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In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with certified birth doula and lactation counselor Latoya Southwell for a wide-ranging conversation about the role doulas play in supporting families before, during, and after birth. LaToya shares her personal and professional path into birth work, and how her experiences shaped a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approach to supporting laboring people—particularly those from historically marginalized communities.

The conversation covers what doulas do (and don’t do), how they differ from midwives, and how they advocate for safe, informed, and emotionally grounded birth experiences. LaToya talks candidly about how she prepares clients for unexpected outcomes, including C-sections and NICU admissions, and how doulas can collaborate with healthcare teams rather than be in conflict with them.

She also introduces the Baby Café initiative—an informal peer support network she co-founded to reduce isolation and provide postpartum support for new mothers—and explains why preparing families for postpartum is just as critical as planning for labor.

This episode is a practical introduction to the real work of birth doulas—and an invitation to rethink how care teams can work together to improve outcomes and experiences for parents and babies alike.

Support the show

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.

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In this episode of From the Heart, Dr. Nim Goldshtrom and Dr. Adrianne Bischoff walk through a complex neonatal case involving sudden decompensation shortly after birth. With few early clues and no clear diagnosis, the team discusses how to approach circulatory shock, differentiate pulmonary hypertension from congenital heart disease, and manage critically ill neonates before imaging is available.

Using this case as a reverse journal club, the hosts break down relevant literature and decision-making pathways: when to start prostaglandin, when epinephrine makes sense even without low blood pressure, and why relying only on numbers like MAP can be misleading. They also examine the role of therapeutic hypothermia in unstable infants and the potential cardiovascular consequences of cooling.

Later, the conversation focuses on left ventricular dysfunction, balancing systemic and pulmonary circulation via the ductus, and using bedside markers like lactate and perfusion to guide treatment when echo isn’t immediately available. The episode closes with thoughts on autoregulation, cerebral protection, and the evolving role of emerging technologies in neonatal hemodynamics.

A real-world deep dive into diagnostic uncertainty, evolving physiology, and decision-making under pressure in the NICU.

Support the show

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.

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In this week’s Journal Club, Ben and Daphna unpack a series of recent studies exploring outcomes in neonatology—from long-term mortality after severe neonatal morbidity to short-term feeding strategies in preterm infants.

They open with a large population-based Swedish study showing that infants who experience severe neonatal morbidities face elevated mortality risks well into adolescence—especially those with neurological complications. The discussion highlights how early-life diagnoses carry weight far beyond the NICU, and how long-term support systems may not be fully equipped to manage that risk.

Next, the hosts examine a small German crossover trial on prone positioning, revealing that even simple changes in posture may cut hypoxemic episodes in half. They follow this with a randomized trial comparing dopamine and norepinephrine for neonatal septic shock, a data-heavy look at the nuanced physiology behind first-line interventions.

The episode rounds out with studies on cold milk for feeding dysphagia, late-onset sepsis risk with hydrocortisone, the impact of tele-neonatology on cooling time in HIE, and a new meta-analysis on kangaroo care’s role in reducing infection.

It’s a pragmatic, fast-paced overview of recent literature shaping how we care for vulnerable newborns.

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.

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All-cause mortality and infection-related outcomes of hospital-initiated kangaroo care versus conventional neonatal care for low-birthweight infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Minotti C, Jost K, Aghlmandi S, Schlaeppi C, Sieswerda E, van Werkhoven CH, Schulzke SM, Bielicki JA.Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2025 Jul;9(7):470-483. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(25)00130-0. Epub 2025 May 26.PMID: 40441171 Free article.

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.

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Norepinephrine versus Dopamine for Septic Shock in Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Mazhari MYA, Priyadarshi M, Singh P, Chaurasia S, Basu S.J Pediatr. 2025 Jul;282:114599. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114599. Epub 2025 Apr 17.PMID: 40252959 Clinical Trial.

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.

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From Warm to Cold: Feeding Cold Milk to Preterm Infants with Uncoordinated Oral Feeding Patterns.

Ferrara-Gonzalez L, Kamity R, Htun Z, Dumpa V, Islam S, Hanna N.Nutrients. 2025 Apr 26;17(9):1457. doi: 10.3390/nu17091457.PMID: 40362766 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.

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.

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Impact of teleneonatology on time to goal temperature in outborn neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy requiring therapeutic hypothermia.

Kaczor M, Hentz R, Youssef PE, Fine A, Fang J.J Perinatol. 2025 May 29. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02324-y. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40442292

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!