In this episode of the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, host Ashley O’Neil is joined by Jess Smith, who bravely shares her journey through a high-risk pregnancy, the challenges of having a baby in the NICU, and the profound heartbreak of losing her daughter, Juliet.

Jess opens up about what it was like to have herdaughter cared for in the very same NICU where she worked as a physical therapist - an experience filled with complex emotions, medical uncertainty, and moments of both hope and grief. She reflects on the emotional rollercoasterof Juliet’s complications, the essential role of strong support systems, and the deeply personal nature of navigating loss.

She also shares the story behind the Juliet Grace Smith Foundation, created to uplift and support NICU families walking a similar path. Jess offers heartfeltinsight and thoughtful advice for new parents facing the overwhelming realities of the NICU, reminding them that they are not alone.

This episode is especially close to my heart, as Jess and her family - through their foundation - cared for me and my family throughout my son’s six-month NICU stay. You do not want to miss this episode.

Interested in connecting with Jess?

Instagram: @julietgracefoundation

Facebook: Juliet Grace Smith Foundation 

 Email: [email protected]

The Ask a NICU Mama Podcast is brought to you by It’s aNICU World!

🌍 About It’s a NICU World

It’s a NICU World is a community dedicated tosupporting families navigating life in and beyond the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. From journals and advocacy to the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, we’re here to bring real stories, hard truths, and hope to every NICU andmedical family.

📘 Learn more: ⁠www.nicuworld.com⁠

📸Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@itsanicuworld⁠

Check out our books: It’s a NICU World& It’s a NICU World: Your Guide During your Babies NICU Stay

🎙️Listen to more episodes: On your favorite podcast platform

📣 Support the Show:

• Share this episode with another NICU parent or healthcare provider
• Follow the show on Instagram: ⁠@askanicumamapodcast2024⁠
• Leave a review
• 
  

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Email [email protected]

In this episode of the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, host Ashley O’Neil sits down with Hannah Baldwin, who shares her powerful journey through a high-risk twin pregnancyand the premature birth of her girls at just 23 weeks.

Hannah opens up about navigating the uncertainty, grief,and growth that came with her NICU experience—the emotional toll, the role of faith in her healing, and the importance of leaning on family and online communities for support.

Her experience ultimately inspired her to found TheSupport Nest, a nonprofit dedicated to providing education, connection, and resources for NICU families.

 This heartfelt conversation is a reminder that it’s okayto grieve the story, you imagined while embracing the strength, faith, and resilience that come from the one you’re living. 💜

Interested in connecting with Hannah?

Instagram: @ thesupportnest

Facebook: The Support Nest

Email: [email protected]

The Ask a NICU Mama Podcast is brought to you by It’s a NICU World!

🌍 About It’s a NICU World

It’s a NICU World is a community dedicated to supporting families navigating life in and beyond the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. From journals and advocacy to the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, we’re here to bring real stories, hard truths, and hope to every NICU and medical family.

📘 Learn more: ⁠www.nicuworld.com⁠

📸Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@itsanicuworld⁠

Check out our books: It’s a NICU World & It’s a NICU World: Your Guide During your Babies NICU Stay

🎙️Listen to more episodes: On your favorite podcast platform

📣 Support the Show:

• Share this episode with another NICU parent or healthcare provider
• Follow the show on Instagram: @askanicumamapodcast2024⁠
• Leave a review

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Email [email protected]

On this episode of the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, host Ashley O’Neil is joined by Shawna Keyes, a fellow NICU mama, who opens up about her powerful journey from pregnancy complications to the emotional challenges of welcoming a premature baby. She shares the grief that comes with unmet expectations, the delicate process of bonding in the NICU, and the vital role of medical staff and community support along the way. Shawna also reflects on her son’s incredible growth, what inspired her to write a children’s book, and how she’s now giving back to other NICU families walking a similar path. This conversation is a heartfelt reminder of the importance of self-care, community, and finding joy even in the hardest moments.  You don’t want to miss this episode!

Interested in connecting with Shawna?

Instagram: @keyestosonshine

Website: HOME - Keyes To Sonshine

Book: The Adventure of Asher and Rocket

The Ask a NICU Mama Podcast is brought to you by It’s a NICU World!

🌍 About It’s a NICU World

It’s a NICU World is a community dedicated tosupporting families navigating life in and beyond the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. From journals and advocacy to the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, we’re here to bring real stories, hard truths, and hope to every NICU and medical family.

📘 Learn more: ⁠www.nicuworld.com⁠📸Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@itsanicuworld⁠

🎙️Listen to more episodes: Ask a NICU Mama Podcast on Spotify

📣 Support the Show:

• Share this episode with another NICU parent or healthcare provider

• Follow the show on Instagram @askanicumamapodcast2024⁠

• Leave a review

• Interested in sponsoring an episode? Email [email protected]

On this episode of the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, host AshleyO’Neil is joined by Wakeya Belt, who shares her journey through the NICU with her son Kelvin, who faced significant medical challenges during his 10-month stay. She discusses the emotional turmoil of being a NICU parent, the lack ofsupport, and the impact of grief on her family. Wakaya also highlights the importance of writing as a form of healing and how she honors her son's memory through celebrations and storytelling. Her story is one of resilience, faith, and the ongoing journey of coping with loss.  You do not want to miss this episode! 

Are you interested in connecting with Wakeya?

Email: [email protected]

Book: Life In The NICU Our Family Story: 8 Steps For Navigating The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Article Interview: We Were Here: Black Infant Loss in D.C.

The Ask a NICU Mama Podcast is brought to you by It’s a NICU World!

🌍 About It’s a NICU World

It’s a NICU World is a community dedicated tosupporting families navigating life in and beyond the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. From journals and advocacy to the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, we’re here to bring real stories, hard truths, and hope to every NICU and medical family.

📘 Learn more: www.nicuworld.com
📸Follow us on Instagram: @itsanicuworld

🎙️Listen to more episodes: Ask a NICU Mama Podcast on Spotify

📣 Support the Show:

• Share this episode with another NICU parent or healthcare provider

• Follow the show on Instagram: @askanicumamapodcast2024

• Interested in sponsoring an episode? Email [email protected]

In this episode of the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, host Ashley O'Neil speaks with Brianna, a fellow medical mama, about their shared experiences of navigating the complexities of parenting children with medical needs. Brianna shares her journey from pregnancy to receiving a life-altering diagnosis for her daughter, Violet, and the challenges of being a single parent after the loss of her husband. The conversation delves into themes of grief, resilience, and the importance of community support, offering insights and encouragement for other parents facing similar struggles.  You do not want to miss this episode!

Interested in connecting with Brianna? --> medicalmomdiaries

On this episode of the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, host AshleyO’Neil is joined by Erica Shoemate, who shares her deeply personal journey through pregnancy and the challenges she faced along the way. From her initial hesitation about becoming a mom to the heartbreaking news she received during her anatomy scan; Erica walks us through the emotional and medical decisions that shaped her NICU experience. She also talks about the importance of supportand advocacy for moms—especially in the Black community—and how her own story has inspired her to help others find their voice and their healing. You do not want to miss this episode!

Interested in connecting with Erica?

Website: www.ericalshoemate.comInstagram: @nias_journey

In this episode of the Ask a NICU Mama podcast, host AshleyO'Neil speaks with Jocelyn Duvall, a NICU mama who shares her heart-wrenching journey of delivering her daughter at 25 weeks and the challenges she faced in the NICU. Jocelyn discusses the emotional toll of losing her daughter, the lackof support from the healthcare system, and her mission to create a nonprofit foundation in her daughter's honor. The conversation highlights the importance of community support, awareness of pregnancy and infant loss, and the need for better resources for families navigating the NICU experience.

 Interested in learning more about Jocelyn and the Forever Jewelz Foundation? Please check out her website and Instragram. 

 The Forever Jewelz 1st Annual 5K will be held on 10/25/25 in Lorton, VA.  Registration closes on 10/11.  I will be there, will you?

Website: foreverjewelz.org

Instragram: foreverjewelz_

In this episode of the Ask a NICU Mama podcast, host Ashley O'Neil speaks with Dr. Melinda Elliott, Chief Medical Officer for Prolacta Bioscience, about the critical importance of nutrition for premature babies. They discuss the unique nutritional needs of these infants, the role of human milk fortifiers, and the advocacy parents must engage in to ensure their babies receive the best care possible in the NICU. Their conversation also explores the emotional ups and downs of the NICU journey—from the challenges families face to the joy of discharge day—highlighting how support, advocacy, and open communication can make all the difference. You do not want to miss this episode!

Interested in learning more about human milk-based fortifiers (HMF)?

Check out Prolacta Science’s ParentSupport Page.

Follow Prolacta Bioscience on Instagram @ prolacta_bioscience

And review these studies:

ASSAD et al: Conducted at the hospital where Dr. Elliott practices. Demonstrates reduced incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), reduced length of stay, and cost savings.   

SULLIVAN et al: Study demonstrated significantly lower rate of NEC when EHMD was used. 

HAIR et al: Demonstrated that premature infants fed an EHMD had a significantly lower incidence of NEC, mortality, late-onset sepsis, ROP, and BPD, compared with infants fed cow milk-based nutrition. 

In this episode of Ask a NICU Mama, host Ashley O’Neil sits down with Cathy Garrett, host of the Birth Trauma Stories podcast. Cathy opens up about her two NICU journeys, traumatic births, and the challenges of long-term recovery. Together, they discuss motherhood, resilience, faith, and the vital role of community support. Cathy also shares what inspired her to start her own podcast to help other parents navigate birth trauma and find healing. 💛 You do not want to miss this episode!

Interested in learning more about Cathy?

Instagram: birthtraumastoriespodcastWebsite: www.birthtraumastories.com

Podcast: Birth Trauma Stories Podcast

In this episode of the Ask a NICU Mama podcast, hostAshley O'Neil speaks with Kirill, the vice president of community engagement for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of DC. They discuss the vital support provided to families with children in the NICU, the history and mission of the Ronald McDonald House, and the various services offered to alleviate the stress of families during medical crises. Kirill shares his personal journey and the importance of community involvement, partnerships with hospitals, and upcoming events to support the organization.  You do not want to miss this episode!

Interested in learning more about the DC Ronald McDonaldHouse? We check out their website at rmhcdc.org. 

Please also consider signing up to participate in the RMHAnnual Red Shoe 5k on October 5th, 2025 at the National Harbor at RedShoe5k.org.