You've made it through a CDH pregnancy, delivered a Tiny Hero, sent your baby into surgery more times than you'd like to remember, and finally, after several weeks or months in the hospital, the word "home" was officially mentioned!

If your local hospital has estimated 4+ months, it never hurts to get a second opinion from a top hospital. You might be able to cut your stay in half and increase survival odds simply by relocating somewhere else.

My family and the rest of the CDH community are here to support you along the way. This is one of the most supportive groups I have ever been a part of. Don't hesitate to reach out when you need help!

It is common for a feeding tube to be recommended until your Tiny Hero can figure things out on their own. In hopes of making this decision seem less scary or foreign, we have compiled many of the most commonly asked G-tube questions for you!

Some of our Tiny Heroes may struggle with speech and language development, and that’s okay! There are many things you can do to help prevent or overcome challenges with speech or language. Here are a few tips and tricks to help your little one learn to understand and use words at various ages.

Sensory play doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. It can be easily accomplished through play using basic items in your home or your backyard! Remember to have fun with it too!

When a baby spends a great deal of time in the hospital early on with many altered sensory experiences, it may lead to delays in oral and fine motor skills. It is essential to give your CDH baby a lot of sensory experiences and work on building up strength in their hands to combat any potential delays they may have.

There are lots of things you can do at home with your CDH child to help develop their fine motor skills in combination with the directions from your doctor and OT. Try out some of these at home to help with any delays your child may be experiencing.

Upon diagnosis, one of the first things mothers often ask is, “Will I be able to breastfeed?” This is such a tricky question to answer because there are so many factors to consider; however, it is important to know that just because your baby has CDH, it doesn’t automatically mean that nursing will not be an option.

Keep it fun, sneak in calories as you can, give lots of rewards, and trust that it will be okay.

It’s important to stay connected to your partner during these challenging moments. By doing the small and simple things, you both can come closer together and combat the struggles that come with a CDH diagnosis as a united front.

Oral aversions and weaning from a g-tube while maintaining adequate nutrition can be one of the most challenging and frustrating parts of the entire CDH rollercoaster.

When you have a CDH child, mealtime can often be the most dreaded and frustrating time of the day. We’ve been there! Here are some fun and creative tips and tricks to bring laughter back to the kitchen table!  

No matter which way you go, the important thing is to make sure the papers are all in one place, easy to access, and that the system is sustainable.

Once your baby with CDH is finally ready to go home, you will have a big decision to make before leaving the hospital. That decision is: Who will continue providing their medical care locally? Who will be their pediatrician? Here are some tips to help you make that important decision.

RSV is a highly contagious respiratory virus. In most healthy individuals it presents as a common cold and isn’t usually a big deal. However, in babies with compromised lungs, like CDH babies, it can be much more serious.

I still see the world as a giant germ. I still cringe when I see her lick ice cream off a table, touch the bottom of her shoes, or put her fingers in her mouth, but because she was so well protected early on, I know she will be okay.

Long lines, Florida heat, and big crowds can be scary for CDH kids that have been sheltered for so long, but with some research, thought, and planning, you can make it a magical trip they will never forget!