October 17: from crisis to comfort: how doulas can make a difference in the NICU experience // workshop

From Crisis to Comfort will be Thursday, October 17th at 11am EST / 10am CST / 8am PST / 5pm CET

Deepen your understanding of the NICU experience and learn how doulas are uniquely positioned to improve the NICU experience for babies and their families.

Workshop goals:

-Learn how NICU families are “set up” for perinatal mental health disorders: discuss how current prenatal culture and the NICU environment disrupt infant bonding and the role of parental autonomy which in turn increases the risk of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders for NICU families.
-Overview of what makes NICU babies different from “regular” babies: review of how different infant body systems are impacted both during a NICU stay (including lungs, brain/nervous system, GI system and growth/development) and how that impacts life after NICU as well.
-Explore how doulas are uniquely positioned to change the NICU narrative: discussion of the potential impact that informed support, especially from doulas, can have on improving the NICU experience for babies and families.

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This workshop is led by Mary Farrelly, RN, BSN, RNC-NIC, owner, The NICU Translator

With over a decade of experience as a Level IV NICU nurse and nurse educator, Mary has supported hundreds of NICU families, both at the bedside and during the transition home. She has created and taught a comprehensive curriculum for new nurses, drawing on her expertise in neonatal pathophysiology and best practices. Her work has been instrumental in preparing healthcare providers, doulas, and other support professionals to deliver exceptional care to the most vulnerable infants and their families.

Mary believes that doulas are the missing link to creating a more empowering and less traumatic NICU experience. She is passionate about building a network of "NICU-informed" doulas to provide the evidence-based guidance and support that NICU babies and their families deserve. To further this mission, she has created a specialized training program designed to equip doulas with the knowledge and skills needed to support NICU families with confidence, compassion, and evidence-based care.

She is also deeply committed to enhancing the NICU discharge experience by empowering families with education and support, helping them create a nurturing environment where their family can thrive.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University.