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For this special episode, we’re going back to the bedside to sit down with Dr. Melinda Elliott, a board-certified neonatologist with more than three decades of experience caring for premature and medically fragile neonates. After witnessing firsthand the impact of an exclusive human milk diet in the NICU, Dr. Elliott now serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Prolacta Bioscience, continuing her work to improve outcomes for the smallest and most vulnerable babies.

Together, we discuss why nutrition is one of the most important aspects of NICU care and how understanding your baby’s nutritional needs can help parents feel more informed and empowered throughout their NICU journey. Dr. Elliott explains the benefits of human milk nutrition, shares how advancements in neonatal nutrition have improved outcomes and reduced serious intestinal complications, and reminds parents that feeding decisions should never be driven by guilt or pressure during an already overwhelming time.

We also talk about the transition home after the NICU, the ongoing importance of nutrition, and how parents can confidently advocate for their baby’s care. Dr. Elliott offers powerful advice on communicating with your medical team and reminds parents:

“You have a right to be informed about absolutely everything that is going on with your baby and sharing in decision making as much as possible… the parent is the most important person in the room.”

Whether you’re currently in the NICU or reflecting on your family’s journey, this episode is filled with practical education, reassurance, and hope. We hope you’ll come away feeling more confident asking questions, participating in your baby’s care, and knowing that your voice truly matters.

For more information on NICU nutrition you can visit: https://parents.prolacta.com/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cc-trauma-mamas-podcast&utm_source=podcast

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We finally made it to the day we had been dreaming about for years… homecoming day. 🏡🤍

In this episode, we’re sharing what our homecoming days actually looked like.. the emotions, the people who showed up for us, the help we received, and the moments we will never forget.

We talk about the car ride home after years of living inside hospital walls and how completely unreal it felt to realize… we were really going home.

But coming home brought a whole new set of emotions. We discuss the relief of finally leaving the hospital behind, mixed with the worry of suddenly becoming the ones responsible for everything. After years of having nurses, doctors, and a medical team just steps away, there was a moment where it hit us that we were now the ones taking care of them.

We talk about what nursing looked like at home, creating a new routine, learning to trust ourselves, and navigating those first scary emergency scenarios outside of the hospital. The fear, the adrenaline, the happy "firsts" at home, and the things that helped us feel more prepared.

Because coming home is the goal… but learning how to live beyond the bedside is a whole new and exciting journey.

Listen now for part two of our homecoming story.

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One of the hardest and most overwhelming moments in having a critically ill child is also the most hoped-for… bringing your baby home for the first time.

This first part of our 3-part series is for the parents in that in-between space… still in the ICU, but starting to prepare for the homecoming. Our hope is that this episode helps you feel a little less alone, and a little more confident as you step into that transition.

In this conversation, Danielle and I share what it felt like preparing to bring our kids home. We talked through logistics like car seats, medical supply ordering, and in-home nursing, as well as the emotional weight of realizing the hospital safety net won’t be there anymore, and what it actually felt like to become the sole caretaker of your trach and vented child overnight.

We also talk about how important the relationships with our nurses became, and how hard it was to leave them, along with the fears we carried and the things no one really prepares you for once you walk through your front door.

We open up about the reality of suddenly being responsible for every alarm, every tube, every breath, our first emergency moments at home, and what helped us build confidence in those early days.

As Alison shares in this episode: “It’s the start of your life really. All that darkness and terrible stuff that happened in the hospital, you can leave behind. There are much, much better days at home.”

Because “going home” sounds like the finish line, but for so many of us, it’s just the beginning of learning a whole new way to live, love, and care.

In Part 2, we’ll be sharing what the actual day of coming home looked like — the emotions, logistics, and everything that came with that moment.