Nobody Prepares You for the NICU: What Parents Need Most

No one expects their parenting journey to begin in the NICU.

One moment you're imagining bringing your baby home, and the next you're learning a new language of monitors, rounds, feeding schedules, medical updates, and milestones you never expected to celebrate. Alongside the uncertainty can come fear, grief, guilt, hope, and the overwhelming feeling that you're navigating one of the hardest experiences of your life without a roadmap.

Join us for Nobody Prepares You for the NICU: What Parents Need Most, a heartfelt and practical conversation about navigating the unexpected journey of having a baby in the NICU. We'll talk honestly about what parents experience, what is happening medically behind the scenes, the support families deserve, and the guidance that can make both the NICU stay and transition home feel a little less overwhelming.

Moderated by Lindsey Campbell, Head of Content at Auggie and a fellow NICU mom, this conversation brings together women who understand the NICU from both personal and professional perspectives: Dr. Kate Rubey, board-certified neonatologist; Kristen Knutson (@callmekristenmarie), who has openly shared her family's NICU journey; Jodi Klaristenfeld, Founder & CEO of Flrrish and NICU parent advocate; Kristen Tomlan, Founder of DŌ and fellow NICU mom; and Tammy Balaban, pediatric occupational therapist and infant feeding specialist.

Together, we'll discuss:

• What no one tells you about becoming a NICU parent
• What parents should know about the medical side of NICU care
• How to communicate with your baby's medical team and advocate with confidence
• Coping with the emotional rollercoaster of the NICU
• Feeding, development, and bonding while your baby is receiving medical care
• Preparing for discharge and the transition from NICU to home
• Supporting your baby's development after discharge
• Finding community and giving yourself grace through an unexpected journey

Whether you're currently in the NICU, preparing for discharge, or reflecting on an experience that continues to shape your family, this conversation will offer expert guidance, honest lived experience, and the reminder that you don't have to navigate the NICU alone.

What is Auggie? The most trusted community for parents to find answers. Inside the Auggie app, parents get stage-specific guidance, expert content, on-demand events, and a supportive network that reduces the mental load of figuring everything out alone.