Guest: Lucas Manring
NICU Dad, Finance & Operations Executive
In this episode, we chat about:
- How NICU nurses and doctors helped prepare one dad for the emotional and practical realities of life in the NICU
- The pressure many fathers feel to “stay strong,” and what strength actually looked like during and after the NICU journey
- Why dads often struggle with feeling unable to “fix” the situation, and how to cope with that loss of control
- An honest conversation about mental health, anxiety, and the emotional impact a NICU stay can have on fathers
- Healthy coping strategies, fears about future pregnancies, and heartfelt advice for first-time NICU dads navigating the unknown
About the guest
Lucas Manring is a husband, a recent UT MBA graduate, and new(ish) dad to his wonderful son, Lando. He has spent the last 10 years in the Austin-based start-up world, he was also a former collegiate track athlete and an active participant within the fitness community. He founded a local running group and previously served as president of the Austin Duathletes nonprofit. Lucas and his wife began their journey into parenthood four years ago when they welcomed their micropreemie son at just shy of 24-weeks. Their experience in the NICU forever changed their perspective on a lot of things, and it remains a significant part of his family’s story.