Having a baby in the NICU can be overwhelming, especially when parents are flooded with conflicting information about newborn medications and vaccines. In this episode, we tackle common NICU myths and fears with evidence-based guidance from a multidisciplinary NICU team.

We start with a popular misconception circulating on social media: If a mother is healthy, her baby doesn’t need hepatitis B vaccination or erythromycin eye ointment at birth. Our experts explain why this is false, and why these medications are given as preventive protections during a newborn’s most vulnerable period, not because a parent is assumed to be unhealthy.

Joined by three experienced NICU nurses and a neonatologist, along with an occupational therapist who practices in the NICU, we walk families through:

• The most common reasons babies are admitted to the NICU

• What the first 24–48 hours in the NICU are really like, both emotionally and medically

• How families can mentally and practically prepare for an unexpected NICU stay

• The evidence behind vitamin K and the real risks of vitamin K deficiency bleeding

• Why hepatitis B vaccination is recommended at birth and how it protects infants

• Why erythromycin eye ointment is still used even when prenatal testing is normal

• How misinformation about newborn care spreads and how parents can evaluate it

• Ways parents can support their baby’s development in the NICU, even when they feel powerless

• Questions parents should feel confident asking their NICU care team

This episode is designed to empower parents with clear, respectful, science-based information while honoring the fear, uncertainty, and emotional weight of a NICU experience. Whether you’re currently in the NICU, expecting a baby, or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance from professionals who care for newborns every day.