38 | Empowering NICU Parents with Nicole Nyberg a NICU NP and NICU Mom

Podcast
Written By Andrea Hickson

EPISODE 38

 
 

Nicole Nyberg is the proud mother of a former 23-weeker and a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. With her unique perspective as both a clinical expert and a micropreemie mom, she’s dedicated to sharing her knowledge and experience.

Nicole is the Founder and CEO of Empowering NICU Parents, providing education, support, and empowerment for parents and clinicians, focusing on how parental involvement in the NICU positively impacts an infant's long-term development. She's also a podcast host and author of Our NICU Roadmap, a daily NICU journal that guides and empowers parents through their NICU journey.

In this episode, Nicole shares her personal NICU experience and the emotional challenges of her high-risk pregnancy. She highlights the critical role of parental involvement in the NICU and the mental health challenges parents face, even after discharge. Nicole also talks about her role at Angel Eye Health, a company enhancing family engagement in the NICU through technology, and provides insights on her work supporting their NICU2home program, the importance of self-care, and seeking mental health support.

Quick Notes from the Episode:

  • Parental involvement in the NICU significantly impacts both the infant’s and family’s long-term trajectory.

  • NICU parents often face ongoing mental health challenges post-discharge, making support and understanding vital.

  • Self-care is essential for NICU parents to manage emotional stress and maintain well-being.

  • Experience in the NICU, even as a professional, doesn't lessen the emotional toll or trauma for parents.

  • Seeking mental health support and building a community of other NICU parents can offer valuable empathy and understanding.

  • Showing yourself grace during the transition from the NICU to home is crucial for both emotional recovery and family well-being.

You can reach out to Nicole through instagram @empoweringnicuparents.

SPECIAL THANKS:

A special thanks to the Prolacta Bioscience Foundation for supporting the NICU Alumni podcast!

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH:

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You can also support our mission and help create brighter futures for babies that have graduated from the NICU (who we affectionately refer to as NICU Alumni) and their families by donating here.

The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.

Andrea Hickson
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37 | Family-Centered Care in the NICU and Beyond with Cristal Grogan