Podcasts about preterm

Can preterm birth be prevented? Historically the answer has been no, and the numbers back that up. In 2006 the U.S. preterm birth rate was about 12 percent. In 2024 it was 10.4 percent. Medicine has gotten dramatically better at keeping premature babies alive, but almost no better at keeping pregnancies from ending early. In this episode, Kristin and Dr. Abdelhak make the case that the answer is yes, preterm birth can be prevented far more often than it is now, and that the field has been looking in the wrong place. Preterm birth is not one condition. It is a grab bag: placental abruption, systemic infection like appendicitis or pyelonephritis, uterine overdistension from twins, triplets, or polyhydramnios, trauma, severe hypertension, stimulant and cocaine use. Every one of those causes announces itself. The woman with triplets is obviously carrying triplets. The woman with an abruption is bleeding and in pain. So what about the woman with none of that, doing everything right, who shows up at 30 weeks contracting and three centimeters dilated? For forty years the answer was "subclinical infection," a diagnosis Dr. Abdelhak takes apart in this episode. If it is subclinical, why is preterm labor the only clinical thing it ever does? Why does an appendicitis start with pain and fever and end in labor, while this mystery infection skips straight to the last step? And after four decades of amniocentesis studies cataloguing cytokines, interleukins, and prostaglandins, where is the treatment? There isn't one, because researchers found exactly what they went looking for. His answer is mechanical, not microbial. The cervix is a timekeeper on the pregnancy. Conventional teaching says contractions open the cervix. He argues it runs the other way: the cervix quietly gives way over weeks, and when it opens far enough, labor starts. That is why he says he is almost never surprised by a preterm labor. He was already watching the cervix shorten. Also covered: why previous preterm birth is the single strongest risk factor (it is the same cervix), why cone biopsy raises risk more than LEEP does, what funneling on ultrasound actually tells you, the difference between classic cervical insufficiency and the milder version that still lets you reach the third trimester, and why a three-hour precipitous labor at 38 weeks may be the same finding wearing a friendlier face. The practical takeaway: serial cervical length measurement for anyone with a red flag, first-time moms included, and cerclage when the cervix starts to open. Screening plus treatment, not a pill for an infection nobody can find. Plus: why the president and Taylor Swift would get their cervix measured every single week, and what that tells you about the standard of care the rest of us are offered. Topics covered, in order Why this topic is worth repeating, and why the framing here is not the conventional one The better question: preventing preterm birth, not preterm labor Fifty years, the March of Dimes, and a rate that has barely moved What we did get better at: neonatal survival and outcomes, not prevention Preterm birth as a grab bag, not a single disease Placental abruption Systemic infection: appendicitis, pyelonephritis, sepsis, severe pneumonia, COVID The subclinical infection theory, and the case against it Why the amniocentesis and cytokine studies found what they set out to find Uterine overdistension: twins, triplets, polyhydramnios Trauma, decidual hemorrhage Severe hypertension, pulsatile flow, and abruption risk before 20 weeks Cocaine, methamphetamine, smoking The patient nobody can explain, and what is actually going on The core claim: dilation causes the contractions, not the other way around Why Dr. Abdelhak is rarely surprised by a preterm labor Mild cervical insufficiency, and "dreamlike" cervical insufficiency at 38 weeks Why previous preterm birth is the number one risk factor LEEP versus cone biopsy, and why cone matters more Normal variation in cervical length, and the big nose analogy Length is not everything: bulk, thickness, and how the cervix feels Funneling on ultrasound as a warning sign The proposal: serial cervical length screening plus cerclage Why the numbers are U.S. numbers, and why international rates are not trustworthy The VIP standard of care, and who actually gets weekly scans Key takeaways Preterm birth is not one condition. Abruption, systemic infection, overdistension, trauma, and severe hypertension each have their own mechanism, and each is usually obvious on arrival. "Subclinical infection" is not a diagnosis, it is a placeholder. Forty years in, it has produced no treatment and no measurable drop in the preterm birth rate. The cervix is the timekeeper. When it is weak, it opens slowly over weeks, and labor follows the opening rather than causing it. Previous preterm birth predicts the next one because it is the same cervix. You cannot order a new one. Cone biopsy raises preterm birth risk more than LEEP, because more cervix is removed. Length is a clue, not a verdict. Plenty of women have naturally short cervixes and carry to term. Funneling, bulk, and change over time matter as much as a single number. The intervention that would move the needle already exists. Serial cervical length measurement in anyone with a risk factor, and cerclage when it starts to open. Screening and treatment, not a mystery pill. Terms mentioned Placental abruption — the placenta separating from the uterine wall before delivery. Pyelonephritis — kidney infection. Polyhydramnios — too much amniotic fluid. Uterine overdistension — the uterus stretched beyond its comfortable capacity, as with twins or triplets. Cervical insufficiency — a cervix that opens without labor. Funneling — the cervix opening from the inside out, visible on ultrasound before any external change. Cerclage — a stitch placed to reinforce the cervix. LEEP and cone biopsy — procedures removing cervical tissue after abnormal Pap or HPV findings. Precipitous labor — a very fast labor, often under three hours. Memorable quotes: "I am telling you what happened was the three centimeters dilated caused the contractions." "If it's subclinical, why doesn't it stay that way?" "The cervix is a mechanical timekeeper on the pregnancy." Got something you want to share or ask? Keep it coming. We love hearing from you. Email us or send a voice memo, and you might just hear it on the next episode. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe your questions could be featured in our next episode. For additional resources and information, be sure to visit our website at Maternal Resources: https://www.maternalresources.org/ You can also connect with us on our social channels to stay up-to-date with the latest news, episodes, and community engagement: YouTube: youtube.com/maternalresources Instagram: @maternalresources Facebook: facebook.com/IntegrativeOB TikTok: NatureBack Doc on TikTok Grab Our Book: The NatureBack Method for Birth—your guide to an empowered pregnancy and delivery. Shop now at naturebackbook.myshopify.com

Send us Fan MailLate preterm babies born by cesarean fill our NICUs, and most of them are there for respiratory distress that resolves in a day or two. Could 20 minutes of CPAP in the operating room keep them out? This week on Journal Club, Ben and Daphna break down the PLaNT trial, a five center randomized pilot of prophylactic CPAP at 5 to 6 cm of water in spontaneously breathing infants born at 34 to 36 weeks by cesarean. They then sit down with senior author Dr. Edgardo Szyld to talk pneumothorax risk, the 35 to 36 week subgroup, consenting families, and what PLaNT 2 must prove.----Prophylactic CPAP at Cesarean Birth in Late-Preterm Newborns: A Multicenter RCT. Shah BA, DeShea L, Schmölzer GM, Josephsen JB, Fabres J, Wetzel EA, Rykovich H, Thomas A, Law B, Garrido C, Szyld E.Pediatrics. 2026 Aug 1;158(2):e2025070998. doi: 10.1542/peds.2025-070998.PMID: 42457181 Clinical Trial.Association Between Delivery Room Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Neonatal Outcomes in Late Preterm and Term Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Chin Y, Hill M, Sett A, Thomas N, Razak A.J Paediatr Child Health. 2026 Jul 28. doi: 10.1111/jpc.70516. Online ahead of print.PMID: 42517258 Review.Support the showAs 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!

Send us Fan MailIn this Journal Club, Daphna takes the reins with the MIND randomized controlled trial from Nathalie Maitre and colleagues in The Journal of Pediatrics. Can a multisensory bundle, combining infant-directed voice, a parent's scent, holding, and gentle containment, do more for a preterm baby's developing brain than recorded voice alone? Using event-related potentials to track how infants tell speech sounds apart, the team followed language outcomes all the way to age two. Daphna and Ben unpack the design, the Bayley and PLS-5 findings, and a takeaway every clinician can act on tomorrow. Talk to the baby, every single time.----The MIND Randomized Controlled Trial: An Intervention to Improve Neural Speech Processing and 2-Year Language Outcomes of Infants Born Preterm. Maitre NL, Kjeldsen CP, Jeanvoine A, Lukemire J, Slaughter JL, Key AP.J Pediatr. 2026 Jun 5:115187. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2026.115187. Online ahead of print.PMID: 42250747Support the showAs 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!

Send us Fan MailDoes the latest Cochrane evidence finally tip the balance in favor of erythropoiesis stimulating agents in preterm infants? In this VON Grand Rounds follow-up episode, Ben sits down with Dr. Roger Soll and Dr. Souvik Mitra to review the 2026 Cochrane systematic review on early ESA use in preterm newborns. Across 37 trials and over 6,000 infants, early ESAs consistently reduce the need for red blood cell transfusion. The review also confirms with high certainty that ESAs do not increase retinopathy of prematurity. The conversation covers shared decision making, drug selection, dosing, iron supplementation, and which patient populations should be prioritized.Support the showAs 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!

Send us Fan MailIn this retrospective single-center study from Toronto, Adrianne and Nim explore the echo findings of preterm infants with septic shock and hypoxemic respiratory failure. Contrary to the common assumption that elevated pulmonary vascular resistance drives hypoxemia in sepsis, the data points to left ventricular dysfunction as a key contributor. Babies with hypoxemic respiratory failure showed lower LV systolic and diastolic performance, while pulmonary pressures were similar between groups. Mortality was significantly higher in the hypoxemic group. This challenges the reflex to reach for nitric oxide first and asks clinicians to look at the whole heart.----Cardiopulmonary Physiology of Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Among Preterm Infants with Septic Shock. Kharrat A, Nissimov S, Zhu F, Deshpande P, Jain A.J Pediatr. 2025 Mar;278:114384. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114384. Epub 2024 Nov 6.PMID: 39510164Support the showAs 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!

Dr. Brice Gaudillière, an investigator at the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford, on an upcoming Randomized Controlled Trial he is heading that will test two common over the counter drugs — Aspirin and Prevacid, an acid reflux medication — as possible therapeutics to prevent spontaneous preterm birth.

This episode features Prof. Christopher Stewart PhD from Newcastle University (UK), speaking about the factors affecting gut microbiota development in both non-preterm and preterm infants. Prof. Stewart started in the field of environmental microbial ecology and then came to work in human microbiome research. He was involved in the landmark TEDDY study, which aimed to find gut microbial markers of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Although no microbial triggers of T1D were identified, the study found a number of factors that impact gut microbiome development: for example, sex, geographical location, and living with furry animals. Still, most of the variation seen in the infant gut microbiota remains unaccounted for. He noted that infants are exposed to both vaginal and gastrointestinal microorganisms during vaginal birth. In C-section-born infants, seeding of the maternal vaginal and gut microbiota may be promising, but current methods are imprecise and safety has not been established. Furthermore, diet takes over as a primary driver of gut microbiota a few weeks after birth. Prof. Stewart talked about human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), well known to be utilized by bifidobacteria in the infant gut. His lab recently published the surprising finding that Clostridium species can also utilize HMOs – and while at first this was thought to be detrimental for the infant, further investigation showed that the HMO-utilizing Clostridium may lack the genes for producing specific toxins and end up being protective for the infant gut. Together, the microbial community in the gut may use the full suite of HMO substrates reaching the infant gut. Preterm infants are a population that needs more attention. Antibiotics affect their gut microbiomes – often in a negative way, but for the overall benefit of the baby. His lab is currently funded to study how probiotics affect the preterm infant gut microbiota, and to find strategies for more personalized approaches to administering probiotics in this population. Episode abbreviations and links: TEDDY study, revealing factors affecting gut microbiota development between 3 and 46 months of age: Temporal development of the gut microbiome in early childhood from the TEDDY study Study on how Clostridium species utilize HMOs: Clostridia from preterm infants metabolize human milk oligosaccharides to suppress pathobionts and modulate intestinal function in organoids Study on how NEC risk is linked with HMOs: Human milk oligosaccharide DSLNT and gut microbiome in preterm infants predicts necrotising enterocolitis Publication on how probiotics impact the gut microbiota in preterm infants: Strain-specific impacts of probiotics are a significant driver of gut microbiome development in very preterm infants Some similar results have come from the CHILD Cohort Study, described here Find Prof. Stewart on LinkedIn, and learn more about his research on this website About Prof. Christopher Stewart: Professor Christopher Stewart is an internationally recognised leader in human microbiome research. He earned his PhD in Microbial Ecology from Northumbria University (UK), followed by postdoctoral training at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, Texas), before establishing his research group at Newcastle University in 2018. His pioneering work focuses on microbial-host interactions in the gut, particularly in infants born extremely premature (

Send us Fan MailWhat happens to intermittent hypoxemia when you keep a stable preterm infant on CPAP for two extra weeks? In this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review a secondary analysis from the Journal of Pediatrics by Mamidi and McEvoy. Among 95 infants randomized to either two additional weeks of bubble CPAP on room air or discontinued CPAP, those in the extended CPAP group experienced significantly fewer intermittent hypoxemia episodes (57.6 versus 151.7), higher baseline saturations, and greater functional residual capacity. The episode also touches on the practical implications for units navigating oral feeding protocols alongside extended CPAP.----Extended Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Infants Born Preterm Decreases Intermittent Hypoxemia: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Mamidi RR, Go MDA, Harris J, Olson M, Milner K, Tepper RS, Morris C, Park B, Schelonka R, MacDonald KD, McEvoy CT.J Pediatr. 2026 May 25:115165. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2026.115165. Online ahead of print.PMID: 42190903Support the showAs 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!

Send us Fan MailIn this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review a nationwide Swedish cohort study examining the association between phototherapy duration and neonatal outcomes in very preterm infants (22 to 31 weeks). The study's primary outcome, late neonatal mortality on days 8 to 27, was not significantly associated with phototherapy duration. However, longer phototherapy exposure was associated with increased odds of severe neonatal morbidity, including IVH and BPD, in infants born at 26 to 31 weeks. The findings prompt an important conversation about the near-universal use of phototherapy in preterm neonates and whether current practice warrants reassessment.----Phototherapy, Morbidity, and Mortality in Very Preterm Newborns. Deschmann E, Håkansson S, Söderling J, Norman M.JAMA Netw Open. 2026 May 1;9(5):e2614107. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.14107.PMID: 42166159 Free PMC article.Support the showAs 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!

Send us Fan MailHow often are we missing dysphagia in our most vulnerable NICU patients? In this episode of Journal Club, Daphna reviews a retrospective cohort study from the Journal of Perinatology examining the incidence and risk factors of dysphagia confirmed by flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) in very preterm and very low birth weight infants. Among infants showing persistent feeding difficulties at 38 weeks post-menstrual age, laryngeal penetration was detected in all infants who underwent FEES, and tracheal aspiration in nearly 60%. Ben and Daphna discuss whether we are naming dysphagia for what it is, whether earlier instrumental assessment could change outcomes, and what it means for families to finally understand why their baby is struggling to feed.----Incidence and factors associated with dysphagia in infants born very preterm or very low birth weight. Reynolds J, Suterwala M, Desai S, Chiruvolu A.J Perinatol. 2026 Apr 29. doi: 10.1038/s41372-026-02701-1. Online ahead of print.PMID: 42056238Support the showAs 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!

Send us Fan MailCould putting a few drops of breast milk in a preterm infant's nose actually improve cerebral oxygenation? In this episode of Journal Club, Daphna reviews a randomized controlled trial from the European Journal of Pediatrics investigating the physiologic effects of intranasal expressed breast milk (EBM) administration in preterm infants. The study found that infants receiving 0.2 mL of fresh breast milk intranasally three times daily showed significantly higher cerebral oxygenation levels, along with more favorable trends in heart rate and respiratory rate, compared to controls. While time to full oral feeding and length of hospital stay were unchanged, the safety data is reassuring. Ben and Daphna discuss what outcomes we should even be measuring, and whether the evidence is already good enough to just do it.----Effect of intranasal breast milk administration on cerebral oxygenation, vital signs, and transition time to full oral feeding in preterm infants: a randomized controlled study. Yücel A, Küçükoğlu S, Konak M.Eur J Pediatr. 2026 Apr 16;185(5):272. doi: 10.1007/s00431-026-06922-6.PMID: 41986747Support the showAs 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!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Sinem shares the journey behind her two very different birth experiences and how motherhood transformed the way she viewed birth, fear, and trust in herself.After entering her first pregnancy feeling deeply fearful of birth, she reflects on the experiences, decisions, and challenges that slowly reshaped her understanding. From private obstetric care and an early arrival with her first baby, to choosing a very different path during her second pregnancy, Sinem's story highlights how knowledge, support, and lived experience can influence the choices we make as mothers.She also speaks candidly about the realities of breastfeeding, the lessons she learned between pregnancies, and the mindset shifts that led her toward a more instinctive and empowering second birth experience.Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

The U.S. preterm birth rate has seen double-digit growth over the last decade, reaching a staggering 10.4%. Join Zhenya Lindgardt, CEO of Sera Prognostics, and Dr. Mollie McDonnold as they discuss how breakthrough biomarkers and a "preventive bundle" are finally offering a way to move the needle in the right direction. This podcast is not available for CME/CE/CPD credits. Please visit the Medscape homepage for accredited CME/CE/CPD activities.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Journal Club, we wrap up a marathon recording session with a deep dive into the world of neonatal neuroprognostication. Daphna reviews a systematic review and meta-analysis from Pediatric Neurology that evaluates whether combining EEG and MRI provides better answers for families of preterm infants. While MRI remains a powerful tool for structural assessment, the data suggests that adding the functional insights of EEG significantly boosts specificity, particularly when predicting severe neurodevelopmental outcomes. We discuss the importance of timing these studies and the clinical value of sleep-wake cycling as a developmental milestone at the bedside.----Combined Use of Electroencephalography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Prognostication of Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Preterm Infants - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Forrest CD, Biagioni T, Liley HG, Lai MM, Colditz PB, Ware RS, Boyd RN, Roberts JA.Pediatr Neurol. 2026 Feb;175:116-129. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2025.11.005. Epub 2025 Nov 13.PMID: 41337899 Support the showAs 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!

Guest: Mirella Mourad, M.D. On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Mirella Mourad, maternal-fetal medicine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian and co-director of the Preterm Birth Prevention Center at Columbia, to explore a groundbreaking new technology aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of preterm birth. Preterm birth impacts approximately 1 in 10 pregnancies in the United States, making it a leading cause of neonatal complications and long-term health challenges. But despite its prevalence and associated risks, innovative solutions to address the condition have lagged behind. To address this gap, Dr. Mourad and her collaborator, Dr. Kristin Meyers, a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia's School of Engineering, are developing a new tool: a patient-specific “digital twin” of the cervix. This advanced technology has the potential to revolutionize obstetric care for patients by allowing clinicians to test new treatment methods, collect data to better understand why certain people are at risk for preterm birth, and overall, catalyze innovation in the historically under-researched field of maternal-fetal medicine, ultimately helping to drive better outcomes and successful pregnancies. Dr. Mourad also discusses how this digital twin can potentially assist with identifying women with placenta accreta spectrum disorder and inform more precise and …

8:05PM: Ending the “easy A” at Harvard. Harvard University Proposes A 20% Cap On A’s To Fight Grade Inflation…Faculty votes this week. Guest: Mike Deehan – Axios Boston Reporter 8:15PM: Why overthinking and anxiety are nervous system issues, not just mindset and what you can do to find relief. -Has book coming out June 2nd – Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind: Transcend Pain, Anxiety, Anger, and Repetitive Unwanted Thoughts Guest: Dr. David Hanscom - Orthopedic spine surgeon 8:30PM: Boston received a B- for its preterm birth rate (9%) in the latest March of Dimes Report Card – with 1 in 11 babies still born too soon. Preterm birth remains the leading cause of infant death, even here. -March of Dimes just held their annual March of Dimes walk – how much was raised and the impact the funds raised will have on area moms, babies and local programs. Guest: Chloe Schwartz - March of Dimes maternal and infant health director for Boston 8:45PM: Trump administration considering suspending federal gas tax temporarily. Guest: Steve Cotton – Financial strategist & President of Cotton Wealth Management AssociatesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna dive into the results of the NIRTURE trial, recently published in JAMA Network Open. Building on the lessons of SafeBoosC 3 , the NIRTURE investigators aimed to reduce the burden of cerebral hypoxia and hyperoxia in extremely preterm infants using a standardized NIRS guided treatment protocol. While the study showed a dramatic improvement in maintaining cerebral normoxia, driven largely by a reduction in hyperoxia , the clinical outcomes before discharge remained neutral. Join us as we discuss whether regional oximetry is a must have bedside tool or just another data point in search of a clear clinical benefit.  ----Cerebral Oximetry-Guided Treatment and Cerebral Oxygenation in Extremely Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Jani PR, Goyen TA, Balegar KK, Maheshwari R, Saito-Benz M, Schindler T, Moore J, Merhi M, Cruz M, Song Y, McDonagh H, Luig M, Tracy M, D'Cruz D, Perdomo A, Morakeas S, Dasireddy V, Culcer M, Shingde V, Bennington K, Michalowski J, Fucek A, Querim J, Stevens S, Santanelli J, Elhindi J, Gloss B, Halliday R, Shah D, Popat H.JAMA Netw Open. 2026 Feb 2;9(2):e2557620. Support the showAs 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!

Unlock the hidden long-term impacts of preterm birth that most health care providers overlook. Dr. Michelle Kelly breaks down the surprising health challenges preterm infants face decades later — from respiratory decline to hypertension, mental health issues, and more. If you're a nurse, parent, or health care professional, understanding these connections can transform how you care for and advocate for your tiniest patients. Meet our guests: Michelle M. Kelly, PhD, CRNP, CNE, FAANP, FAAN Read More Dr. Michelle Kelly is Professor and Co-Director of the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment at Villanova University's M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. Her research centers on preterm birth outcomes, exploring the link between preterm birth and future health complicated by environmental exposures, poverty, and toxic stress. She is a dual-certified pediatric and neonatal nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience providing care to children of all ages, in a variety of settings. Dr. Kelly is also a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Episode Resources Crump C. (2020). An overview of adult health outcomes after preterm birth. Early Human Development, 150, 105187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105187  Raju, T. N. K., Pemberton, V. L., Saigal, S., Blaisdell, C. J., Moxey-Mims, M., & Buist, A. S. (2017). Long-term healthcare outcomes of preterm birth: An executive summary of a conference sponsored by the National Institute of Health. The Journal of Pediatrics, 181, 309-318.   Kelly, M. M., Tobias, J., & Griffith, P. B. (2021). Addressing Preterm Birth History With Clinical Practice Recommendations Across the Life Course. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 35(3), e5–e20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2020.12.008  Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units  Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment (MACCHE) Email: macche@villanova.edu   Adult Preemie Advocacy Network  The post Preterm Birth and Health Risks in Adulthood appeared first on AWHONN.

Send us Fan MailDr. Indrani Bhattacharjee, neonatologist and POCUS program director at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, joins Ben to discuss a fascinating and largely unexplored frontier — intestinal ultrasound in healthy preterm infants. Rather than waiting for NEC to appear, her team has been systematically scanning babies born under 32 weeks every week from one week of age until eight weeks or discharge, building what may be the first normative dataset for bowel wall thickness in this population. Early findings are already challenging the standard radiological definitions, showing that extremely preterm babies have thinner bowel walls than current benchmarks would classify as normal — raising the question of whether definitions derived from term or older patients have ever been appropriate for our tiniest babies. The publication is forthcoming in the European Journal of Pediatrics.Support the showAs 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!

Send us Fan MailDr. Kevin Cook, researcher at the Developing Brain Institute at Children's National, joins Daphna to discuss functional MRI and what it reveals about how preterm brains are building connections during the NICU stay. Using functional connectivity — measuring how different brain regions communicate with each other over time — his team compares preterm infants to healthy in utero fetuses scanned as early as 20 weeks, finding that the ex utero preterm brain actually looks more mature in terms of connectivity, suggesting the NICU environment itself accelerates certain aspects of brain development. He shares why extremely and very preterm infants show a distinctly different pattern of connectivity compared to moderately preterm babies who seem to bounce back more quickly, and why the team's next goal is to use these early functional findings to predict which babies will struggle with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 36 months — and which ones will be just fine.Support the showAs 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!

En este episodio, el abogado Jonathan analiza dos noticias clave que impactan directamente a la comunidad inmigrante: un nuevo precedente sobre DACA en cortes de inmigración y una decisión federal que cuestiona restricciones al asilo en la frontera. Además, responde preguntas reales del público sobre cortes, ajustes de estatus, fraude en asilo y estrategias legales actuales. En este episodio hablamos de:  Nuevo fallo sobre DACA: ya no basta tener DACA para cerrar un caso en corte  Qué significa realmente este cambio (y qué NO significa sobre deportaciones)  Decisión federal contra restricciones de asilo en la frontera sur  El conflicto entre órdenes ejecutivas y el Congreso (INA)  Posibles impactos políticos y legales en los próximos meses  Estrategias en corte: audiencias virtuales, cambios de fecha y tiempos  Doble nacionalidad y cómo afecta procesos migratorios  Casos familiares, ajuste de estatus y opciones como VAWA  Riesgos del fraude en asilo y cómo afecta a toda la comunidad  Preguntas frecuentes sobre ICE holds, órdenes de deportación y visas Este contenido es información general y no constituye asesoría legal individual. Si tienes un caso específico, consulta con un abogado.Capítulos00:00 – Introducción y problemas técnicos por clima en Utah01:18 – Conexión con la comunidad inmigrante03:42 – Noticia: cambio importante en DACA en corte06:05 – Qué cambia para quienes tienen DACA08:29 – ¿Van a deportar a todos con DACA? (aclaración)10:54 – Noticia: asilo en la frontera y fallo federal13:16 – Impacto político y límites del poder presidencial15:42 – Qué podría pasar ahora con el asilo18:01 – Tendencias recientes en inmigración21:52 – Cómo agendar cita con el equipo legal24:49 – Preguntas: doble nacionalidad y ajustes27:10 – Estrategias en corte (virtual, cambios de fecha)30:00 – Preterm y tendencias en abril34:13 – Asilo, apelaciones y tiempos36:38 – Fraude en asilo y consecuencias comunitarias43:35 – Filosofía legal: qué hace realmente un abogado52:13 – ICE hold y sistema penal56:54 – Cancelación de deportación y opciones legales01:02:05 – Casos complejos y consultas recomendadas01:06:56 – Consejos finales y cierre  Contenido informativo general; no sustituye asesoría legal individual. 

Send us Fan MailDr. Katie Ottolini, researcher at the Developing Brain Institute at Children's National in Washington DC, presents findings from a longitudinal MRI study comparing brain growth trajectories in preterm infants to healthy fetuses — scanning as early as 25 weeks and through term corrected age. Even in preterm babies with no significant brain injury and appropriate growth at birth, brain volumes were already smaller by the first MRI at around two weeks of life. She shares which regions are most vulnerable, why the amygdala-hippocampus shows a distinct window of impaired growth beginning after 32 weeks that may represent an opportunity for intervention, and why the goal for neonatology must now shift from neuroprotection alone to what she calls neuropromotion — actively supporting optimal brain development through nutrition, sleep, and other targeted interventions.Support the showAs 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!

Drs. Lori Christ and Angela Lober delve into the complexities of caring for late preterm infants. They highlight what makes these babies unique and how early intervention and proper support from clinicians and parents can dramatically improve their health and development. Use this episode to learn about practical strategies, education points, and resources that can prepare you and your colleagues to care for and educate families with the best evidence-based care. A must listen for postpartum or NICU nurses caring for this population! Meet our guests: Lori Christ, MD Read More   Dr. Lori Christ is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and a neonatologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, working in both the NICU and newborn nursery. She has been recognized for excellence in clinical care and teaching, including the Faculty Teacher of the Year and the Penn Medicine Patient Advocacy Award. Dr. Christ oversees quality and patient safety initiatives for full term and preterm newborns, including reducing disparities in breastfeeding, guidelines for late preterm care, and promoting kangaroo care. She also mentors trainees with an interest in quality improvement, reducing disparities in healthcare, and health care innovation. Angela Lober, PhD, MPH, RN, IBCLC  Read More Dr. Angela Lober is Director of Research and Grants at AWHONN, where she advances nursing science to improve outcomes for women and families. A registered nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, she has delivered evidence-based care since 2001. With a PhD and experience as a Clinical Associate Professor, she is an active researcher and dedicated educator. Angela is a committed advocate for maternal-child health, engaging in professional and community efforts to support families. Through mentorship, scholarship, and advocacy, she works to strengthen the nursing profession and promote equitable care. Episode Resources AWHONN Late Preterm Infant Resources  AWHONN Newborn Warning Signs    The post The Complexities of Caring for Late Preterm Infants appeared first on AWHONN.

Preterm birth is something many parents worry about- but how much do we really understand about why it happens and how to prevent it? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Laura Jelliffe-Pawlowski, a leading researcher in maternal and infant health, to explore how our understanding of preterm birth has evolved- and where the science is headed. We discuss what current research tells us about risk, screening, and prevention, including the evolving conversation around progesterone and what it means for patients today. Dr. Jelliffe-Pawlowski also shares insights into emerging tools and biomarkers that may help identify risk earlier, as well as the broader environmental, social, and systemic factors that play a significant role in outcomes. This conversation offers both clarity and compassion- helping parents understand what is within their control, what isn't, and where the future of care is moving. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com Don't forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE  If you love what you've been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify! To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us Fan MailIn this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review a systematic review and meta-analysis from JAMA Network Open questioning the clinical value of predischarge car seat tolerance screening (CSTS). Driven by data suggesting that testing does not reduce 30-day mortality or hospital readmissions, they discuss the high failure rates, varying definitions of bradycardia and desaturation, and the unintended consequence of prolonged NICU stays. They also highlight the practical reality of CSTS in ensuring parents actually have an appropriate car seat at discharge. Tune in for a critical look at whether this 1991 AAP recommendation still holds up today!----Predischarge Car Seat Tolerance Screening in Preterm and At-Risk Full-Term Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. King BC, Dalvie N, Hay S, Jensen EA, Zupancic JAF.JAMA Netw Open. 2026 Feb 2;9(2):e2558197. doi:0.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.58197.Support the showAs 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!

Send us Fan MailDr. Kelly Mahaney, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Stanford and researcher focused on the role of iron in post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, joins the podcast to challenge the traditional watch and wait approach to IVH complications. She describes Stanford's early radiographic intervention pathway, which has reduced shunt dependency from 90% to 45% in reservoir-placed infants, explains why waiting for clinical symptoms means waiting too long, and outlines her effort to build a statewide CPQCC nested network to standardize and study early intervention practices across California NICUs.Support the showAs 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!

This week, Bobbi Conner talks with MUSC's Dr. Charles Rittenberg about reducing risk of preterm birth.

Send a textIn this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective cohort study exploring the effects of higher caffeine maintenance dosing on BPD and neurodevelopmental outcomes. They discuss the transition from the standard CAP trial doses to higher regimens for infants born at or before 28 weeks gestation. Does an average daily dose of over six milligrams per kilogram reduce severe BPD or improve Bayley cognitive scores at six months? Tune in as they debate the safety, clinical implications, and their own unit's practices regarding caffeine management in the NICU!----Effects of higher caffeine dosing on rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Fleishaker S, Kazmi SH, Mavrogiannis N, Street H, Ravuri H, Moinuddin T, Pierce K, Verma S.J Perinatol. 2026 Feb 23. doi: 10.1038/s41372-026-02593-1. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41731043Support the showAs 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!

Send a textIn this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review the eye-opening results of the NeoDry Trial recently published in JAMA Network Open. They explore the clinical rationale of whether drying very preterm infants before applying a plastic wrap in the delivery room improves rates of normothermia upon NICU admission. While the intervention did not significantly improve temperatures, it unexpectedly revealed an alarming increased mortality risk for the smallest neonates. Tune in as they break down the study's design, discuss the potential causes for this stark safety signal, and highlight the ongoing challenge of maintaining thermoregulation for our most vulnerable preemies!----Drying Very Preterm Infants Before Plastic Wrapping at Birth: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Cavallin F, Doglioni N, Risso FM, Monari CB, Aversa S, Troiani S, Battajon N, Moschella S, Villani PE, Vedovato S, Maiorca D, Frezza S, Lista G, Laforgia N, Mondello I, Sibona I, Staffler A, Pratesi S, Paviotti G, De Bernardo G, Lama S, Miselli F, Bua J, Gitto E, Pesce S, Baraldi E, Trevisanuto D; NEODRY Trial Group.JAMA Netw Open. 2026 Mar 2;9(3):e2556902. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.56902.Support the showAs 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!

In this podcast, JPEN Editor-in-Chief Dr. Kenneth Christopher, interviews Arjun N. Bhatt from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Arjun N. Bhatt is a senior medical student and outcomes researcher. Arjun N. Bhatt is first author of the research article “Association between nonacidified standard and high‐protein human milk fortifiers and increased weight velocity relative to acidified human milk fortifiers in preterm infants: A retrospective cohort study”. Business Corporate by Alex Menco | alexmenco.net Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US January 2026

A Podcast from Obstetrics & Gynecology highlighting the latest research and practice updates in the field. This episode features an interview with Dr. Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, author of "Childhood Pulmonary Outcomes After Late Preterm Antenatal Corticosteroids."

Dr. Ana Mayen, a Salvadoran neonatologist, talks about her experience caring for preterm babies in El Salvador. She is a major member of our SCC team at the Casa de Vida, the residence for young pregnant teens in El Salvador. Since pregnant teens are a high risk group for preterm births as well as other complications, her experience and knowledge has been extremely important to us.Dra. Mayen is a Salvadorean pediatric neonatologist currently working at the Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social to create preventive programs in childhood, through neonatal screening tools, to the follow up and care of affected children.  Dra Ana is the perfect person to begin this podcast series because she is passionate about babies and especially premature babies. She has had years of experience working with newborns. She has studied and lectured on neonatal palliative care. She is my close colleague, and friend, in El Salvador and was the first Salvadoran colleague who really connected with me in the goal of supporting healthy births and early childhood in El Salvador. 

En este en vivo, el abogado Jonathan Shaw transmite desde Bogotá, Colombia, y se enfoca en una tendencia preocupante: el aumento histórico de las salidas voluntarias entre inmigrantes detenidos. Explica por qué muchas personas —después de cruzar países, superar obstáculos y entrar a procesos de asilo— terminan “tirando la toalla” al enfrentar la realidad psicológica de un centro de detención y la falta de opciones como la fianza bajo ciertas reglas (menciona la sección 235). En este episodio hablamos de: Récord de salidas voluntarias y por qué está aumentando.La diferencia crucial entre salida voluntaria vs. aceptar una deportación “voluntariamente”.Impacto psicológico real de la detención (experiencias del abogado visitando centros).Cómo tomar decisiones estratégicas con familia y abogado antes de “firmar”.Preguntas del público: visa juvenil (SIJS) y 42B, Visa T vs Visa U, renovación de permiso de trabajo, y procesos familiares (I-130 / I-485).Caso ejemplo: salida voluntaria negociada para mantener abierta la opción de regresar por petición de esposa ciudadana y perdón.Consejo clave: en el clima actual, ir a corte sin abogado puede ser muy riesgoso.  Contenido informativo general; no sustituye asesoría legal individual.

Send us a textIn this episode of The Incubator, Ben and Daphna return from the Delphi Conference to dive back into Journal Club. They review the highly anticipated TORPIDO 30/60 trial published in JAMA, comparing initial oxygen concentrations of 30% versus 60% for preterm resuscitation. The hosts discuss the primary outcomes of survival and brain injury, while highlighting intriguing secondary findings regarding chest compressions and epinephrine use in the delivery room. They also share exciting updates on the Vermont Oxford Network collaboration and a new family study from the GFCNI.----Targeted Oxygen for Initial Resuscitation of Preterm Infants: The TORPIDO 30/60 Randomized Clinical Trial. Oei JL, Kirby A, Travadi J, Davis P, Wright I, Ghadge A, Yeung C, Cruz M, Keech A, Hague W, Lui K, Vento M, Gordon A, De Waal K, Chaudhari T, Hong TSL, Morris S, Kushnir A, Bonney D, Tracy M, Kumar K, Chhnia AS, Baral VR, Muniyappa P, Cheah FC, Sarnadgouda P, Rajadurai VS, Balakrishnan U, Oleti TP, Aldecoa-Bilbao V, Couce ML, Collados CT, Fernández RE, Moliner E, Ruiz Gonzalez MD, Singhal M, Agrawal G, Singh J, Pal S, Nayya S, Arora R, Amboiram P, Simes J, Tarnow-Mordi W; TORPIDO30/60 Collaborative Group.JAMA. 2025 Dec 10:e2523327. doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.23327. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41369162Support the showAs 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!

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia affects up to 90% of extremely preterm infants, yet no approved therapies exist. In this episode of the In Vivo podcast, Airway Therapeutics CEO Marc Salzberg discusses how their Phase Ib study of zelpultide alfa, a recombinant surfactant protein D, showed substantial reductions in BPD incidence and mechanical ventilation time. Salzberg explains the unique challenges of running neonatal trials, navigating regulatory pathways for vulnerable populations, and why preventing BPD could unlock broader respiratory applications. From ethics and enrollment to EMA approval and global expansion, this episode explores what it takes to develop breakthrough medicines for the smallest, most fragile patients.

En vivo desde Colombia, el Abogado Jonathan comparte actualizaciones fuertes que pueden cambiar el panorama para inmigrantes en procesos de asilo defensivo y en cortes de inmigración. Explica decisiones recientes que impactan el acceso a fianza, posibles cambios en apelaciones, y cómo prepararse para evitar que un juez “pretermit” (cierre el caso con orden de deportación sin escuchar evidencias ni argumentos). También aclara la pausa de visas inmigrantes para ciertos países, diferencias entre visa inmigrante vs. no inmigrante, y repasa el Visa Bulletin (categorías familiares y tiempos de espera). En este episodio hablamos de: Decisión en el Quinto Circuito y el riesgo de detención sin fianza bajo la sección 235Qué es un Habeas Corpus como herramienta para pelear detencionesPropuesta de cambios en la Corte de Apelaciones de Inmigración (BIA): menos revisiones individuales, plazos más cortosEstrategias para enfocarse en lo que sí se puede controlar: evidencias, declaración, preparación para audienciaPausa de visas inmigrantes (desde el 21 de enero) y excepciones por doble nacionalidad y adopcionesExplicación del Visa Bulletin y categorías familiares (F1–F4), con ejemplos de Colombia y MéxicoPreguntas del público: citas con ICE, visa humanitaria por enfermedad, asilo después de 1 año, castigo permanente, 601A, cambio de sede, travel document, riesgos de estafas Contenido informativo general; no sustituye asesoría legal individual.

In this episode of True Birth, we explore late preterm birth which are deliveries that occur between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, and why this window matters more than it is often given credit for. Late preterm babies are frequently described as "almost term," yet that framing can obscure the very real physiologic differences that exist in these final weeks of gestation. We begin by defining what late preterm birth actually means and why it occupies a unique clinical and emotional space. Babies born in this window often look mature and strong, which can make it easy to underestimate the developmental work still happening in the brain, lungs, feeding reflexes, and metabolic systems during the final weeks of pregnancy. From there, we talk about why late preterm births happen. This includes spontaneous preterm labor, preterm rupture of membranes, and medically indicated deliveries due to maternal or fetal conditions. We discuss how these decisions are made, the balance between continuing a pregnancy and intervening for safety, and why timing can be one of the most nuanced clinical judgments in obstetrics. A central part of this episode focuses on outcomes, not to create fear, but to offer clarity. We discuss the most common challenges late preterm babies may face, including feeding difficulties, temperature instability, low blood sugar, jaundice, and breathing issues. We also talk about how these risks compare to earlier preterm births and why many late preterm babies do very well with appropriate monitoring and support. We then shift to the postpartum experience for families. Late preterm birth often comes with unexpected separations, longer hospital stays, or feeding plans that look different than anticipated. We explore the emotional impact of this liminal space when a baby is not critically premature, but not quite ready in the way parents expected and how families can be supported through that adjustment. Throughout the conversation, we emphasize the importance of preparation and communication. Understanding the possibility of late preterm birth, even in otherwise healthy pregnancies, can help families feel more grounded if plans change. We also discuss how care teams can better frame expectations, provide anticipatory guidance, and avoid minimizing the experience simply because a baby is "close to term." This episode is about honoring the complexity of late preterm birth: medically, emotionally, and developmentally and recognizing that those last weeks of pregnancy matter, even when outcomes are ultimately positive. For more episodes and resources, visit truebirthpodcast.com and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Got something you want to share or ask? Keep it coming. We love hearing from you. Email us or send a voice memo, and you might just hear it on the next episode. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe—your questions could be featured in our next episode. For additional resources and information, be sure to visit our website at Maternal Resources: https://www.maternalresources.org/ You can also connect with us on our social channels to stay up-to-date with the latest news, episodes, and community engagement: YouTube: youtube.com/maternalresources Instagram: @maternalresources Facebook: facebook.com/IntegrativeOB TikTok: NatureBack Doc on TikTok Grab Our Book: The NatureBack Method for Birth—your guide to an empowered pregnancy and delivery. Shop now at naturebackbook.myshopify.com  

In this deeply moving Listener Series episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Kayleigh is joined by Kailee, who shares her story of infertility, recurrent placenta previa, NICU stays, medical trauma, and ultimately surviving placenta accreta with a life-saving hysterectomy.Kailee walks us through two high-risk pregnancies marked by hemorrhage, emergency cesareans, prolonged antepartum hospitalizations, NICU stays, and profound grief, alongside moments of advocacy, empowerment, and healing. Her story highlights how trauma can live alongside gratitude, and how reclaiming your voice can be life-saving.This episode is especially meaningful for NICU parents, those navigating placenta complications, birth trauma survivors, and anyone grieving the birth experience, or future, that was taken from them.In this episode, we discuss:

Send us a textIn this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review a major randomized clinical trial published in JAMA comparing expectant management with active pharmacologic treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants. They walk through the trial design, inclusion criteria, and outcomes, highlighting the unexpected survival difference favoring expectant management despite similar rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The discussion explores the implications for bedside decision-making, the limitations of PDA-focused strategies, and the need for a more physiologic, patient-centered approach to ductal management in extremely preterm infants.----Expectant Management vs Medication for Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Infants: The PDA Randomized Clinical Trial. Laughon MM, Thomas SM, Watterberg KL, Kennedy KA, Keszler M, Ambalavanan N, Davis AS, Slaughter JL, Guillet R, Colaizy TT, Cotten CM, Dhawan MA, Bose CL, Talbert J, Smucny S, Benitz WE, Rysavy MA, Ohls RK, Baserga MC, DeMauro SB, Jaleel M, Jackson WM, Carlo WA, Puopolo KM, Hibbs AM, Katheria A, Sánchez PJ, D'Angio CT, Patel RM, Johnson BA, Chock VY, Bhatt AJ, Merhar SL, Moore R, Laptook AR, Ghavam S, Fuller J, Vyas-Read S, Kicklighter SD, Steinbrekera B, Anderson K, Reynolds AM, Wyckoff MH, Montoya C, Das A, Do B, Chang S, Higgins RD, Walsh MC; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network.JAMA. 2025 Dec 9:e2523330. doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.23330. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41364689Support the showAs 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!

Send us a textFull exclusively enteral fluids from day 1 versus gradual feeding in preterm infants (FEED1): a open-label, parallel-group, multicentre, randomised, superiority trial.Ojha S, Mitchell EJ, Johnson MJ, Gale C, McGuire W, Oddie S, Hall SS, Meakin G, Anderson J, Partlet C, Su Y, Johnson S, Walker KF, Ogollah R, Mistry H, Naghdi S, Montgomery A, Dorling J; FEED1 collaborative.Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2025 Dec;9(12):827-836. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(25)00271-8. Epub 2025 Oct 17.PMID: 41115446 Free article. Clinical Trial.Support the showAs 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!

Send us a textEarly body composition outcomes of infants born very preterm and receiving high volume, human milk feedings (≥170 ml/kg/day) before postnatal day 14.Gunawan E, Molleti M, Salas AA.J Perinatol. 2025 Oct 31. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02469-w. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41174086 No abstract available.Support the showAs 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!

Send us a textAntenatal Prediction of Early Cord Clamping among Infants Born Extremely Preterm.Katheria A, Dorner RA, Grobman W, Rysavy MA, Koo J, Wyckoff MH, Sandoval G, DeMauro SB, Das A, Lee HC, Cotten M, Calvo L, Saha S; Eunice Kennedy Schriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network.J Pediatr. 2025 Oct 31:114878. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114878. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41177398Support the showAs 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!

Send us a textDr. Shalini Ojha, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at University of Nottingham, presents the Feed One trial examining full enteral feeding (60 mL/kg/day) from day one versus gradual advancement in 30-32 week infants. While the primary outcome of hospital length of stay showed no difference (median 32 days), full feeding significantly reduced parenteral nutrition use, IV cannulations, and associated interventions without increasing necrotizing enterocolitis risk (4 versus 6 cases). This pragmatic trial challenges the unfounded fear that early full feeding causes NEC—demonstrating that moderate preterm infants can safely receive complete enteral nutrition from birth, simplifying care particularly in resource-limited settings while avoiding complications from IV access and parenteral nutrition. Support the showAs 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!

Send us a textDr. Elaine Boyle, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at University of Leicester, presents the SURFON trial evaluating early surfactant versus expectant management in 34-38 week infants with respiratory distress. This pragmatic trial enrolled infants requiring 30-45% oxygen or non-invasive support. Primary outcomes showed no difference in hospital length of stay or progression to severe respiratory disease. Early surfactant reduced NICU duration and non-invasive support by less than one day each, with borderline pneumothorax increase requiring treatment of 80+ infants to prevent one case. Findings suggest watch-and-wait approaches remain safe and reasonable for this population, though this group requires continued research given their potential for severe illness. Support the showAs 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!

Send us a textDr. Louise Owen from Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne presents the AEROPLANE trial comparing 21% versus 30% oxygen for 32-35 week infants at birth. This understudied cohort represents 80% of preterm births globally. Using cluster randomization with waived consent, the trial captured real-world practice across centers. Infants receiving 30% oxygen required less delivery room intervention including assisted ventilation, intubation, and chest compressions. Three-quarters of infants needing initial support continued requiring respiratory support beyond delivery. Both groups ultimately received average oxygen in the 50s, suggesting moderate preterm infants may behave more like very preterm rather than term babies regarding oxygen needs. Support the showAs 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!

Send us a textDr. Edgardo Szyld from Indiana University presents the PLANT study evaluating 20 minutes of prophylactic CPAP for late preterm infants (34-36+6 weeks) born via cesarean section. This population represents 70% of US preterm births and experiences five times higher respiratory distress rates with cesarean delivery. The pragmatic pilot enrolled 100 patients, demonstrating reduced NICU admissions without pneumothorax cases—addressing previous safety concerns from observational data. Szyld's team is planning PLANT 2, targeting 35-36 weekers across 11 international centers, which will compare outcomes with and without antenatal steroids. This pragmatic approach addresses a high-volume but understudied population significantly impacting NICU resources. Support the showAs 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!

Send us a textWhat happens when we challenge our long-standing assumptions about phototherapy in the NICU? In this special installment of our Rethinking Phototherapy series, Ben and Daphna are joined by Dr. Deepak Manhas to examine one of the most complex questions: how should we manage hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants?Unlike term babies, preemies face unique risks—shorter red blood cell lifespan, immature bilirubin conjugation, lower albumin binding, and increased blood-brain barrier permeability—all of which make them more vulnerable to bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction. This conversation explores why traditional guidelines cannot simply be applied to preterm infants and why clinicians often initiate phototherapy earlier.Dr. Manhas discusses the creation of gestation-specific treatment charts, the challenges and dangers of exchange transfusion in this fragile population, and the uncertain role of therapies such as IVIG, albumin, and phenobarbital. The team also unpacks practical issues: what “double phototherapy” should really mean, how to order irradiance and body surface area coverage with precision, and the role of bili blankets in promoting family bonding.By situating this discussion in the broader Rethinking Phototherapy series, the episode highlights both the progress and the unanswered questions in caring for preterm infants.

This episode discusses strategies for preventing preterm birth, highlighting the importance of cervical length screening, particularly in the second trimester. (Originally released December 2021) Twitter: @creogsovercoff1  Instagram: @creogsovercoffee  Facebook: www.facebook.com/creogsovercoffee  Website: www.creogsovercoffee.com  Patreon: www.patreon.com/creogsovercoffee  Visit www.acog.org to learn more about the CREOG National Residency Curriculum coming Fall 2025. 

Send us a textRisk factors associated with the development of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants on an exclusive human milk diet: a single-center case-control study.Ailumerab H, Miller JL, DeShea L, Beasley WH, Chaaban H, Bergner EM.J Perinatol. 2025 Aug 30. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02401-2. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40885806Support the showAs 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!

Send us a textAntenatal Corticosteroid in Twin-Pregnant Women at Risk of Late Preterm Delivery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Lee SM, Park HS, Choi SR, Lee J, Kim HJ, Park JY, Oh KJ, Cho GJ, Oh MJ, Chung JH, Kim SM, Kim BJ, Kim SY, Hong S, Jung YM, Lee SJ, Seong JS, Kim H, Oh S, Lee J, Jin YR, Kim JH, Cho HY, Park CW, Park JS, Jun JK.JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Sep 22:e253284. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.3284. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40982289Support the showAs 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!