About Kristen

Hi! My name is Kristen and I'm so grateful you are here. Our family's NICU journey started when my water broke early at 25 weeks. I was admitted to the hospital in hopes I would remain pregnant until 34 weeks, however our son had other ideas, and was born at 26 weeks. He was quickly whisked away to the NICU after being stabilized, which was our home for the next 5 months. His journey was complicated by getting E coli meningitis at 32 weeks, which led to hydrocephalus and eventually multiple brain surgeries for shunts to help drain this fluid. During that time he also struggled with oral eating, so we made the decision to have a G tube placed prior to going home. We went home at exactly 5 months with oxygen and a G tube; swapping out the NICU and hospital, for all the outpatient appointments, follow ups and specialists. So I get it. I've been there. I get the joys that come with every new milestone and the grief that is part of this journey as well.

My experience made me want to help other NICU parents and eventually led me to becoming a NICU doula helping to support, empower and walk beside you through this wild and life changing world of the NICU and transitioning to home. When not doing doula work, I'm also a Nurse Practitioner specializing in family medicine in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I love my role as a nurse practitioner, however also feel that the medical system often lacks the time, resources, or day to day knowledge to fully support families on this journey. I'm here to help you with that and be another part of you and your family's team. Helping to navigate this difficult chapter with hopefully just a bit more knowledge, joy and empowerment.