Pain is one of the most common fears that women have about childbirth, which is why I am so excited to be welcoming a leading expert in pain management on the podcast for a two episode series. Today, in Part One, we discuss why Dr. Jody Thomas is on a mission to improve the pain experience of children and adults everywhere and how years of working with chronically ill children and also her own experiences with childbirth and having a baby in the NICU have charged her passion to empower kids and parents to be in control of their pain experience. What is pain? How does it work? Do people feel pain differently? Why? How do newborns, babies and children experience pain? How can parents create the best possible pain experience for their children during medical procedures? What do you need to know if your baby is in the NICU? How can you have a positive pain experience during childbirth?

Hear the answers to all these questions, PLUS Dr. Thomas begins to share with us her own birth stories, and I'm not kidding you, my jaw was on the floor while she told me BOTH of her birth stories. After you hear these two episodes I think you will also understand why I now refer to her as the "Jedi Master of Pain." She's incredible. Buckle Up.

ABOUT TODAY'S EXPERT:

Dr. Jody Thomas is a licensed clinical psychologist, and specialist in pediatric medical illness and trauma. A well-known expert in pediatric pain who teaches internationally on the subject, she is also a founder and the former Clinical Director of the Packard Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center at Stanford, and a former Assistant Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She still serves as Adjunct Faculty for Stanford and an active consultant for the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. Her passion for bringing together the power of medical science, technology and design to transform the way we think about kids and pain led her to her current focus but it's her role as a mom of two that solidified her path in creating the Meg Foundation. Dr. Thomas was recently chosen for the prestigious MayDay Fellowship, which supports pain experts in assuming public leadership roles to help end human suffering from pain through public discourse about research, best practices in care and policy.

LINKS:

Dr. Jody Thomas' Website: https://www.jodythomasphd.com/

Meg Foundation website: https://www.megfoundationforpain.org/

Baby specific pain management: https://www.megfoundationforpain.org/newborns-babies

Comfort Poke Plan chat bot for kids: https://supermeg.comfortquest.io/

Nasal swab comfort plan for kids: https://comfortquest.io/swabplan/

Game plan for nasal swab.

ImaginAction website (free and open use for all): http://imaginaction.stanford.edu/

Audio Guide When Feeling Nauseous: http://imaginaction.stanford.edu/less-nauseous/

BUZZY BEE for Kids Getting Shots.

Follow THE MEG FOUNDATION on Social Media:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/megfoundationforpain/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/megfoundationforpain

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/megfoundation

Visit www.birthshow.com for some great free resources that will help you on your own journey into motherhood.

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@birthshow

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@christywill

If you find yourself struggling emotionally and mentally after having a baby, you are not alone. Please visit www.postpartum.net for help. There is someone waiting to talk you through this tough moment. Don't wait, help is only a few clicks away.

This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.

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