When the baby is in the NICU, who's caring for the mom? A new model is changing that
When a newborn lands in the NICU, all eyes turn to the tiniest patient in the room. But what happens to the person still recovering from labor and delivery—especially if they're battling physical complications or mental health challenges while sitting beside an incubator?
Dr. Heather Burris, a neonatologist and senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI), noticed a disturbing pattern. 'In my job, I encounter parents choosing to stay with their babies in the NICU instead of seeking their own health care,' she said. Even when a mother has a potentially serious condition like postpartum hypertension or a surgical site infection, 'they must leave their baby's bedside and go to the closest emergency room, requiring separation from their baby to get care.'
It's a gap in postpartum care that's hiding in plain sight.
Related: 5 reasons why NICU parents might be more susceptible to depression and anxiety
My daughter was born six weeks early and spent 10 days in the NICU. Even though her condition was stable, that stretch of time remains one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. There is nothing that can prepare you for seeing your tiny baby hooked up to machines helping them breathe—a vivid reminder of how fragile new life can be.
In the days that followed her birth, I was battling more than exhaustion. I experienced symptoms of postpartum PTSD, but no one seemed to notice—not my loved ones, and not my medical team. I kept showing up at her bedside, putting on a brave face, even as I felt myself unraveling inside. Looking back, I wish one of the nurses or doctors had asked how I was doing, not just how she was. It might have saved me months of silent suffering.
Related: When my youngest daughter was in the NICU, I felt like I was failing both of my kids
A new randomized controlled trial, published in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine on May 5, 2025, is reimagining how care is delivered to these parents—by embedding it right where they are. The Postpartum Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PeliCaN) model brings doulas and nurse-midwives directly into the NICU, helping mothers access the care they urgently need without leaving their baby's side.
'Several of our control participants never had their blood pressure checked after they left the hospital after giving birth, even though they had telehealth visits,' Burris noted. In contrast, the 20 parents who received the PeliCaN intervention got care a median of 20 days earlier than the control group. They were also far less likely to miss vital components of postpartum care, like blood pressure checks.
The doulas—deployed within the first week postpartum—offered both emotional and physical support. 'Doulas interact with mothers at least once in person, and follow up via phone, text, and video chat,' Burris explained. 'They help mothers overcome barriers to postpartum care.'
That support made a meaningful difference. While nearly all study participants eventually received some form of postpartum care, Burris emphasized, '30% of controls were missing a core component of postpartum care, most often blood pressure measurements in the setting of telehealth visits.'
Related: 5 ways I became a better labor & delivery nurse by being a NICU mama
And in some cases, the intervention may have been life-saving. 'We found severe hypertension even in mothers who hadn't had hypertension before. Other mothers shared suicidal ideation requiring immediate intervention. I truly believe that doulas can be lifesaving.'
What's next for maternal care innovationScaling this model will take time, training, and policy support—but Burris and her team are hopeful. Integrating maternal care into NICUs isn't just about convenience; it's about survival, dignity, and supporting mothers as whole people, not just caregivers.
'Her baby was in the NICU—but no one was checking on her.' That may soon change.
Sources:
LDI Blog Post: 'Parents of Hospitalized Infants Often Neglect Their Own Health Care'
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine, May 2025 Publication
Direct quotes from Dr. Heather Burris via LDI interview, June 4, 2025
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