Chez NENEN Episode 5 - Love and Loss: The Role of Compassion and Empathy for Postpartum Parents of Babies in the NICU (w/ Dr. Jess Daigle)
Haitian Proverb
“Sa Bondye sere pou ou, lavalas pa ka pote’l ale.”
“What God has for you, floods cannot take away.”
What You’ll Hear
00:05:00 - “Deb did not care.”… Dr. Jess talks about growing up as a “not spoiled” only child
00:10:00 - Planted seed… Her love for neonatal care came when Dr. Jess was just a little girl
00:15:00 - Triggers and controls… How Dr. Jess navigated the pain of losing her first child
00:20:00 - NICU PTSD… Emotions, concerns, and emergencies after leaving the NICU
00:25:00 - Dr. Jess’ kids… “Where are they now?”
00:30:00 - Special Projects and work… Dr. Jess uses stories and empathy to help other families
00:35:00 - Normalize experiences… Supporting parents through the hard first days
00:40:00 - Synergy… How Dr. Jess navigates home and work life
00:45:00 - Intentionality… The “village” and postpartum care
00:50:00 - Mom and Me MD… Dr. Jess’ special project for new parents
In this episode of the Chez NENEN podcast, Dr. Jess Daigle, a NICU Hospitalist, shares her journey into medicine, the challenges of parenting preterm babies, and the importance of compassion in healthcare. She discusses her personal postpartum experiences, including loss, and how they have shaped her approach to supporting families in the NICU. Dr. Jess emphasizes the need for strong support systems for postpartum families transitioning from the NICU to home and her future aspirations to create a community for NICU families. Our conversation highlights the significance of language and communication in healthcare, as well as balance between one’s professional and personal life.
Key themes and insights from this conversation include:
The Journey to Neonatology and Personal Experience: Dr. Daigle's path to becoming a neonatologist was deeply influenced by reading "A Long Dying of Baby Andrew" at age 10 and her early love for babies. Her personal experiences with pregnancy loss (miscarriage at 19 weeks) and the preterm births of her son (31 weeks) and daughter (36 weeks) profoundly shaped her approach to patient care, moving beyond textbook knowledge to a lived understanding of NICU families' challenges.
Holistic Patient Care and Empathy: Dr. Daigle emphasizes a holistic approach to healthcare, extending care beyond the baby to the entire family unit. She believes in understanding the emotional and psychological struggles parents face, particularly during and after a NICU stay. She actively practices empathy, curiosity, and intentional communication, asking "What happened to them?" instead of "What's wrong with them?" to uncover root causes and provide genuine support.
Addressing Gaps in Postpartum and NICU Support: A significant theme is the lack of adequate support for families transitioning home from the NICU. Dr. Daigle highlights the anxiety, feeding issues, developmental concerns, and childcare challenges that often arise. She is passionate about preparing families for these realities, providing education, and connecting them with resources to foster a sense of control and reduce feelings of isolation.
Work-Life Synergy and Building a Village: Dr. Daigle advocates for "synergy" over "balance" in managing her multiple roles as a physician, wife, and mother. This involves constantly reassessing priorities, open communication with her husband, and building a strong support system ("village") of family and caregivers. She also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and adjusting commitments to align with shifting personal and family needs.
Future Initiatives and Advocacy: Dr. Daigle is actively working to improve NICU family support through her "Tiny Steps NICU Grad Care" direct specialty practice, which aims to provide ongoing developmental, feeding, and psychosocial support for NICU graduates and their families. She also uses her social media platforms (Mom and Me_MD on Instagram and LinkedIn) to educate and advocate for humanism and compassion in medicine, and will be a keynote speaker at the Once Upon a Preemie Conference in November.
Up Next: On November 1st, you’ll get to meet one of my dearest friends, Frances Bellegarde. Although she inherited her last name through marriage, it fits Frances so well. Bellegarde is a French word that means “Beautiful Watchtower” and Frances embodies that very idea. With a career that spans human resources, human capital, operations, and organizational development… she is also a licensed cosmetologist, the owner of an online gift shop, a member of the Nenen team, and an intentional wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Wherever Frances is involved, she leaves no stone unturned. (Airs November 1, 2025)
