A weekly discussion about new evidence in neonatal care and the fascinating individuals who make this progress possible. Hosted by Dr. Ben Courchia and Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1739595/open_sms">Send us a text</a>In this week’s episode, Ben and Daphna sit down with Michelle Kelly, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Associate Professor at Villanova University. Michelle is a leading voice in recognizing the lasting impact of preterm birth on long-term health. She shares insights from her co-authored article, Addressing Preterm Birth History with Clinical Practice Recommendations Across the Life Course, which outlines how a history of prematurity should inform lifelong clinical care.The conversation highlights the gap between neonatal and adult healthcare systems, and why identifying preterm birth history should be a routine part of medical assessments. Michelle also discusses practical strategies to educate families, empower survivors of prematurity, and shift provider assumptions about long-term outcomes. This episode offers a thoughtful and grounded discussion on turning early-life health factors into actionable care across the lifespan. 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. Enjoy!

The Incubator

#315 -  Why Preterm Birth History Matters for Life: A Conversation with Michelle Kelly

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1739595/open_sms">Send us a text</a>In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah discusses the journey of NICU families, focusing on gastroschisis, a condition where a baby's intestines are outside the body at birth. Ruby Bacardi shares her personal experience with her son Oliver, who was born with gastroschisis and spent three months in the NICU. The conversation explores the emotional challenges, medical insights, and the importance of support for families navigating this journey. Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau provides medical perspectives, while Ruby emphasizes the significance of cherishing small victories and finding hope amidst uncertainty.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. Enjoy!

#314 - 👶 From Diagnosis to Discharge: A Mother’s Journey Through Gastroschisis

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1739595/open_sms">Send us a text</a>In this week’s Journal Club, Ben and Daphna unpack a wide range of recent neonatal studies with pragmatic, practice-centered discussion. First, they explore a study on low-dose dexamethasone for BPD in preterm infants, showing potential benefits in brain development and motor outcomes—despite ongoing concerns about long-term effects. Next, they discuss a large dataset analysis of oxygen and respiratory support trajectories in extremely preterm infants, offering real-world FiO2 trends and benchmarks that may help frame clinical decisions and counseling.They also examine the diagnostic limits of consumer-grade pulse oximeters, like the Owlet, comparing their accuracy to hospital-grade monitors—raising real concerns about missed events. A safe sleep initiative study offers evidence that modeling and education during birth hospitalization can improve post-discharge sleep practices, especially across different demographic groups. Finally, they review parent engagement with NICU-focused online health communities, identifying both the benefits and potential friction these platforms create in team-family communication.From cerebral oxygenation during kangaroo care to the use of enemas in ELBW infants, this episode covers it all—with a focus on what clinicians can take back to the bedside.Listen in and join the conversation.  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. Enjoy!

#313 - 📑 Journal Club - The Complete Episode from May 25th 2025

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1739595/open_sms">Send us a text</a><a href='https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40360237/'>Postnatal dexamethasone treatment for preterm infants at high risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia is associated with improved regional brain volumes: a prospective cohort study.</a>Chandwani R, Kline J, Altaye M, Parikh N.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 May 13:fetalneonatal-2024-328438. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-328438. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40360237As 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. Enjoy!

Ben Courchia & Daphna Yasova Barbeau

The Incubator by Ben Courchia & Daphna Yasova Barbeau

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