Empowering NICU Parents Podcast Life Beyond HIE: A Mother’s Journey of Growth and Giving Back

For our 29th Podcast episode and to close out HIE Awareness month, I sat down with Brigid Janousek. She bravely shares the story of her son William’s traumatic delivery and his subsequent treatment with therapeutic hypothermia due to his diagnosis of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy or HIE.

Infants with HIE have experienced a lack of oxygen to the brain either prior to birth, during the birth process, after birth, or during childhood. Infants with suspected HIE are treated in the NICU with therapeutic hypothermia or cooling that needs to be initiated within the first 6 hours of life. The cooling therapy reduces the rate of brain cell death and the risk of reperfusion injury which commonly occurs due to the release of toxins from the injured brain cells. The cooling process occurs for 72 hours post-delivery and has been shown to minimize the extent of death and disability in children.

Brigid shares a more in depth look into William’s time in the NICU, and how they first learned about his diagnosis. She explains why they felt like they were outcasts in the NICU due to William being a term infant. Brigid shares the struggles they endured once they were discharged home and how she unknowingly was suffering from postpartum depression, perinatal mood disorder, and PTSD. We discuss ways it was helpful for her to work through her trauma and why she is so passionate about bringing awareness to the misconception that all NICU babies are preterm as well as the importance of focusing on maternal mental health.

We thank Brigid for sharing her family’s very personal story. It is our goal to help bring awareness to HIE and to help break down some of the barriers and social disparities that exist with HIE infants and full-term NICU babies and strive for inclusive NICU messaging.

Stay tuned, you will not want to miss their story…

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Empowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode29/

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Empowering NICU Parents Podcast

A podcast specifically meant to educate and empower NICU parents as they endure their baby’s NICU journey. We provide you with tangible tips and support from my unique perspective as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) and a proud preemie Mama! Along with sharing answers to the NICU medical questions you have, Nicole will address and support you through the incredibly difficult emotional struggles that only a NICU parent can understand. Tune in and subscribe today!

To start 2024 out, our first episode focuses on marijuana use, its impact on pregnancy, the growing fetus and the child’s future development, as well as the implications of its use during breastfeeding.

Who would have thought that in 2024, we would be living in a time where marijuana use is so prominent and that it would be legal in 24 states as of January of 2024?!?

But, nonetheless, here we are! Because marijuana has been legalized in so many states, there are now false evolving perceptions on its general safety as well as its implications on the developing fetus and infant who are exposed to it either in utero or through breastmilk. In general, the perception of harm from marijuana is decreasing while the potency of marijuana is scarily increasing. Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug during pregnancy in the United States. And, its use in gaining speed amongst all adult age groups, in both sexes, and in pregnant women.

For our 56th episode, I reviewed the most up-to-date literature and will share the findings from several studies that reveal both short and long-term negative effects on the pregnant mother and developing fetus if used during pregnancy, and its future implications on the growing infant, child, and their transition into the teenage years, and as an adult after prenatal exposure. I will also point out the general concentration of marijuana in breast milk if used by a nursing mother, as well as how long it stays in the breast milk, and how it may impact the exposed infant.

This episode is packed full of useful information and will be ideal for any healthcare worker or for family members and friends who care about a pregnant woman or nursing mother who is currently using marijuana and want to ensure that she is fully educated on the implications of its use on her growing fetus or infant. And last, but actually, the most important, I encourage ALL women who are either considering becoming pregnant or who are currently pregnant and use marijuana on a regular basis, to listen.

Although marijuana use is so prevelant, it is so crucial that we fully understand its potential impact on the fetus and the child’s future development if used during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
You will not want to miss this one!

Dr. Brown’s Medical: https://www.drbrownsmedical.com

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Empowering NICU Parents Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/shownotes/

Episode 56 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode56

Empowering NICU Parents Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringnicuparents/

Empowering NICU Parents FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringnicuparents

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