The Incubator

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In this special anniversary edition of the Journal Club, Ben and Daphna celebrate four years of The Incubator Podcast while diving into a compelling lineup of neonatal studies. The episode kicks off with a review of a phase 2 multicenter trial on the safety of furosemide in preterm infants at risk for BPD. Despite widespread Lasix use in NICUs, data on dosing and safety have been lacking—this study finds no significant increase in serious adverse events but emphasizes the need for larger trials to better define its role. The team then explores a st...

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Furosemide Safety in Preterm Infants at Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Greenberg RG, Lang J, Smith PB, Shekhawat P, Courtney SE, Hudak ML, Moya F, Iyengar A, Eldemerdash A, Bloom B, Go M, Hanna M, Rhein L, Aliaga S, Lewis T, Febre A, Kiefer AS, Bhatt-Mehta V, Khoury JA, Selewski D, Anand R, Martz K, Payne EH, Zimmerman KO, Benjamin DK Jr, Laughon M; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act – Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee.J Pediatr. 2025 Apr 28:114629. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114629. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40306549

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Seven-day versus 14-day antibiotic course for culture-proven neonatal sepsis: a multicentre randomised non-inferiority trial in a low and middle-income country.

Dutta S, Nangia S, Jajoo M, Sundaram M, Kumar M, Shivanna N, Gathwala G, Nesargi S, Jain S, Kumar P, Saili A, Karthik A, Tripathi S, Bandiya P, Dalal P, Ray P, Randhawa VS, Saigal K, Radhakrishnan D, Venkatesh V, Jagannatha B, Sharma M, Nagaraj S, Malik M, Dogra S, Mittal S, Saini A, Makkar N, Dhir M, Chandramohan A, Pragati RA, Srivastava T, Mukundan L, Benakappa N, Shukla A, Rasaily...

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Effect of kangaroo mother care in low birth weight infants on human milk intake: a randomized controlled trial.

Sinha B, Mazumder S, Thakur A, Devi S, More D, Ashorn P, Sommerfelt H, Kurpad A, Bhandari N.Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 May;121(5):1109-1116. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.02.006. Epub 2025 Feb 11.PMID: 39947481 Free article. Clinical Trial.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via...

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Intermittent sigh breaths during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in preterm infants: a randomised crossover study.

Hough JL, Jardine L, Hough MJ, Steele M, Greisen G, Heiring C.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Apr 17;110(3):297-302. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-327445.PMID: 39406472 Clinical Trial.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed...

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Interprofessional perspectives on non-invasive respiratory support practices in extremely preterm infants: a Canadian survey.

Martinez TA, Remmer E, Mardakis S, Leone M, Boyer J, Lv S, Beltempo M, Sant'Anna G, Shalish W.J Perinatol. 2025 Apr 12. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02291-4. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40221609

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed...

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Prenatal Cannabis Use and Neonatal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Lo JO, Ayers CK, Yeddala S, Shaw B, Robalino S, Ward R, Kansagara D.JAMA Pediatr. 2025 May 5:e250689. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.0689. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40323610

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the...

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Near-infrared spectroscopy during respiratory support at birth: a systematic review.

Monnelly V, Nakwa F, Josephsen JB, Schmölzer GM, Solevåg AL, Rabi Y, Wyckoff MH, Weiner GM, Liley HG; International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Neonatal Life Support Task Force.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Apr 29:fetalneonatal-2025-328577. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2025-328577. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40306761

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Da...

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Neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 3 years of preterm infants born at 22-31 weeks' gestation.

Kono Y, Kusuda S, Nishida T, Mori R, Toyoshima K, Sasaki H, Yonemoto N, Uchiyama A, Fujimura M; INTACT Study Group.J Perinatol. 2025 Mar 26. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02268-3. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40140596

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The...

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This week on Tech Tuesday, we sit down with Dr. Theodor Uzamere, a graduating neonatology fellow from Texas Children’s Hospital, to explore an inspiring project that brings creativity and compassion to the NICU bedside. Theodor introduces us to the Consult Cards — a thoughtful, low-tech innovation designed to support families navigating the overwhelming world of neonatal intensive care.

Rooted in his love for consults and desire to improve communication during high-stress conversations, Theodor created a deck of color-coded, parent-friendly flashcards that cover essential NICU topics: diseases, respiratory support, nutrition, imag...

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In this inspiring and deeply informative episode of The Incubator Podcast, Dr. Audrey Miller, neonatologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and newly appointed Medical Director of their BPD Service, joins the hosts to unpack the intricacies of chronic lung disease care and her rapid career ascent. Miller outlines the five key principles guiding her team’s nationally recognized approach to BPD: ventilator strategies tailored to BPD physiology, aggressive infection prevention, proactive pulmonary hypertension screening, prioritization of linear growth, and uncompromising developmental care.

She shares the rationale behind “slow lung” ventilation, the importan...

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In this episode of the Incubator, David McCulley and Misty Good talk with Dr. Satyan Lakshminrusimha, a leading figure in neonatology and physician-scientist who discusses his journey from clinician to researcher, the significance of large animal studies in neonatal care, and the impact of research on clinical guidelines. They explore the importance of mentorship, the challenges of conducting neonatology physician-scientist research, and the leadership roles in the field of neonatology. Dr. Lakshminrusimha discusses his journey in neonatology, emphasizing the importance of the mentorship he received, the inspiration he finds in mentoring others, interdisciplinary...

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In this week’s episode of NeoNews, the team takes a deep dive into global fertility trends and the complex forces shaping the future of parenthood. The conversation starts with a discussion on worldwide declines in fertility rates, highlighting the economic pressures and societal shifts that are making the decision to have children more difficult across the globe. The hosts reflect on how financial instability, the high cost of living, and long-term uncertainty are reshaping family planning choices — even in countries with strong social support systems.

The discussion moves into the emer...

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Kelsey Kirkman who is now a third year Neonatology fellow at Texas Children’s Hospital. Kelsey shared with us her primary fellow project on creating a debrief tool for residents following critical events in the NICU. She describes in depth about how she came up with this idea and how she found her mentor to help support and navigate her medical education interest.  We talked about medical education theories and how to perform a thematic analysis. We talk about her challenges in imp...

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Leah and Shakeema Smiley discuss the challenges and triumphs of navigating life with a child in the NICU, particularly focusing on the experience of having a tracheostomy. Shakeema shares her personal journey with her daughter Lori, who was born prematurely and required extensive medical care. The conversation highlights the emotional and practical aspects of caring for a child with special needs, the importance of advocacy, and the power of hope and community support.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You...

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In this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review several impactful studies shaping neonatal care. They begin with a secondary analysis of the ETTNO trial, which examined whether liberal transfusion thresholds reduce intermittent hypoxemia or improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants. Despite prior concerns, the study found no benefit to liberal thresholds, supporting current restrictive practices. A JAMA Network Open study follows, revealing that late preterm infants are least likely to receive mother’s own milk at 12 weeks, underscoring an overlooked group in breastfeeding support efforts. Dr. David Rube joins th...

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Effects of liberal versus restrictive transfusion strategies on intermittent hypoxaemia in extremely low birthweight infants: secondary analyses of the ETTNO randomised controlled trial.

Franz AR, Engel C, Bassler D, Rüdiger M, Thome UH, Maier RF, Krägeloh-Mann I, Essers J, Bührer C, Bittrich HJ, Roll C, Höhn T, Ehrhardt H, Boettger R, Körner HT, Stein A, Neuberger P, Henriksen TB, Greisen G, Poets CF; ETTNO Investigators.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Mar 26:fetalneonatal-2024-327643. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-327643. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40139741

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Lung Recruitment Before Surfactant Administration in Extremely Preterm Neonates: 2-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Gallini F, De Rose DU, Iuliano R, Romeo DM, Tana M, Paladini A, Fusco FP, Nobile S, Cota F, Tirone C, Aurilia C, Lio A, Esposito A, Costa S, D'Andrea V, Ventura ML, Carnielli V, Dani C, Mosca F, Fumagalli M, Scarpelli G, Giordano L, Fasolato V, Petrillo F, Betta P, Solinas A, Gitto E, Gargano G, Mescoli G, Martinelli S, Di Fabio S, Bernardo I, Tina LG, Staffler A, Stasi I, Mondello...

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Mother's Own Milk Provision During the First 12 Weeks of Life by Gestational Age.

Patel AL, Wilson J, Holmes M, Johnson TJ.JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Mar 3;8(3):e250024. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0024.PMID: 40042846 Free PMC article.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked...

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Cord Blood Treatment for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Finch-Edmondson M, Paton MCB, Webb A, Reza Ashrafi M, Blatch-Williams RK, Cox CS Jr, Crompton K, Griffin AR, Kim M, Kosmach S, Kurtzberg J, Nouri M, Ri Suh M, Sun J, Zarrabi M, Novak I.Pediatrics. 2025 Apr 11:e2024068999. doi: 10.1542/peds.2024-068999. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40210215

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram...

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Funisitis increases the risk of death or cerebral palsy in extremely preterm infants.

Jain VG, Parikh NA, Rysavy MA, Shukla VV, Saha S, Hintz S, Jobe A, Carlo WA, Ambalavanan N; Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Neonatal Research Network.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025 

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in t...

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Azithromycin therapy for prevention of chronic lung disease of prematurity (AZTEC): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Lowe J, Gillespie D, Aboklaish A, Lau TMM, Consoli C, Babu M, Goddard M, Hood K, Klein N, Thomas-Jones E, Turner M, Hubbard M, Marchesi J, Berrington J, Kotecha S.Lancet Respir Med. 2024 Aug;12(8):608-618. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(24)00079-1. Epub 2024 Apr 25.PMID: 38679042 Free article. Clinical Trial. 

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through I...

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Advancing neonatal autopsy by strengthening physician belief and fostering effective family communication.

Kratimenos P, Simonti G, Kinney HC.Pediatr Res. 2025 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04031-y. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40164873

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.<...

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In this episode, Dr. Marlon Timothy shares his journey as a neonatologist, discussing his experiences in Trinidad and Tobago and the evolution of neonatal care. He highlights the challenges faced upon returning from training in Toronto, the establishment of neonatal units, and the implementation of therapeutic hypothermia. Dr. Timothy emphasizes the importance of training and collaboration in improving neonatal outcomes and shares insights into the ongoing efforts to enhance maternal and neonatal health in Trinidad and Tobago. In this conversation, Dr. Marlon Timothy discusses various innovative interventions in neonatal care, the importance of...

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In this episode of The Incubator, Ben and Daphna speak with Dr. Scott Duncan, Division Chief at the University of Louisville, about the critical importance of medical billing and coding in neonatology. The discussion explores how accurate documentation and thoughtful use of codes can impact everything from individual reimbursement to hospital funding and staffing. Dr. Duncan explains the key differences between critical care and intensive care coding, highlighting how misunderstanding these definitions can lead to missed opportunities for appropriate billing. The conversation also delves into the complexities of CPT and ICD-10 codes, bundled...

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In this Tech Tuesday episode, Ben and Daphna welcome Xina Quan, co-founder and CEO of PyrAmes, to introduce a groundbreaking neonatal device: the Boppli. Developed from Stanford research, the Boppli is a non-invasive, wearable blood pressure monitor that provides continuous, real-time readings—without the need for cuffs or arterial catheters.

FDA-cleared for babies under five kilograms, the Boppli uses a soft, adhesive-free band that wraps gently around an extremity. Backed by 3,400 hours of clinical validation, the Boppli has shown accuracy approaching that of invasive arterial lines according to the team at Py...

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In this week’s Journal Club, Ben and Daphna dissect six critical studies reshaping our understanding of neonatal care. Kicking off with the Canadian Neonatal Network’s multicenter cohort on inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), they explore how early pulmonary hypertension responsiveness to iNO may predict survival in preterm infants. They then examine a poignant study on maternal decision regret following extremely preterm births, revealing elevated regret across all pathways—comfort, active care, or otherwise—underscoring the emotional complexity of shared decision-making. The duo dives into data from the NICHD Neonatal Research Network on how even...

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Response to Inhaled Nitric Oxide and Mortality Among Very Preterm Neonates With Pulmonary Hypertension.

Baczynski M, Weisz D, Thomas L, Fevrier S, Castaldo M, Soraisham A, Hyderi A, Agarushi R, Bhattacharya S, Lalitha R, Sidhu A, Abdul Wahab MG, Altit G, Hébert A, Louis D, Elsayed Y, Mitra S, Deshpande P, Kharrat A, Zhu F, Ting J, Yoon E, Shah PS, Jain A; Canadian Neonatal Network Investigators.JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Feb 3;8(2):e2458843. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.58843.PMID: 39928335 Free PMC article.

As always, feel free to send us questions, c...

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Evaluating decision regret after extremely preterm birth.

Belden L, Kaempf J, Mackley A, Kernan-Schloss F, Chen C, Sturtz W, Tomlinson MW, Guillen U.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Feb 21;110(2):191-199. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-327287.PMID: 39164062

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage...

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Short Duration of Antenatal Corticosteroid Exposure and Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Infants.

Chawla S, Wyckoff MH, Lakshminrusimha S, Rysavy MA, Patel RM, Chowdhury D, Das A, Greenberg RG, Natarajan G, Shankaran S, Bell EF, Ambalavanan N, Younge NE, Laptook AR, Pavlek LR, Backes CH, Van Meurs KP, Werner EF, Carlo WA; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network (NRN).JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Feb 3;8(2):e2461312. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61312.PMID: 39982720 Free PMC article.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to...

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Neonatal intermittent hypoxemia events are associated with later systemic hypertension.

Martinez S, Chen Z, Di Fiore JM, Nguyen C, Minich NM, Hibbs AM.Pediatr Res. 2025 Jan 31. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-03881-w. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39885241

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the...

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Whole-Body Hypothermia for Neonatal Encephalopathy in Preterm Infants 33 to 35 Weeks' Gestation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Faix RG, Laptook AR, Shankaran S, Eggleston B, Chowdhury D, Heyne RJ, Das A, Pedroza C, Tyson JE, Wusthoff C, Bonifacio SL, Sánchez PJ, Yoder BA, Laughon MM, Vasil DM, Van Meurs KP, Crawford MM, Higgins RD, Poindexter BB, Colaizy TT, Hamrick SEG, Chalak LF, Ohls RK, Hartley-McAndrew ME, Dysart K, D'Angio CT, Guillet R, Kicklighter SD, Carlo WA, Sokol GM, DeMauro SB, Hibbs AM, Cotten CM, Merhar SL, Bapat RV, Harmon HM, Sewell E, W...

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Delirium in the NICU is an under-recognized and under-assessed challenge. In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Karishma Rao and clinical pharmacist Alex Oschman from Children’s Mercy Hospital to explore the complexities of neonatal delirium. Drawing on their collaborative work and recent publication in Frontiers in Pharmacology, they unpack the nuances of distinguishing delirium from pain, agitation, withdrawal, and sedation—particularly in medically complex, long-stay infants.

The conversation highlights the limitations of current assessment tools, such as the CAPD (Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Deli...

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In this packed episode of Neo News, Eli, Ben, and Daphna dive into the headlines impacting neonatology and public health. The trio starts with the controversial confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of HHS, analyzing his actions around the CDC, NIH, vaccine policy, and the implications of promoting “informed consent” messaging in place of public health advocacy. Drawing from reporting by The New York Times, STAT News, and Science Magazine, the team unpacks how these shifts could affect vaccine uptake in the NICU.

Next, they examine the threat to birt...

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Ilana Levene, who is now a Neonatology subspeciality trainee at Oxford, England. Ilana has done some fantastic work on exploring the important topic of human milk expression. She described her randomized control trial in using relaxing techniques to facilitate human milk expression in the NICU. She shared the challenges that she had in conducting her RCT. We also talked about RCTs with negative results and how negative results are also important in conducting research. Ilana has now created a website with printables...

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In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah discusses the importance of understanding a baby's senses in the NICU with occupational therapists Emily Hills and Lindsay Hardy. They explore the concept of co-occupation and co-regulation, emphasizing the vital role parents play in their baby's development. The conversation delves into the eight senses, the impact of early birth on sensory development, and practical tips for parents to enhance their baby's NICU experience. The episode highlights the significance of parental presence and the right way to interact with babies in a sensitive environment. In this...

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In this week’s episode, Daphna hosts a powerful roundtable featuring Drs. Kerri Machut, Milenka Cuevas-Guaman, Emily Miller, Christine Bishop, and Christiane Dammann—leaders of a national effort to improve neonatology staffing. Together, they share insights from their recently developed recommendations, created through a Delphi consensus process and supported by a strategic grant from the AAP Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. These evidence-informed guidelines aim to promote safer, more sustainable, and more transparent staffing models in NICUs across the country. The team discusses key themes including defining clinical FTEs in hours per year, ensuring flex...

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In this episode of the Incubator, Dr. Paul Rozance discusses his research on fetal metabolism and growth regulation, emphasizing the role of insulin, glucagon, and placental function in development. He shares insights on how metabolic signals influence fetal growth and how complications like placental insufficiency impact long-term health. The conversation also highlights the challenges of translating research from animal models to clinical applications and the importance of collaboration in advancing neonatal science. Get your popcorn! There are some suspenseful stories #getyourpopcorn. #barker hypothesis #neuroendocrinology

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In this episode of From The Heart, hosts Dr. Nim Goldshtrom and Dr. Adrianne Bischoff explore the latest research in neonatal cardiac care, focusing on congenital heart disease (CHD) and its impact on premature infants. They discuss a study analyzing survival trends in preterm infants with CHD, highlighting the “double jeopardy” these babies face due to both prematurity and congenital cardiac anomalies. Another study compares neurodevelopmental outcomes between preterm infants and those with CHD, revealing that term infants with CHD exhibit similar motor and cognitive challenges as preterm infants, yet receive less developmental supp...

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Double Jeopardy: A Distinct Mortality Pattern Among Preterm Infants with Congenital Heart Disease.

Higgins BV, Levy PT, Ball MK, Kim M, Peyvandi S, Steurer MA.Pediatr Cardiol. 2025 Apr;46(4):939-946. doi: 10.1007/s00246-024-03519-4. Epub 2024 Jun 12.PMID: 38864860 Free PMC article.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode...