Dear NICU Mama

In this week's episode, we sit down with NICU Mama and longtime member of this sisterhood Maddie to hear the story of her daughter, Josie.

After a textbook pregnancy, Maddie was suddenly diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome at 29 weeks, airlifted to a hospital four hours from home, and soon delivered Josie by emergency C-section. Maddie shares honestly about the fear and overwhelm of those early days, nearly seven weeks in the NICU during COVID, and the complicated emotions that came with learning how to mother a baby she was terrified to lose.

We also talk about the years that followed, how Maddie found Dear NICU Mama in the middle of her own NICU stay, and how her experience eventually inspired Bows for Jo, a business that gives back to NICU families and organizations.

This is an honest, tender conversation about survival, healing, giving back, and the reminder that it is okay to not feel okay.

Connect with DNM:
Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Connect with Bows for Jo:
Website | Instagram

In this week's episode, we sit down with Keira Sorrells, NICU mama and founder and Executive Director of NICU Parent Network. Keira shares her journey through infertility, an unexpected pregnancy with quintuplets, and ultimately welcoming her daughters Avery, Lily, and Zoe at just 25 weeks and 5 days.

Keira reflects on their months in the NICU, the people who helped her find her voice as a mother and advocate. She also shares how her own experience eventually led her to found NICU Parent Network and bring NICU organizations and parent leaders together to advocate for meaningful change for families.

Together, we talk about the power of peer support, family-centered care, advocacy, and what can happen when NICU families use their voices together. And nearly 20 years into her journey, Keira leaves us with a beautiful reminder: there is time to give back, but first, give yourself permission to heal, be present, and take care of yourself too.

To connect with Keira and learn more about NICU Parent Network, check out the links below.
Website | Instagram

To get connected with DNM:
Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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In this week's episode, Ashley and Aisha sit down with NICU mama Kelsey to hear the story of her son, Rory, who arrived unexpectedly at 35 weeks and spent seven days in the NICU.

Kelsey vulnerably shares the loneliness of being separated from her baby after birth, waiting 72 hours to hold him, navigating the unexpected challenges of bonding, and the survival mode that followed her long after they came home. Together, the mamas talk about the grief of not getting to mother the way you imagined, postpartum anxiety and anger, and why the length of a NICU stay never determines the significance of a family’s experience.

Whether your NICU journey lasted one day or many months, this conversation is a gentle reminder that your story is worthy, your experience is valid, and you are the mom your baby needs.

It’s also Walking Letter of Hope Day week! Here’s how to walk with us:

Whether you’re gathering with us in Fargo or walking wherever you are, we invite you to walk alongside NICU families and celebrate this incredible community.

• Walk where you are: Gather your family, friends, or loved ones and walk with us on September 20th.
• Walk with us in Fargo: Join our local community gathering at Trollwood Park from 4:00–6:00 PM.
• Support the mission: Create a fundraising team or make a gift to help Dear NICU Mama continue providing connection, resources, and hope to NICU mothers and families.

Create your team and give at dearnicumama.com/give.

However you join us, take a photo, tag @dearnicumama, and use #WalkingLetterOfHopeDay so we can celebrate with you. Wherever you are, we walk with you!

To get connected with DNM:
Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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In this week's episode, Ashley and Aisha are joined by Melody Weston, CEO of Embrace Global, for a powerful conversation about neonatal care around the world and the life-saving impact of something as simple as warmth.

Melody shares how Embrace Global is working to decrease neonatal mortality by ensuring premature and low birth weight babies have access to safe thermal support, particularly in communities where traditional incubators and resources may not be accessible. Together, they discuss the realities of newborn care in low-resource settings, the incredible dedication of healthcare workers and families, and why lasting change requires empathy, partnership, and listening.

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that while NICU care may look different around the world, the fierce love of a parent is universal. The sisterhood extends far beyond our own NICUs, and every baby deserves the opportunity to not only survive, but thrive.

Connect with Embrace Global:
Website | About the Organization | Camaroon | Zambia

Connect with DNM:
Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

This episode is sponsored by Prolacta Bioscience. To learn more about Prolacta and their human milk-based nutritional products for critically ill and premature infants, head here.

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WE ARE BACK!!! And what better way to kick off a new season of the Dear NICU Mama podcast than during NICU Awareness Month!

In this week's episode, Ashley and Aisha are joined by NICU mama, artist, and writer Savannah O'Malley as she shares the story of her twin boys, Lachlan and Lex.

Born at just 24 weeks and 5 days, Savannah's twins spent 101 days in the NICU navigating brain bleeds, heart complications, surgeries, and the many unexpected moments that come with extreme prematurity. Savannah vulnerably shares what it meant to live in survival mode, and how it wasn't until nearly two years after bringing her boys home that she began to fully process the grief and trauma of their journey.

Savannah also shares how writing and art became an important part of her healing, and eventually a way to bring hope to other NICU mothers. Her story is a beautiful reminder that there is no timeline for processing what you've walked through, and that you are deserving of the space, support, and permission to grieve.

We hope this episode reminds you that no matter where you are in your NICU journey, you are not alone. There is hope in tomorrow, and there is a community of NICU mamas walking beside you every step of the way!

Connect with Savannah:
Website | Instagram

Connect with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

This episode is sponsored by Prolacta Bioscience. To learn more about Prolacta and their human milk-based nutritional products for critically ill and premature infants, head here.

Support the show

It’s time for another Mamas Call In episode! Our call-in episodes are some of our favorites because they give us the chance to hear directly from YOU.

This month’s prompt was: “What does it mean to be a Walking Letter of Hope?”

In this episode, two incredible NICU mamas share what becoming a Walking Letter of Hope has meant in their own journeys. From finding community years after the NICU to becoming a source of encouragement for the moms who come after them, their words remind us that healing often grows into hope for someone else.

As we wrap up our summer podcast season, we also want to let you know that we'll be taking a short break during the month of August. We'll be back in September with a new season of conversations, stories, and hope! And there's lots more to come about Walking Letter of Hope Day, one of our favorite days of the year. Until then, we hope you have a wonderful August, and we'll see you back here in September!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show

In this week's episode, Ashley and Aisha are joined by Dear NICU Mama Board Member Nicole as she shares the story of her daughter, Layla.

After a year and a half of trying to conceive, Nicole became pregnant with Layla and was carefully monitored due to a congenital heart condition. At 32 weeks, severe preeclampsia changed everything, leading to a life threatening medical helicopter transfer from Fargo to Minneapolis and the delivery of Layla at 33 weeks. Together, they spent 46 days in the NICU.

Nicole vulnerably shares the moments that often go unspoken during the NICU journey: the fear of holding her baby for the first time, the guilt of desperately wanting to go home, the loneliness of long NICU days, and the comfort she found in the community that surrounded her. Her story is a beautiful reminder that healing doesn't come from having all the answers, but from being seen, understood, and supported along the way.

We hope this episode reminds you that no matter where you are in your NICU journey, you are not alone. There is hope in tomorrow, and there is a community of NICU mamas walking beside you every step of the way!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show

In this week's podcast episode we're revisiting a beautiful roundtable conversation from season 8  for an honest discussion about mental health after the NICU with Dear NICU Mama volunteers, Kamille and Lexxa.

Together, they share vulnerably about their own experiences with postpartum depression, anxiety, PTSD, therapy, medication, and the lifelong healing that follows a traumatic birth and NICU stay. They reflect on what it looked like to ask for help, navigate motherhood after trauma, support their mental health through different seasons, and find hope in community along the way.

Whether you are fresh in your NICU journey or years beyond it, we hope this conversation reminds you that healing is lifelong. You are not alone and asking for support is one of the bravest things you can do.

No matter where you find yourself today, we hope this episode serves as a gentle reminder that you are worthy of healing, worthy of care, and deeply loved. This sisterhood heals with you!

For the PSI Help Line, head here. For the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, dial 988 or head here.

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show

In this week's podcast episode, Katie shares the remarkable story of her daughter Annie's early arrival and the incredible full circle moments woven throughout their NICU journey. At 25 weeks pregnant, Katie was unexpectedly diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and hospitalized before delivering Annie at 28 weeks. As a former 28-week preemie herself, Katie suddenly found herself walking the halls of the very same NICU where she had once been a patient.

Katie opens up about navigating the uncertainty of a high-risk pregnancy, recovering from an unexpected C-section, and supporting her daughter through her NICU stay. She also shares the often-overlooked challenges of coming home after discharge, processing the trauma of the NICU, and learning that healing continues long after leaving the hospital.

One of the most unforgettable parts of Katie's story is reconnecting with the respiratory therapist who cared for her more than 30 years ago, only to have him care for Annie before his retirement. It is a beautiful reminder of the lasting impact NICU healthcare professionals have on families and the unexpected ways hope can come full circle.

Whether you are in the NICU today or years beyond your stay, we hope this conversation reminds you that even in the hardest seasons, moments of hope, healing, and redemption can find you when you least expect them.

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show

It’s time for another Mamas Call In episode! Our call-in episodes are some of our favorites because they give us the chance to hear directly from YOU.

This month’s prompt was: “What words of hope or encouragement would you offer to a NICU mom who feels like it’s all too much right now?”

In this episode, mamas from across the country share heartfelt reminders of hope, resilience, and the power of community in the midst of a NICU journey. From taking things one breath at a time to holding onto the promise that brighter days are ahead, these stories offer encouragement for any NICU mom who feels overwhelmed, exhausted, or uncertain about what comes next.

We are so grateful to the mamas in our sisterhood who shared their hearts and wisdom with us, and we'd love to hear your heart!

Our next prompt is: “What does it mean to you to be a Walking Letter of Hope to another NICU mom?” To call in and share your heart, head to our submission form here!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show