NICU Awareness Month

NICU Awareness Month

A time to honor the extraordinary families who navigate the uncertainty of premature birth, and the healthcare heroes who stand beside them every hour of every day.

I’ve spent my career caring for women and families during some of their most vulnerable moments. The NICU is a place of remarkable resilience but it’s also a reminder that we must do everything possible to support healthy, full term pregnancies.

While every pregnancy is unique, there are several practical steps women can take to help reduce the likelihood of complications and support a healthy journey to term:

Early prenatal care:

• Establishing care early helps identify risk factors and build a strong foundation for maternal health.

Consistent check ins:

• Routine visits allow clinicians to monitor changes that may require attention.

Healthy daily habits:

• Nutrition, sleep, stress management, and avoiding tobacco, and alcohol use all contribute to better outcomes.

Understanding personal risk:

• Knowing your medical history and discussing it with your clinician empowers informed decisions.

Asking questions early:

• No concern is too small; open communication is one of the strongest tools we have.

One condition that continues to challenge families and clinicians is preeclampsia, a serious hypertensive disorder that can lead to preterm birth. According to the Fetal Health Foundation, chronic medical conditions such as preeclampsia caused by hypertension are one of the top 5 risks of pre-term births. Earlier insight into who may be at higher risk has the potential to change the trajectory of care.

That’s why I’m proud to support the work being done at Mirvie and its first of its kind preeclampsia blood test, Encompass, which is designed to provide early, personalized insight into a woman’s biological risk. It’s an important step toward giving clinicians and families more time and more options to support healthier pregnancies.

This month, we honor NICU families, celebrate the clinicians who care for them, and recommit ourselves to advancing tools and knowledge that help more babies arrive safely and on time.