Episode 146: Calling All Bereaved & Veteran NICU Dads

May 6, 2026

Guest: Matt Bialkowski

Dads of the NICU Podcast

Matt Bialkowski, a two-time NICU dad from Australia and host of the Dads of the NICU podcast, shares an honest look at what it’s like to navigate the NICU as a father. From the emotional weight of going home to an empty house to learning how to support both partner and baby, Matt opens up about the moments that shape a dad’s experience. Through his story, he offers practical insights, encouragement, and a reminder that dads need support, connection, and space to process, too.

In this episode, we chat about:

  • The emotional whiplash of leaving your partner in recovery while your baby is in the NICU—and what that experience really feels like
  • How seeing other NICU babies can bring both comfort and anxiety in those early days
  • The reality of going home alone—no partner, no baby—and the thoughts that follow
  • Practical ways to “NICU dad,” from supporting your partner and managing milk routines to bonding with your baby and navigating hospital life
  • Balancing work, caregiving, and everything in between—and how the Dads of the NICU podcast is helping other fathers feel less alone

About the guest

Matt BialkowskiMatt Bialkowski is a two-time NICU dad and bereaved father. His first stint in the NICU left him struggling and seeking purpose, but over the course of their four-month NICU stay, Matt found renewed purpose. After their second pregnancy ended in loss and then another baby placed them back in the NICU, he walked in, and out, a different man. Today, Matt’s heart is with other men as he shares important conversations in his podcast, Dads of the NICU, helping NICU dads in Australia, and around the world, find healthy ways to cope with a premature birth.

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