Blog
The 2024 Gravens Conference On The Environment Of Care For High Risk Newborns
I’m very glad that I was able to attend and present at the 2024 Gravens Conference On The Environmental Care For High Risk Newborns, in Clearwater Beach, Florida. My presentation was called “How to foster meaningful connections with families, and why it matters: Lessons from my life-threatening pregnancy and premature birth journey”- and it was offered both in-person and on Zoom for those who chose the remote option for the conference.
It’s more than just a bond: nurses and parents are great hospital business
A newborn’s admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can be both stress inducing and frightening for a parent or caregiver. With nursing being a constant calming presence, a trusting bond between the parents and nurses often becomes the lifeline to survive the NICU journey. This bond impacts not only the baby and family, but also promotes the institution’s reputation within the community.
Duke Margolis & FDA Webinar: Advancing Drug Development for the Prevention of Spontaneous Preterm Birth
In the United States, spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is the leading cause of infant mortality, with 1 in 10 babies being born preterm. Despite the significant impact and medical need, there are currently no US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatments for the prevention of sPTB. Duke-Margolis, under a cooperative agreement with the FDA, hosted a public virtual workshop on Advancing Drug Development for the Prevention of Spontaneous Preterm Birth, and I was honored to be a part of it.
Preemie Chats: Canadian Premature Babies Foundation
On this episode of Preemie Chats, Jennifer Degl will share what it’s like, as a NICU parent, to suffer through pregnancy and birth related trauma before a baby’s birth, and how that impacts relationships, emotions, decision making in the NICU and beyond. She also will recognize and validate many of the emotions felt by NICU parents, as they watch from the sidelines while others care for their baby, and list strategies to help parents process what has happened and begin to move past their NICU experience and maybe even give back to their hospital or peer groups.
NICU Parent Network Leadership Summit 2023
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the 2024 NICU Parent Network Leadership Summit. This summit is particularly meaningful to me, as I am a member of their Board of Directors. But honestly, the most special part about going to this summit each year is the feeling that I am coming home. The NICU Parent Network is the premier US-based professional organization of NICU parent leaders who collectively represent the needs and best interests of NICU families.
NICU Alumni Podcast
I was honored to be a guest on the NICU Alumni Podcast series, and it was just in time so that I could share it during Prematurity Awareness Month!
A Walk in My Shoes: My presentation at ECU’s 15th Annual Kopelman Lecture
I was honored to travel to Eastern Carolina University to speak at the 15th Annual Arthur Kopelman Lecture. It’s so impressive that they wanted a NICU parent to address their neonatologists and NICU nurses. They value the NICU parent perspective.
I had the honor of presenting at the 38th Annual NANN Conference in Las Vegas
I had the honor of presenting at the 38th Annual NANN Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada that took place in September of 2022. As a NICU Parent Professional and founder of Speaking for Moms & Babies, this was something I will cherish always.
NICU Awareness Month
September is NICU Awareness Month and September 30th is NICU Awareness Day. This month also hosts a few other important recognition weeks. Neonatal Nurses Week was the week of September 11th and Neonatal Therapists Week was the week of September 18th.
The 2022 iCAN Summit
Last month I participated in the International Children’s Advocacy Network (iCAN) Summit in Lyon, France. iCAN is a worldwide consortium of children’s advisory groups that work in unison around the world to provide a voice for children and families in medicine, research, and innovation.
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