#357 -🚶‍➡️[Life Course Series] - What Can Parents Teach Us About Life in and After the NICU?

In this moving episode, Dr. Ben Courchia and Dr. Daphna Barbeau are joined by LaToshia Rouse, a certified doula and patient engagement consultant, and Dr. Jessica DiBari from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Together, they share insights from their two Parent Perspective articles in the special issue of Children, which focus on the NICU experience and the critical transition to home.

LaToshia and Jessica describe the NICU as a culture all its own—one that parents enter suddenly, without preparation, and often with a sense of trauma and grief. They discuss the psychological distress families carry, the challenges of bonding with fragile infants, and the ways communication can either deepen wounds or help parents feel empowered. Practical steps like hand hugs, skin-to-skin care, and peer support emerge as powerful tools for connection.

The conversation then shifts to life after discharge, which both guests describe as one of the most daunting transitions. From feeding challenges and equipment management to the constant worry about emergencies, families must adapt quickly while navigating limited community support. LaToshia and Jessica emphasize the need for honest preparation, early planning, and continued guidance that helps parents shed the “fragile baby” mindset and embrace their child’s resilience.

This episode highlights how listening to families transforms not only the NICU experience but also the long journey that follows.