Dear NICU Mama

In Part 2 of Kristen’s story, Ashley and Aisha dive deeper into the unique “right on time” milestones that marked her and Amelia’s 11-month NICU journey!

Kristen shares about the courage it took to face a trach and heart procedure, and how Amelia’s progress has unfolded through what she calls “inchstones.” She opens up about the challenges of coming home with medical complexity, the bittersweet transition away from daily NICU staff, and the healing process that began after discharge.

Through honesty and vulnerability, Kristen reminds us of the power of a mother’s love, the importance of giving ourselves grace, and the hope that comes from celebrating every small step forward!

As you listen, may you be reminded that in and out of the NICU, you and your baby are always right on time. 

• Read Kristen' letter here.
• Listen to Part 1 of Kristen's Story here.
• Pre-order Right On Time, our very first children’s board book, here!

To get connected with DNM:

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In this week’s episode, Ashley and Aisha are joined by Kristen, a NICU mom whose journey spans 11 months in the NICU, hospital transfers, heart surgery, and eventually a trach for her daughter, Amelia.

Kristen vulnerably shares about her water breaking at 23 weeks, the unexpected 11 weeks of hospital bedrest, and Amelia’s birth at 35 weeks. She describes the whirlwind of those first moments in the NICU, the grief of missed milestones, and the overwhelming emotions of watching her daughter fight for life.

This is part one of Kristen’s story: A moving reminder of the power of a mother’s love and the unique “right on time” moments that can be found even in the hardest seasons. As you listen, our hope is that you are reminded that you and your baby are and always will be, right on time!

• Read Kristen' letter here.
• Pre-order Right On Time, our very first children’s board book, here!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show

In this week’s episode, Ashley and Aisha are joined once again by their dear friend Carrie for the long-awaited part two of her family’s story. 

In part one, Carrie shared about her daughter Hattie’s unexpected NICU stay after being born full term. In this follow-up episode, Carrie opens up about life beyond the NICU: the years of waiting for the possibility of heart surgery, navigating the unknowns, and preparing Hattie for the big questions and procedures that lay ahead.

She vulnerably shares what it meant to parent through fear, the gift of therapy and community support, and the power of celebrating every small win along the way. Carrie also shares how her fierce advocacy helped ensure Hattie received life-saving care at just the right time, and how her family now carries a new sense of peace and gratitude on the other side of surgery!

As you listen to Carrie’s story, we hope it brings comfort and encouragement to any NICU or medical mama walking through seasons of waiting, advocating, or doing the “hard thing.” You and your baby are always, always right on time.

Pre-order Right On Time, our very first children’s board book, here!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show

In this week’s episode, Ashley and Aisha are joined by their dear friend and DNM team member, Kamille, for a heartfelt conversation about kindergarten milestones and what it means to parent COVID NICU babies now entering school.

Kamille and Aisha vulnerably share their journeys of navigating the NICU during the earliest days of the pandemic, balancing therapies and virtual care, and the emotions of sending their miracles off to kindergarten. Together, they reflect on the unique challenges of isolation, advocacy, and lingering NICU emotions that resurface during this milestone season.

This episode is a tender reminder that whether your child’s milestones look different, delayed, or unexpected, they are always right on time.

Pre-order Right On Time, our very first children’s board book, here!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show

WE'RE BACK! In this week’s episode, Ashley and Aisha return after a summer break to reflect on Walking Letter of Hope Day, share big back-to-school milestones, and give exciting Dear NICU Mama updates.

They also announce the release of Right On Time, Dear NICU Mama's very first children’s book. This book is a beautifully crafted children’s board book designed for NICU families, celebrating the unique milestones of every NICU graduate and the unwavering bond between parent and child. Pre-orders are available now!

Pre-order your copy here!

We are so excited to be back and cannot wait for the upcoming season of the podcast. Thank you for being a special part of this sisterhood!

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

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Special thanks to one of our Walking Letter of Hope Day sponsors, Sanford Health! Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 53,000 employees and serves over 2 million patients and nearly 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 56 hospitals, 288 clinic locations, 147 senior care communities, 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 1,500 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to 78 specialties. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News. 

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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.

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

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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.

To get connected with Dear NICU Mama:
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To Give to the Mission of Dear NICU Mama: dearnicumama.com/give

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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

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

To Give to the Mission of Dear NICU Mama: dearnicumama.com/give

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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.

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

To Give to the Mission of Dear NICU Mama: dearnicumama.com/give

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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.

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

To Give to the Mission of Dear NICU Mama: dearnicumama.com/give

Support the show