Dear NICU Mama

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!

To get connected with DNM:

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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!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show

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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!

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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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.

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 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.

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

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In this episode, we continue with part two of NICU mom Rebekah and her son Elias. After a traumatic birth and critical early days in the NICU, Rebekah shares what came next—the challenges of feeding, navigating a brain injury diagnosis, and the emotional weight of waiting for answers.

Rebekah opens up about the realities of parenting a medically complex child, the grief of letting go of her original feeding goals, and the healing that came when she embraced Elias’s unique path. She shares honestly about life at home post-discharge, the process of receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis, and the deep joy of watching Elias grow into the strong, vibrant boy he is today!

For any NICU or medical mama walking a path that feels uncertain, Rebekah’s story is a reminder that even when life looks different that we had envisioned, it can still be beautiful and full of life.

To listen to part 1 of Rebekah's story, listen here! To get connected with Rebekah: Instagram

To get connected with DNM:

Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

Support the show

In this episode, we continue with part two of NICU mom Rebekah and her son Elias. After a traumatic birth and critical early days in the NICU, Rebekah shares what came next—the challenges of feeding, navigating a brain injury diagnosis, and the emotional weight of waiting for answers.

Rebekah opens up about the realities of parenting a medically complex child, the grief of letting go of her original feeding goals, and the healing that came when she embraced Elias’s unique path. She shares honestly about life at home post-discharge, the process of receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis, and the deep joy of watching Elias grow into the strong, vibrant boy he is today!

For any NICU or medical mama walking a path that feels uncertain, Rebekah’s story is a reminder that even when life looks different that we had envisioned, it can still be beautiful and full of life.

To listen to part 1 of Rebekah's story, listen here!
To get connected with Rebekah: Instagram

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 NICU mom and fierce advocate Rebekah, who vulnerably shares the extraordinary story of her son Elias’s birth and beginning of life. Rebekah walks us through her story of a sudden placental abruption at 28 weeks, an emergency C-section during the early days of COVID-19, and the hours that followed when Elias was flown by helicopter to a Level IV NICU in critical condition.

With immense amounts of vulnerability, Rebekah opens up about the terrifying uncertainty of those first days, and the powerful moment of hope when Elias took his first breath. She reflects on what it means to parent through trauma, the deep grief of losing control over her birth experience, and the fierce strength NICU moms carry when all they can do is hold on and hope.

If you’ve ever felt frozen in fear or unsure how to keep going, Rebekah’s story is a reminder that our babies are strong, your voice matters, and you are never alone.

Stay tuned for part 2 next week!

To get connected with Rebekah: Instagram

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

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Welcome to Episode 4 of our Baby Showers Mini Series!

In this final episode of the series, we’re exploring a topic that can feel especially tender: attending baby showers after a NICU experience.

This conversation is extra special—it’s a live recording from our very first Dear NICU Mama Live Podcast Event! We gathered virtually with NICU moms from across the country for a night of connection and storytelling.

In this roundtable discussion, hosts Ashley and Aisha sit down with Dear NICU Mama team members Vilma and Carolissa to talk about what it’s like to receive a baby shower invitation after the NICU and how to navigate those moments with care.

Together, they chat about:

• The emotional impact of attending a baby shower after trauma
• Checking in with your heart and honoring your limits
• Finding ways to show up for loved ones while protecting your own healing
• How time, therapy, and community can help you feel more grounded
• Practical tools and words of encouragement for moms facing an upcoming shower

If you’ve ever felt torn between supporting a friend and caring for your own heart, this conversation is for you. Whether you attend, leave early, or choose not to go at all—you are not alone, NICU mama.

Thank you for joining us for this series. It has been such an honor to navigate the emotions surrounding baby showers together!

Resources & Links:
Baby Showers Mini Series Ep 1 | Baby Showers Mini Series Ep 2 | Baby Showers Mini Series Ep 3

To get connected with Dear NICU Mama:
Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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

Support the show

Welcome to Episode 3 of our Baby Showers Mini Series!

This week, we’re diving into the tender and emotional experience of navigating baby showers after loss.

For some, baby showers are a joyful milestone. But for those who experience miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, they can bring a wave of grief, unmet expectations, and lasting heartache. In this roundtable conversation, hosts Ashley and Aisha are joined by fellow NICU and loss mama Mollie to share their deeply personal experiences of planning for baby showers that never happened—or looked entirely different than imagined.

Together, they open up about:
 • Navigating the heartbreak of canceled or virtual showers due to premature deliveries
 • The emotional weight of receiving baby gifts after loss
 • The sacred role of loved ones who help hold space and protect a grieving heart
 • The value of memory-making and keepsakes in honoring the babies who are no longer here
 • Honest reflections on what they wish they could tell their younger selves in the midst of grief

Whether you’re a NICU mom who’s experienced loss or you’re walking alongside someone who has, we hope this episode helps you feel seen, validated, and less alone. You, and your baby’s story, are so deeply loved and worthy of being honored.

Stay tuned for the next episode in this series, where we’ll discuss the experience of attending baby showers after a NICU journey!
 

Resources & Links:
Baby Showers Mini Series Ep 1 | Baby Showers Mini Series Ep 2

To get connected with Dear NICU Mama:
Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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

Support the show