

The Incubator
Ben Courchia & Daphna Yasova Barbeau
A weekly discussion about new evidence in neonatal care and the fascinating individuals who make this progress possible. Hosted by Dr. Ben Courchia and Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 25, 2025 • 2min
#313 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 The effect of maternal position on cerebral oxygenation in premature infants during Kangaroo care
Send us a textThe effect of maternal position on cerebral oxygenation in premature infants during Kangaroo care: a randomised controlled trial.Stapleton I, Murphy S, Vaughan S, Walsh BH, Natchimuthu K, Livingstone V, Dempsey E.J Perinatol. 2025 Apr 5. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02287-0. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40186001Support the showAs 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!

May 25, 2025 • 9min
#313 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Neonatologists' perceptions of uncertainty
Send us a textNeonatologists' perceptions of uncertainty: a national survey.Rholl E, Krick JA, Leuthner SR, Pan AY, Challa SA, Kukora S.J Perinatol. 2025 Apr 19. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02292-3. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40253559 No abstract available.Support the showAs 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!

May 18, 2025 • 1h 1min
#310 – 🗞️ NeoNews - Operation Stork Speed, Parents and Social Media, and more…
Send us a textIn this week’s episode of NeoNews, the team reflects on a quiet Mother’s Day before diving into a full slate of stories touching the emotional and political corners of neonatal care. First up: parenting in the digital age. The crew unpacks a gripping New York Times essay by Amanda Hess, whose prenatal diagnosis of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome led her down the rabbit hole of medical Googling, Facebook support groups, and the complicated power of online communities for medically complex families.Then, we turn to formula safety and the Biden administration’s new “Operation Stork Speed.” The team discusses the implications for NICU care, parental anxiety, and advocacy in the wake of increased scrutiny over heavy metals and contaminants in infant formula. From there, we navigate the ripple effects of tariffs on medical supplies, pharmacy deserts, and drug shortages—all of which directly impact the NICU.Rounding out the show: U.S. birth rates now favor parents over 40 versus teens, RSV vaccines show impressive real-world results, and new research questions everything we thought we knew about preemie blood pressures.Packed with insight, outrage, and a few Dumbo references, this episode covers the headlines shaping neonatal care and the families we serve. Support the showAs 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!

May 11, 2025 • 1h 12min
#308 - 📑 Journal Club - The Complete Episode from May 11th 2025
In a special anniversary edition, the hosts review fascinating neonatal studies. They discuss a trial on furosemide's safety for preterm infants and a compelling comparison of antibiotic courses for sepsis. The impact of sigh breaths on lung function during ventilation is explored, alongside the benefits of kangaroo care for boosting breast milk intake. They tackle prenatal cannabis exposure risks linked to low birth weight and delve into neurodevelopment outcomes for extremely preterm infants. The dialogue combines humor with crucial insights into neonatal care.

May 11, 2025 • 14min
#308 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Furosemide for Infants at Risk of BPD: Is it Safe?
Send us a textFurosemide Safety in Preterm Infants at Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Greenberg RG, Lang J, Smith PB, Shekhawat P, Courtney SE, Hudak ML, Moya F, Iyengar A, Eldemerdash A, Bloom B, Go M, Hanna M, Rhein L, Aliaga S, Lewis T, Febre A, Kiefer AS, Bhatt-Mehta V, Khoury JA, Selewski D, Anand R, Martz K, Payne EH, Zimmerman KO, Benjamin DK Jr, Laughon M; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act – Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee.J Pediatr. 2025 Apr 28:114629. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114629. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40306549Support the showAs 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!

May 11, 2025 • 10min
#308 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 7 vs 14 days of Antibiotics for Culture Proven Sepsis
Send us a textSeven-day versus 14-day antibiotic course for culture-proven neonatal sepsis: a multicentre randomised non-inferiority trial in a low and middle-income country.Dutta S, Nangia S, Jajoo M, Sundaram M, Kumar M, Shivanna N, Gathwala G, Nesargi S, Jain S, Kumar P, Saili A, Karthik A, Tripathi S, Bandiya P, Dalal P, Ray P, Randhawa VS, Saigal K, Radhakrishnan D, Venkatesh V, Jagannatha B, Sharma M, Nagaraj S, Malik M, Dogra S, Mittal S, Saini A, Makkar N, Dhir M, Chandramohan A, Pragati RA, Srivastava T, Mukundan L, Benakappa N, Shukla A, Rasaily R.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Apr 25:fetalneonatal-2024-328232. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-328232. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40280737Support the showAs 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!

May 11, 2025 • 7min
#308 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Sigh Breaths for HFOV: Yay or Nay?
Discover the intriguing findings on the impact of intermittent sigh breaths during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation for preterm infants. A randomized crossover study reveals potential benefits like improved lung volume and oxygen saturation. However, the research calls for more investigation regarding long-term safety. Tune in for insights that could shape future neonatal care practices!

May 11, 2025 • 10min
#308 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Can Kangaroo Mother Care Improve Human Milk Intake?
Send us a textEffect of kangaroo mother care in low birth weight infants on human milk intake: a randomized controlled trial.Sinha B, Mazumder S, Thakur A, Devi S, More D, Ashorn P, Sommerfelt H, Kurpad A, Bhandari N.Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 May;121(5):1109-1116. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.02.006. Epub 2025 Feb 11.PMID: 39947481 Free article. Clinical Trial.Support the showAs 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!

May 11, 2025 • 8min
#308 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Non-Invasive Respiratory Support – Canadians tells us how they really feel!
Send us a textInterprofessional perspectives on non-invasive respiratory support practices in extremely preterm infants: a Canadian survey.Martinez TA, Remmer E, Mardakis S, Leone M, Boyer J, Lv S, Beltempo M, Sant'Anna G, Shalish W.J Perinatol. 2025 Apr 12. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02291-4. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40221609Support the showAs 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!

May 11, 2025 • 6min
#308 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Prenatal Cannabis Use and Neonatal Outcomes
Send us a textPrenatal Cannabis Use and Neonatal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Lo JO, Ayers CK, Yeddala S, Shaw B, Robalino S, Ward R, Kansagara D.JAMA Pediatr. 2025 May 5:e250689. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.0689. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40323610Support the showAs 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!


