In this week’s episode, we sit down with Carey, a remarkable NICU mom and cherished member of our Dear NICU Mama community and team. Carey vulnerably shares her story of an unexpected diagnosis of preeclampsia just days after moving across the country—and the delivery of her daughter Eliana at 29 weeks.

From navigating a 113-day NICU stay, including multiple heart surgeries and a G-tube journey, to processing the emotional weight of bonding, fear, and healing, Carey speaks with honesty and grace. She also reflects on the power of connection, sharing how Walking Letter of Hope Day led her to a life-changing friendship and helped her find her NICU sisters.

This episode is a gentle reminder that it’s okay to ask for help, to honor your capacity, and to trust that there is healing—and sisterhood—on the other side of NICU life. Whether you're in the thick of the NICU or reflecting years later, this episode will meet you right where you are.

To join us for walking letter of hope day, head here. To join us for our free virtual event, head here! Or learn more about the whole week’s celebration at dearnicumama.com/hope.

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In this week’s episode, Ashley and Aisha share all about one of our favorite events of the year: Walking Letter of Hope Day!

Happening on Thursday, July 31st, Walking Letter of Hope Day is a special day where we honor NICU journeys, celebrate the strength of our sisterhood, and raise crucial funds to sustain Dear NICU Mama’s mission. Whether it’s your first year participating or you’ve walked with us before, this episode is your guide to all the ways to get involved this year—from creating a fundraising team, to connecting with other moms locally, to simply wearing your merch and walking in solidarity.

Ashley and Aisha also announce an exciting new virtual event happening on Tuesday, July 29th, just before the big day! This free online event will feature two beloved speakers: Rachelle from Light After Nine and Kayleigh from The Birth Trauma Mama. With a live Q&A and a time to connect with other NICU sisters in support groups, this is a night of hope, healing, and connection that you won’t want to miss.

As you listen, we hope you feel inspired to join us in celebrating the resilience of NICU families and the power of sisterhood. No matter how you participate, we’re so grateful to walk this journey with you!

To RSVP to the virtual event, create a fundraising team, or learn more, visit dearnicumama.com/hope! To shop all of our merchandise collections, head to dearnicumama.com/shop.

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In this week’s episode, we’re honored to welcome Andrea Hickson—two-time NICU mom and founder of NICU Alumni. Andrea shares the emotional and unexpected journeys of welcoming her daughters Lucy and Felicity, both born prematurely and with unique NICU experiences. From emergency C-sections and hospital stays to navigating life at home with early intervention and a later cerebral palsy diagnosis, Andrea vulnerably opens up about what it means to parent in the unknown.

She also shares how her personal journey inspired the creation of NICU Alumni, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families after NICU discharge with resources, guidance, and hope.

Whether you’re still in the NICU or navigating life at home, this conversation is a powerful reminder that you're not alone—and that healing and advocacy often go hand in hand.

As always, welcome to the sisterhood!

To get connect with NICU Alumni:
Website | Instagram | Podcast

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In this week’s episode, Brianna shares her experience as a two-time NICU mom. She shares about her first pregnancy, marked by an unexpected 20-week anatomy scan that revealed she was already two centimeters dilated. After an emergency cerclage and weeks of anxiety-filled bedrest, Brianna gave birth to her son at 28 weeks. His 60-day NICU stay, though miraculously smooth, left a lasting emotional impact.

Just 14 months later, Brianna returned to the NICU after giving birth to her second son at 33 weeks. This time, the challenges of healing were compounded by the reality of having a baby at home while navigating the NICU once again.

Brianna shares vulnerably what it’s like to walk through two high-risk pregnancies, how her perspective shifted between them, and what healing looks like after back-to-back trauma. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the midst of fear and uncertainty, you are stronger than you think—and you are never alone.

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In this episode of the Dear NICU Mama podcast, we're joined once again by the remarkable Kayleigh Summers, also known as The Birth Trauma Mama, for a heartfelt conversation about how friendships shift in the wake of birth trauma and NICU experiences.

Together, Ashley, Aisha, and Kayleigh open up about the grief of changing relationships, the identity shifts that happen after trauma, and the surprising ways connection can still be found. From feeling misunderstood to discovering unexpected community, this episode offers validation, insight, and encouragement for any NICU or loss mom navigating friendships during their healing journey.

Whether you’re in the thick of it or years removed, this conversation reminds us: you are allowed to change, and you are worthy of being loved exactly as you are!

Kayleigh Summers is a licensed therapist, writer, and content expert in perinatal trauma. She uses her training as a licensed therapist and her lived experience as an Amniotic Fluid Embolism survivor to support families experiencing perinatal trauma. Kayleigh has also created thriving support communities through Instagram and Tik Tok, as well as her podcast, where she provides connection, story sharing, and resources to support those experiencing birth and other trauma. You can find her @thebirthtrauma_mama.

To get connected with Kayleigh:
Website | Instagram | TikTok

This podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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In this week’s episode, we continue part 2 of Sam’s remarkable motherhood journey as she opens up about the emotional and physical toll of life after a traumatic birth and the journey of becoming a NICU and medical mama.

Sam shares vulnerably about her daughter’s fragile start after being born at 24 weeks, the devastating reality of an MDR E-Coli diagnosis at just five days old, and the long road to recovery in the NICU—including respiratory setbacks, feeding challenges, and two unexpected surgeries. She also offers insight into navigating life after discharge with a G-tube, and how she's embraced her role as a medical mama with courage and resilience.

Whether you’re in the NICU now or adjusting to life at home, Sam’s story is a powerful reminder that you are not alone—and that you are braver than you feel. Her honesty, wisdom, and strength will leave you feeling seen, validated, and supported.

To listen to part 1, listen here!

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In this week’s episode, we sit down with Sarah Hogan, a courageous NICU mom and military spouse, whose story embodies the truth that the NICU is a marathon, not a sprint. Sarah shares her high-risk pregnancy and the traumatic sequence of events that led to her daughter Sadie’s premature birth at 28 weeks—beginning with a seizure while driving with her sons and her husband deployed on a submarine.

Sarah vulnerably walks us through the emotional weight of parenting two young boys during a months-long NICU stay, navigating a four-hour daily commute, and adapting to life after Sadie’s multiple surgeries, including a G-tube placement. From delayed bonding to the strength of community and the complexity of military family life, Sarah’s journey is one of healing and hope.

As you listen, we hope you feel reminded that even in the chaos and constant adaptation of the NICU journey, you are not alone—and it’s okay if your story looks different than you expected.

To listen, you can find us on iTunes , Spotify, or by clicking the link below!

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In this week’s episode, we sit down with Sam, a remarkable NICU mom and valued member of the Dear NICU Mama team and sisterhood. Sam vulnerably shares part 1 of her motherhood journey with the story of her family-building journey—navigating infertility, a PCOS diagnosis, and the heartbreak of unexpected complications during pregnancy.

At just 21 weeks pregnant, Sam’s water broke. With brave vulnerability, Sam walks us through the tender moments of hospitalization, difficult conversations with providers, and the delivery of her daughter’s early birth at 24 weeks and 4 days.

Join us the first week of June for Part 2, where we dive into their NICU stay together and life at home. As always, this sisterhood hopes you feel seen, supported, and reminded that you are never alone!

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In this special episode, we’re holding space for the complicated emotions that can come with Mother’s Day after a NICU experience.

This conversation is close to our hearts—it’s a live recording from our recent Dear NICU Mama Virtual Live Podcast Event, where we gathered with NICU moms from across the country to connect, reflect, and honor the duality of this season!

In this roundtable discussion, hosts Ashley and Martha sit down with members of the Dear NICU Mama team to talk about what it means to celebrate Mother’s Day after the NICU—where joy and grief often coexist.

Together, they chat about:

• The bittersweet emotions Mother’s Day can bring for NICU moms
• Navigating celebration while honoring loss, trauma, and unmet expectations
• How healing, time, and support can soften the holiday experience
• The power of being seen, validated, and supported by community

Whether this is your first Mother’s Day or your fifth, whether you're in the NICU or years into life at home—this conversation is for you. However this season feels, you are never, ever alone.

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In this week's roundtable replay, Co-Founders Ashley and Martha are joined by Dear NICU Mama editorial team member Lindsay for an honest conversation all about bonding with our NICU babies. Together, they reflect on the tender, complicated, and deeply personal journey of building a bond in the NICU—what it looked like for them, how they navigated grief, fear, and comparison, and how bonding continued to grow once they were home.

Whether your bond felt instant, delayed, or still evolving, this episode is a reminder that your baby knows your love, and your bond is more than felt—it's built, nurtured, and deeply real.

Plus, we’re sharing a special announcement about our 2025 Mother’s Day campaign and how you can celebrate a NICU mom in your life by sending her a personalized card—while supporting the mission of Dear NICU Mama. Visit dearnicumama.com/give to honor her today!

You are never, ever alone. Welcome to the sisterhood.

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