Being My Child's Protector, Advocate, and Decision-Maker in the NICU

Anticipating the birth of a child can be one of the happiest times for parents. But when babies have life-threatening medical issues and begin their lives in the NICU, everything can change. For some parents, this may mean navigating a new role: learning how to navigate the NICU and communicate with the medical team; figuring out what matters most to their baby and family; considering intense medical interventions, interpreting medical jargon; seeking clarity in the absence of a clear prognosis; building a trusting relationship with the baby’s medical team.

During this event, Dr. Monica Lemmon was joined by a group of experienced NICU parents to explore effective strategies to build helpful parent-clinician alliance and parental confidence in decision-making for the newborn in the NICU. The parents shared insights on what proved helpful—and what didn’t—during their own NICU journeys.