What Does a Dietitian Do?

Today is National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day and we want to share a little information with you about what a Dietitian does in the NICU, and their amazing role in caring for premature and full term critically ill babies.

Helping fragile NICU babies grow bigger and stronger is an interdisciplinary team effort and the Dietitian plays a vital role on that team. In order to grow and develop, high risk newborns require specialized attention from neonatal dietitians. Neonatal dietitians assess nutritional needs, develop eating programs, monitor growth progress and counsel parents to help neonates thrive.

Meet NICU Dietitian Katy Price

NICU Helping Hands has a front-row seat to seeing the work dietitians do every single day in the NICU. We also know some of them personally, and wanted to introduce you to Katy Price.

Katy Price has worked as a Registered and Licensed Dietitian for over a decade. For the last 5 years she has cared for NICU babies at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. She is mother to 2 feisty boys and is all too familiar with the challenges and joys that come with breastfeeding and pumping. Because of her own experience with breastfeeding and pumping, she is a true advocate for families talking to their NICU medical care team about nutrition struggles they may be having.

We asked Katy what her favorite part of being a NICU Dietitian is.

“My favorite part is playing a role in a baby’s growth and development. Seeing them flourish and go home is truly humbling and heart warming.”

While Katy is not in constant contact with the families she serves, she is behind the scenes monitoring the growth and nutritional needs of every baby in the NICU. She is also working with other staff to develop the best nutritional plan for each individual infant.

Thank You for All You Do!

So today, on National Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Day we say thank you to NICU Dietitians across the country for  helping NICU babies grow bigger and stronger. We are so very grateful that YOU are in the NICU doing this most important work.

To learn more about what Registered Dietitians do visit The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

We invite you to learn about the services we offer NICU families, bereaved families and NICU professionals by visiting NICU Helping Hands website or by emailing us at [email protected]