In this episode of Raising with the Village, we hear from Liam, the first father to join the podcast and share his unique journey into parenthood.

Liam’s daughter arrived in the world in an unexpected and urgent situation — and within hours, both she and his partner had to be transferred to another hospital. What followed was a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a place many parents never anticipate visiting — especially as a co-parent trying to find his footing.

Liam speaks about:

• what it feels like to become a dad from the sidelines,
• navigating the shock and uncertainty of a medical emergency,
• the emotional and practical reality of early parenthood when your baby is in intensive care,
• and how community support made a difference along the way.

This episode also highlights important ways families are supported during NICU stays — from milk donation and food provision, to accommodation programs like Ronald McDonald House.

In This Episode We Cover

• The experience of being a co-parent during a birth emergency
• Life with a newborn in the NICU
• The emotional and practical challenges of finding a role as a new dad
• Breast milk donation and why it matters
• Supporting families with food during long hospital stays
• Ronald McDonald House programs that help families stay close to their hospitalised child
• Community, resilience, and connection in early parenthood

Resources & Links Mentioned

Breast Milk Donation

Donating breast milk can have a massive impact on premature and medically vulnerable babies cared for in NICUs. If you’re interested in learning more or donating, resources include:
 • UK Association for Milk Banking – find a milk bank near you and learn how to donate breast milk: https://ukamb.org/find-a-milk-bank/

• UK Human Milk Bank – information on donating and supporting donor milk: https://ukamb.org/

• The Hearts Milk Bank (Human Milk Foundation) – supports donor milk for neonates and families: https://humanmilkfoundation.org/hearts-milk-bank/
 

Food Support for NICU Families

While there isn’t a single universal link, many hospitals and charities offer meal programs or community support for families staying long hours near NICUs. One example is:
 • “Meals from the Heart” at Ronald McDonald House locations – family rooms offering meals, support, and shared space for NICU families: https://www.rmhcnym.org/feeding-families-with-meals-from-the-heart/
 

Ronald McDonald House Charities (Support Accommodation & Family Services)

These charities help families stay close to their sick or hospitalised children by providing accommodation and other support services near major children’s hospitals:
 • Ronald McDonald House Charities (global info & how to support): https://rmhc.org/get-involve

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

In this episode of Raising with the Village, we hear from Sarah, whose baby arrived much earlier than expected — born at just 32 weeks after what began as a routine check-in following unexpected bleeding around 30 weeks.

Sarah takes us through how that moment led to an early delivery, and then into the emotional and psychological journey that followed: the uncertainty, loneliness, anxiety, and identity shift that come with having a premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

This conversation explores how motherhood can begin far from the imagined path — in waiting rooms, hospital corridors, and days blurred by routine checks — and how parents learn to find strength, resilience, and connection even in the most bewildering moments.

Highlights From This Episode

• What brought Sarah to the hospital at 30 weeks and how her son arrived unexpectedly at 32 weeks.
• The emotional rollercoaster of life in the NICU — waiting, uncertainty, and the challenge of holding hope.
• How a premature birth reshaped Sarah’s experience of early motherhood.
• The mental and emotional struggles that come with having a baby arrive too soon.
• What helped Sarah cope through NICU and in the months after.

Support & Resources Mentioned

If you’re navigating life with a premature baby or in the NICU, Sarah highlighted Miracle Moon as an incredibly valuable support resource — especially on Instagram and for connecting with other NICU parents who truly understand the emotional journey.
👉 Follow Miracle Moon on Instagram: @miraclemoonuk — a community offering peer support, shared stories, and compassionate guidance for parents with babies in neonatal care.
miraclemoon.co.uk

Miracle Moon started as a supportive Instagram space created by NICU parents and has grown into a wider community with mental health resources, peer support, and tools for resilience during and after neonatal care.
miraclemoon.co.uk

Why This Episode Matters

Premature birth changes the expected rhythm of pregnancy and early motherhood. Sarah’s story offers insight and companionship to anyone whose baby arrived before their due date, whose hospital stay was longer than planned, or whose experience didn’t match the picture in their mind. It reminds us that there is no “right” way to start motherhood, and that community — even online through shared stories — can make us feel a little less alone.

Connect with the Podcast

If this episode resonated with you, you’re not alone. You can:

• Listen and subscribe on your favourite podcast platform
• Share this episode with a friend who might need it
• Reach out on Instagram or via the show notes for support or to share your own story

Thank you for being part of Raising with the Village. 🌿

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

A short holiday message from Raising with the Village. In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on the first season of the podcast, thanking the parents who bravely shared their stories, and looking ahead to what’s coming next — including new parenting topics and voices from dads.

If you’ve been listening along, thank you for being part of this growing village. As we head into the holiday season, this episode is a gentle reminder that parenting can feel especially intense at this time of year, and that connection, support, and shared experiences matter more than ever.

New episodes return on Thursday 8th January. Until then, don’t forget to share your favourite episode, leave a review, and help more parents feel a little less alone.

Happy holidays from Raising with the Village — a podcast about real parenting stories, community, and support.

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

Emergency vs Elective C-Section: Two Very Different Births with Anita

In this episode of Raising with the Village, we sit down with Anita, a mum of two, to talk candidly about her experiences of both an emergency C-section and a planned (elective) C-section — and how different those two births felt physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Anita shares her first pregnancy journey, which was complicated by a lung defect diagnosed at the 20-week scan. With close monitoring and a planned induction at 38 weeks, she hoped for a vaginal birth — but after six long days of induction, her labour stalled, her waters broke, and signs of infection led to a fast-moving emergency C-section.

She walks us through what it’s really like when a birth plan changes suddenly: the speed, the sensory overload, the number of medical staff in theatre, and the surreal feeling of meeting your baby while still trying to process what just happened. Anita also shares what recovery looked like after an emergency C-section, including pain management, mobility, antibiotics, and the emotional impact of focusing entirely on her baby’s health.

A few years later, Anita found herself pregnant again — this time facing a different decision: VBAC or planned C-section. Drawing on her first experience, plus new factors like gestational diabetes, baby’s size, age, and childcare logistics, she chose an elective C-section.

In contrast to the emergency birth, Anita describes the second C-section as calm, controlled, and predictable — but not without its own challenges. She talks honestly about anxiety before planned surgery, the physical sensations of a spinal block, longer operating time due to scar tissue, and recovery while caring for a newborn and a toddler.

Throughout the conversation, Anita reflects on:

• How expectations shape our birth experiences
• The reality of C-section recovery (both times)
• What surprised her most about planned surgery
• Why there’s no “easy” or “right” way to give birth
• Practical advice she wishes she’d known sooner

This episode is a compassionate, realistic look at C-sections without judgement — ideal for anyone preparing for a Caesarean, considering their options after a previous C-section, or wanting to better understand what recovery can truly involve.

Topics We Cover:

• Emergency C-section after prolonged induction
• Planned vs emergency C-sections: key differences
• Induction, stalled labour, and infection risk
• Theatre experience and medical teams
• Skin-to-skin after C-section
• Pain management and mobility after surgery
• VBAC vs elective C-section decision-making
• Gestational diabetes and birth planning
• Recovering with a toddler at home
• Honest C-section recovery tips and preparation

Anita’s Top Advice for C-Section Recovery:

• Stock up on pain relief before going to hospital
• Keep track of medication timings
• Prepare meals, snacks, and easy food in advance
• Set expectations — recovery takes time
• Prep older children so they know not to jump or climb
• Take pain relief even on “good” days

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

In this episode, Candida shares her journey from being a child who adored babies to becoming a mother of three — and discovering how motherhood can be both everything she dreamed of and nothing like she expected.

She reflects on the years she spent worrying about her fertility in her 20s (not for medical reasons, but because of headlines and conversations around her), the long path to meeting her first baby, and the identity-shifting experience of going from one child to three.

From the early shock of becoming a mother much sooner than she anticipated emotionally, to the beautiful chaos of siblings playing together while she finally enjoys a warm bowl of soup, Candida speaks with refreshing honesty and humour about the realities of family life — the joyful, the challenging, and the entirely human parts in between.

In this episode, we talk about:

✨ Early longing for motherhood

• Candida’s childhood love for babies
• The sense of “I’m meant to be a mum” she carried from a young age

✨ Fertility fears in her 20s

• How media and cultural narratives created anxiety about her biological clock
• The disconnect between worry and actual medical reality
• Navigating early adulthood with an internal pressure to “hurry”

✨ Becoming a mother for the first time

• The emotional shock of the postpartum period
• The sudden loss of independence and identity shifts
• The long, hard days when a hot meal felt impossible

✨ Growing her family to three

• Her experience adding a second and then a third child
• How her expectations changed with each baby
• The moment she realised her babies were no longer babies — and life became easier again

✨ Siblings, connection, and reclaiming space

• The joy of watching her kids play together
• The return of small freedoms, including finally enjoying a warm bowl of soup
• How completing her family brought clarity, gratitude, and relief

Books mentioned by Candida

From the transcript, the books she referenced appear to be:

• "The Continuum Concept" by Jean Liedloff — A book exploring indigenous approaches to infant care and the concept of continuous physical closeness.
• "French Children Don’t Throw Food" (also titled Bringing Up Bébé) by Pamela Druckerman — A book on French parenting culture and boundaries around sleep, food, and independence.

(If you want me to verify the titles you think she meant, feel free to send a quick line and I’ll adjust.)

Why this episode matters

Candida’s story is a reminder that:

• you can deeply desire motherhood and still find it overwhelming,
• identity can feel shaky before it feels solid again,
• and sometimes the most profound sense of "arrival" comes quietly — with children laughing together nearby and a warm bowl of soup in your hands.

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

In this powerful episode, Melissa walks us through her three water births — two of which resulted in rare “mermaid babies,” born entirely in their amniotic sac. She also shares how she discovered she had a heart-shaped uterus, her anxiety during pregnancy, and how each labour unfolded.
From a dramatic early pregnancy scare to three medication-free water births, Melissa’s story is filled with surprise, humour, and extraordinary moments (including her first baby swimming to the surface still in her sac!).

• Discovering a heart-shaped (bicornuate) uterus at 8 weeks
• Two babies born en caul (in the sac) — “mermaid babies”
• Why water birth felt right for Melissa
• Anxiety during pregnancy & navigating unexpected bleeding
• The difference between her first, second, and third water births
• The role of midwives, her mum, and her partner
• Gas & air, pain management, and what really happens in the pool
• Going past her due date for the first time with baby #3
• A sweep that triggered labour
• Recovering between births and leaving the hospital within hours
• The emotional side of birth stories and trusting your body

• “Half of my uterus knew I was pregnant… the other half didn’t.”
• “My firstborn literally swam to the top in her little alien sack.”
• “I know it sounds like I made my birth stories up — but I swear it all happened!”
• “Gas & air? I’m taking that if they let me!”
• “With my second, I gave birth at 4:45 AM and was walking around Sainsbury’s by lunchtime.”

These links provide accurate, medically reviewed information related to topics in the episode.

Water Birth

• NHS Guidance — Water Birth
  https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/what-happens-at-the-hospital-or-birth-centre/
  
  

En Caul Birth (“Mermaid Baby”)

• Parents — En Caul Birth Overview
   https://www.parents.com/baby/all-about-babies/you-have-to-see-this-video-of-a-baby-born-in-an-amniotic-sac/ 
  
  

Bicornuate / Heart-Shaped Uterus

• Cleveland Clinic — Bicornuate uterus
  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22798-bicornuate-uterus
  
  

Signs of Labour & What to Expect

• NHS — Stages of Labour
  https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/the-stages-of-labour-and-birth/
  
  

Mucus Plug (“The Show”)

• NHS — What Is the Mucus Plug?
  https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-that-labour-has-begun/
  
  

Gas & Air (Entonox)

• NHS — Pain Relief in Labour
  https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birt

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

In this episode, Grace shares her family’s journey through discovering that both of her young children have growth hormone deficiency — from spotting early signs, to seeking answers when her instincts told her something wasn’t right, to navigating diagnosis, testing, treatment and life on daily injections.

It’s a story about persistence, parental intuition, advocating for your children, and the enormous difference early diagnosis can make.

💬 In this episode:

• Spotting the first signs that her son’s growth had stalled — and why she trusted her instincts
• The long process of ruling out allergies, food intolerances and “catch-down growth”
• How she pushed for referrals and why private healthcare accelerated the diagnosis
• What happens during endocrine testing: IGF-1 blood tests, stimulation tests, and MRIs
• Understanding growth hormone deficiency and why early diagnosis matters
• Starting treatment: daily injections, bedtime routines, and the emotional side for young children
• Realising her daughter also had the same condition — and how symptoms can look different
• The impact of treatment: energy levels, confidence, muscle strength and rapid catch-up growth
• Finding community through the Child Growth Foundation
• Grace’s advice for parents concerned about their child’s centile chart or growth trajectory

🩺 Useful Resources:

• Child Growth Foundation
   https://childgrowthfoundation.org
  
  
• NHS – Growth Hormone Deficiency in Children
   https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-we-treat/growth-hormone-deficiency/
• NICE – Human Growth Hormone (Somatropin) in Children
   https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta188
  
  
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health – UK-WHO Growth Charts
   https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/growth-charts
  
  
• MAGIC Foundation (Growth Disorders Support)
   https://www.magicfoundation.org

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

In part two of Louisa’s story, she faces the reality of her baby’s possible medical complications and the uncertainty that follows. A powerful story of courage, resilience, and the unexpected strength that comes with motherhood.

💬 In this episode:

• The moment she had to make big decisions about her pregnancy and her baby’s health
• How her pregnancy eventually happened — with a surprise twist she didn’t see coming
• What it was like giving birth after such an emotional journey
• The early days of life with her newborn at the NICU and at home, and what helped her through them
• Her reflections on that first pregnancy — and what she’d choose to do differently next time

🩺 Useful Resources:

• NHS: Exomphalos (Omphalocele)
• Tommy’s – Having a baby over 40
• Fertility Network UK
• NHS – IVF and fertility treatment
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/omphalocele/ 
• https://bringyourbaby.org/ 

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

In this two-part episode, Louisa shares her experience of becoming a first-time mum in her forties — from waiting to feel “ready,” to navigating IVF, and facing an unexpected diagnosis during pregnancy.
 It’s a story about time, choice, uncertainty, and courage — and about how sometimes, motherhood unfolds in ways we could never plan.

💬 In this episode:

• What it’s like to start trying for a baby in your late 30s and early 40s
• The emotional and medical journey through fertility treatment and IVF
• Discovering that her baby had exomphalos (omphalocele) — what that means, and what came next
• Finding support and strength in uncertainty
• Reflections on what “being ready” for motherhood really means

🩺 Useful Resources:

• NHS: Exomphalos (Omphalocele)
• Tommy’s – Having a baby over 40
• Fertility Network UK
• NHS – IVF and fertility treatment
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/omphalocele/ 

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

Lily shares her unexpected experience with pre-eclampsia — a reminder that even when everything seems fine, it’s important to listen to your body and trust your instincts.

💛 Resources & Support

If you’d like to learn more about pre-eclampsia or what to do if you’re worried, here are a few trusted places to start:

• NHS – Pre-eclampsia:
  Clear info on symptoms, causes and when to seek help.
  👉 nhs.uk/conditions/pre-eclampsia
• Tommy’s:
  Great charity resource with easy-to-read info, FAQs and parent stories.
  👉 tommys.org/pre-eclampsia
• NHS Inform (Scotland):
  Friendly overview on signs, risks and management.
  👉 nhsinform.scot/pre-eclampsia

Remember — pre-eclampsia can develop after 20 weeks, and symptoms can include headaches, swelling (especially in the face/hands), changes in vision, or upper abdominal pain.
If something feels off, always speak to your midwife or doctor. You know your body best. 💛

💛 Stay connected
New episodes every week — listen wherever you get your podcasts!

🌍 https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 https://www.instagram.com/raisingwith_thevillage/

Got a story to share about pregnancy, parenting, or family life?
Send a message — your story could help someone else feel less alone.

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.