This episode walks families through the NICU stay and the first year at home, explaining common medical milestones and what truly matters for a premature baby’s growth and development. Guests: Amy Knapitsch, MD, director of the Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic with nearly 16 years in follow-up care, and Mariana Theodoro, MD, medical director of the Small Baby Unit at Children's Mercy. We cover the NICU experience, signs your baby is ready to go home, adjusted age for developmental milestones, feeding preemies and when to seek help — all key topics for parents of premature infants and newborns. Subscribe to the Parentish Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and visit parentish.org for more resources and links to neonatal follow-up and early intervention services.
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What to Expect When Your Baby Is Born Early
Mariana Theodoro, MD | Amy Knapitsch, MD
I trained at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed both my Residency and Neonatology Fellowship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. I’ve been part of the CMH team for the past five years, and my connection here goes back even further—I previously worked at CMH as a research assistant before medical school. I currently serve as the Medical Director of the Small Baby Unit, where my passion centers on advancing care for premature infants and supporting their growth and development. While I don’t have the opportunity to follow families after discharge, I truly treasure staying connected and celebrating our preemie graduates—especially when families share updates and photos so we can see how far they’ve come! Outside of the hospital, life is full and joyful with my husband and our two teenage boys keeping me on my toes.
Learn more about Mariana Theodoro, MD
I attended UMKC School of Medicine and did residency at Children's Mercy. I’ve been in the Neonatal Follow Up Clinic for nearly 16 years! I love the variety of challenges we see and the opportunity to help parents grow as they adjust to a different newborn experience than they expected. Outside of work, I live with my husband, three fantastic kids and a very spoiled Australian Shepherd.