the challenges of producing it can be a heavy burden for many mothers. Preemie moms often face additional hurdles, waiting for baby to be able to latch or even consume much milk. Doris Sawatzky-Dickson spent more than 30 years as a clinical nurse specialist, NICU educator, and lactation consultant before transitioning into healthcare consulting. She shares her best tips and advise for pumping mothers in this episode.   With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Medela and support from AbbVie and Prolacta. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.    

Making space for yourself might be the biggest parenting challenge of all – but the benefits are worth the investment. NICU parents in particular can struggle with guilty feelings associated with taking time for themselves, but mother and writer Jennifer Robson makes a compelling argument as to why it’s critically important to tap into your own creativity and interests during stressful times.   With You in the NICU is a podcast for those that care for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. The discussions are geared toward parents of preemies, but will resonate with anyone spending time beside a NICU isolette. With You in the NICU is a project of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, with funding from presenting sponsor Medela and support from AbbVie and Prolacta. The podcast's host and producer is Jenna Morton; technical producer is Tosh Taylor.