NICU Alumni

NICU Alumni

After the trauma of the NICU, youโ€™re finally home! Now what? Weโ€™re here to support you navigating life after the NICU.

Photos from NICU Alumni's post 09/11/2024

๐Ÿ“ข Join Our Next NICU Alumni Parent Support Group!

Weโ€™re excited to welcome Javier Jimenez, a licensed occupational therapist and certified infant massage instructor, as our special guest at our upcoming parent support group. ๐Ÿ’™

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Date: Sunday, Nov 17
๐Ÿ•’ Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
๐Ÿ“ Location: NEW LOCATION! Parents Club, 5701 Sunset Dr, Suite 180 (Sunset Place), South Miami, FL 33143

Javier will share his expertise in occupational therapy and infant massage, including tips on incorporating these practices and the benefits they can bring, especially for those who have had a NICU stay or recent diagnosis. Heโ€™ll be speaking for about 15-20 minutes, followed by an open sharing and discussion time where parents can ask questions and connect with one another.

Letโ€™s come together, share insights, and support each other through this unique journey. โœจ

RSVP today to secure your spot!

Tag a fellow NICU parent who would love to join us! ๐Ÿ’š

07/11/2024

๐Ÿ“ข Meet Our New Board Member: Sarah
Weโ€™re excited to introduce Sarah, our new Board Member! With 19 years of NICU nursing experience and a passion for family-centered care, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge to our team. Sheโ€™s dedicated to making sure every family feels supported beyond the NICU. You might remember her from Episode #10 of the NICU Alumni Podcast. ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ

Welcome, Sarah! We're so thrilled to have you on our team. Let's give Sarah some love in the comments. ๐ŸŽ‰

Photos from NICU Alumni's post 04/11/2024

๐Ÿ’ผ Industry Event Update: Iโ€™m grateful that NICU Alumni had the opportunity to join and connect with so many incredible organizations last month in Nashville. Hats off to for hosting such an impactful event! It was inspiring to be in the room, share insights, and explore how we can collectively support families together.

31/10/2024

๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Podcast Anniversary Post โ€“ Two Years of Impact! ๐ŸŽง We're celebrating two incredible years of the NICU Alumni Podcast! Thank you to our amazing listeners and guests for sharing your stories and making this journey so impactful.

Hereโ€™s to more conversations that inspire, support, and empower families after the NICU!

What episodes have stood out to you? What topics should we cover in year three!?

Photos from NICU Alumni's post 11/10/2024

๐ŸŒŸ Join Our Next NICU Alumni Parent Support Group! ๐ŸŒŸ

Weโ€™re thrilled to have special guests Karen & Sam, co-owners of Kids L.A.B Therapy (), at our upcoming group! ๐Ÿ’™

Karen (Bilingual Occupational Therapist) and Sam (Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist) will share their expert advice for families navigating life after the NICU or a recent diagnosis. Theyโ€™ll provide helpful recommendations, share practical tips, and more!

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Date: Sunday, October 20th
๐Ÿ•’ Time: 10:00 AM to 11:30 PM
๐Ÿ“ Location: Gymboree Play & Music at The Shops at Merrick Park

This is a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and get personalized insights from experienced professionals so come prepared with your questions! ๐Ÿ’ฌ

RSVP today to secure your spot! Childcare available! [Link in Bio]
Tag a fellow NICU parent who would love to join! ๐Ÿ’š

08/10/2024

๐ŸŒŸ New Podcast Episode! ๐ŸŒŸ

Join us as we chat with licensed mental health counselor Vanessa de la Llama (VDL Therapy Services, LLC.) about the challenges of navigating insurance and healthcare for NICU graduates. We explore the importance of proactive planning, mental health support for parents, and finding the right specialists for ongoing care.

Vanessa shares insights on understanding insurance coverage, utilizing early intervention services, and communicating effectively with providers. As an added bonus, don't miss her helpful tools on understanding anxiety, depression, and mindfulnessโ€”available in the show notes and episode post on our website.

Photos from NICU Alumni's post 20/09/2024

At NICU Alumni, weโ€™re here to walk with you through life after the NICU. Whether itโ€™s navigating medical appointments, celebrating milestones, or finding a community that truly gets it, you are not alone on this journey.

17/09/2024

๐ŸŒŸ New Podcast Episode! ๐ŸŒŸ

Weโ€™re thrilled to welcome Nicole Nyberg, a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, micropreemie mom, and founder of . In this episode, Nicole shares her powerful NICU journey as both a clinician and mother of a 23-weeker. She opens up about the challenges she faced during her sonโ€™s NICU stay, the importance of parental involvement, and the ongoing mental health struggles many NICU parents experience post-discharge.

๐ŸŽง Tune in to hear how Nicoleโ€™s experience has shaped her mission to empower NICU families and provide the support they need for their babyโ€™s long-term well-being. Plus, get insights into her work with and the tools that help parents stay connected in the NICU.

Listen now for invaluable advice and encouragement for all NICU parents! ๐Ÿ’›

16/09/2024

๐ŸŒŸ Join Our NICU Alumni Parent Support Group! ๐ŸŒŸ

As NICU parents, we know the journey doesn't end after leaving the hospital. Thatโ€™s why we meet one Sunday a month in partnership with Southernmost Coast Early Steps and Gymboree Play & Music! ๐Ÿ’™

Come to connect and to access valuable resources.

๐Ÿ“… RSVP required to secure your spot (link in bio). Light refreshments & childcare are provided! Feel free to bring fellow NICU parents who would benefit from this supportive community. ๐Ÿค—

11/09/2024

๐ŸŒŸ Weโ€™re Back After Summer Break! ๐ŸŒŸ

NICU Alumni Parents, weโ€™re so excited to kick off our next Parent Support Group with an incredible guest expert, Lisa Math from the Family Network on Disabilities (FND)! ๐Ÿ’™โœจ

Lisa works with , an amazing organization that offers mutual support and shares invaluable resources for families with children ages 0-21. If you're looking for guidance and insight on navigating the world of available resources, this is the perfect session for you!

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Date: Sunday, Sep 22nd, 2024
๐Ÿ•’ Time: 10:00AM to 11:30AM

Letโ€™s come together for an encouraging session of connection and learning. Whether your NICU journey was recent or years ago, youโ€™re always welcome. ๐Ÿ’š

RSVP today to reserve your spot and join us as we grow together as a community! [Link in Bio]

Tag a fellow NICU parent who would love to attend! ๐Ÿ“ฃ

06/08/2024

๐ŸŒŸ New Episode Alert! ๐ŸŒŸ

Join us as Cristal Grogan shares her powerful journey about navigating her son's NICU stay overseas in Spain. She talks about overcoming language barriers, navigating socialized medicine, and advocating for family-centered care.

In this conversation, Cristal emphasizes the importance of parent advocacy and education, and highlights the need for support and resources for families, especially those with children facing complex medical and mental health challenges.

Quick Takeaways:
- Parent advocacy and education are essential in the NICU and beyond.
- Encouragement for parents to trust their instincts and challenge healthcare professionals when necessary.

Cristal's experience has led her to work with NICU Parent Network, National Perinatal Association, and Prolacta Bioscience, where she continues to advocate for NICU parents and children with special needs.

Don't miss this episode and stay connected with us for more insightful interviews!

04/06/2024

๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿ’ป We're thrilled to announce the launch of our refreshed website!

A big shoutout to for the expertise and attention to detail in creating our inviting and user-friendly new website. Special thanks also to for capturing stunning photos for our site.

Take a moment to explore our new website! Dive into the NICU Alumni Resource Library, where we continuously add articles, podcast updates, and resources to help you access the information you need. You'll find it's designed for easy navigation and packed with valuable insights. It's the perfect starting point for your journey supporting your NICU grad.

Link in bio!

30/05/2024

๐ŸŒŸ Loved when Dr. Sarik shared this encouragement on our latest podcast episode. Listen now for valuable discussions on supporting NICU families post-discharge. ๐ŸŽง

28/05/2024

๐ŸŽ™๏ธ New Podcast Episode! In our latest episode you'll hear from Dr. Danielle A. Sarik and Nurse Manager Flor Tena as they share insights on supporting NICU families post-discharge. They discuss the Baby Steps transition of care model, and talk about how offering virtual support within the first two weeks of discharge is empowering families at their hospital.

๐Ÿ‘ถ The Baby Steps program provides vital support after the NICU journey, easing the transition home and providing tools for navigating the challenges and concerns that can arise from caring for a new baby.

Subscribe to our podcast for more valuable resources like this! ๐ŸŽง

09/05/2024

Celebrating milestones, no matter how small, is important for parents and can help them recognize their child's progress and growth. Rita shared this sentiment on our most recent podcast episode, and it resonated deeply. How do you celebrate your 's milestones?

07/05/2024

๐ŸŽ™ New Episode! ๐ŸŒŸ Join us as Andrea and Rita open up about their NICU experiences, sharing invaluable insights on navigating the journey and finding strength in the support of fellow NICU families.

In this heart-to-heart conversation, Rita sheds light on her work supporting NICU families through the NICU Family Advisory Council and the March of Dimes. Discover how Rita's journey has inspired her to advocate for policy change within hospital systems, and learn about the restorative gift of building relationships with fellow council members.

Let's continue the conversation! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website at www.nicualumni.org for more meaningful stories and valuable resources. ๐ŸŒŸ

01/05/2024

JOIN US on Saturday May 4th for our FREE Family Meet-Up. It will be a fun park day with face painting other activities. Stop by for a bit or stay the whole time! See you then. Register at the link in our profile.

Videos (show all)

๐ŸŒŸ New Podcast Episode! ๐ŸŒŸJoin us as we chat with licensed mental health counselor Vanessa de la Llama (VDL Therapy Servic...
๐ŸŒŸ New Podcast Episode! ๐ŸŒŸWeโ€™re thrilled to welcome Nicole Nyberg, a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, micropreemie mom, and fo...
๐ŸŒŸ New Episode Alert! ๐ŸŒŸJoin us as Cristal Grogan shares her powerful journey about navigating her son's NICU stay oversea...
๐ŸŽ™๏ธ New Podcast Episode! In our latest episode you'll hear from Dr. Danielle A. Sarik and Nurse Manager Flor Tena as they...
๐ŸŽ™ New Episode! ๐ŸŒŸ Join us as Andrea and Rita open up about their NICU experiences, sharing invaluable insights on navigat...
๐ŸŒŸ New Episode!  Joining us this week is Darla Vazquez who shares her heartfelt journey as a NICU parent and talks about ...
๐ŸŽ™๏ธโœจ New Episode Alert! โœจ๐ŸŽงWe had an incredible conversation with Ashley and Martha from Dear NICU Mama! They briefly shar...
๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Tune in to our latest podcast episode featuring Bricen + Ila a dedicated mom and daughter who share how their journey...
Keira Interview
๐ŸŽ™๏ธโœจDive into our next episode featuring Dr. Marta Grisel Galarza, a Board Certified Lactation Specialist and Neonatologi...
The journey doesn't end at discharge. NICU Alumni provides essential resources for your family to thrive after the NICU....
๐Ÿฉต ๐Ÿ’œ This Give Miami Day, let's shine a light on the journey of NICU graduates. More than half of very preterm infants ne...