Dear NICU Mama

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.<...

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...

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...

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’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 hop...

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...

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 j...

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...

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 brigh...

In this week's episode, we're welcoming back Mary Farrelly, founder of The NICU Translator and NICU Doula Academy.

Since her first appearance on the podcast, Mary has turned a dream into a growing movement. As a Level IV NICU nurse and professionally trained doula, she is passionate about helping families experience more support, more advocacy, and less trauma throughout their NICU journey.

In this conversation, Mary shares what a NICU doula is, how this unique role supports families both in and beyond the NICU, and why collaboration between doulas and medical teams matters. She also...

In this week’s podcast episode, Katonya shares the incredible story of her son Kareem and the unimaginable journey that led her into motherhood. At just 22 weeks and 6 days pregnant, Katonya unexpectedly went into labor and delivered Kareem alone at home before emergency responders arrived. She opens up about those terrifying moments, the shock of becoming a NICU mom in an instant, and the emotions of watching her son fight for his life.

Katonya shares what it was like to navigate Kareem’s 180-day NICU stay, the many medical hurdles he faced as a micropreemie, and the incr...

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: “Tell us about a moment when you felt unexpected courage.”

From emergency deliveries and NICU stays to the challenges of bringing babies home, this episode is filled with powerful reminders that courage often shows up in the moments we never expected to face. As one mama beautifully shared, sometimes courage looks like simply doing the next thing when you don't have a choice.<...

In this episode, Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel join us to share their motherhood journeys, their experiences navigating NICU trauma and loss, and the heart behind their new resource for NICU families, “Your NICU Story”.

Mahaley vulnerably shares the story of her daughter, Sachi, who passed away in the NICU after an HIE diagnosis. Together, Emily and Mahaley reflect on the complexities of grief, healing after trauma, supporting marriages through loss and trauma, and the importance of giving yourself permission to heal slowly and gently.

This conversation is full of tender encouragement for NICU moms in e...

In this week’s podcast episode, Emma shares the story of her son Grady’s unexpected NICU journey after experiencing a rare neonatal stroke at birth. What began as a healthy, full-term pregnancy quickly turned into a series of medical emergencies, including respiratory distress, seizures, an emergency transfer to Massachusetts General Hospital, and the discovery of multiple blood clots in Grady’s brain.

Emma vulnerably reflects on the fear, uncertainty, and trauma of navigating the NICU as a first-time mom while also sharing the hope, resilience, and compassion that carried their family through. As May is Stroke Awaren...

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 would you offer to another NICU mama this Mother’s Day?”

From reminders that your feelings are valid, to encouragement that you are already an incredible mother right now, this episode is filled with the words so many of us NICU mamas need to hear heading into such a tender holiday. We also hold space for the complicated emotions t...

In this week’s episode, Latoya shares her motherhood story of welcoming her daughter Skylar at 28 weeks and navigating a long and complex NICU journey. She opens up about the challenges they faced during Skylar’s 10-month NICU stay, the joy of bringing her home, and the deep love that defined their time together.

Latoya vulnerably shares about the devastating loss of Skylar at 18 months old following a medical complication, and what it has looked like to navigate grief, trauma, and healing in the years since. She reflects on the ways she continues to feel connected to Skyl...

In this week’s episode, we’re continuing part 2 of our C-section roundtable with Ashley, Aisha, and two incredible NICU mamas from our community, Lindsay and Kristen. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, we encourage you to start there because today we’re picking up right where we left off!

In this part of the conversation, we move into what happens after delivery. We talk about recovery, the unexpected moments, and the emotional layers that can follow a C-section. From navigating healing while your baby is in the NICU, to the complicated relationship many of us have...

In this week’s podcast episode, we are sharing a replay episode from a c-section roundtable with Ashley, Aisha, and two incredible NICU mamas from our community, Lindsay and Kristen!

In this honest and gentle conversation, we share about the moments leading up to our C-sections, whether they were unexpected, emergent, or part of a high-risk journey, and what it felt like to walk through a birth experience that maybe didn’t look the way we had hoped or planned.

We talk about the loss of control, the decisions made in an instant, the things we r...

In this week’s podcast episode, we share the story of Sharon and her journey of becoming a NICU mom to her twin daughters after a high-risk pregnancy.

After learning she was expecting twins, Sharon’s pregnancy quickly shifted as one of her daughters experienced growth restriction, leading to frequent monitoring, weeks in the hospital, and ultimately delivering her girls at 30 weeks via C-section.

Sharon shares vulnerably about meeting her daughters in the NICU for the first time, navigating two different NICU journeys, and what it looked like to care for her babies while also lovi...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Brent and Suzette to share the story of their daughter Chloe and her journey with a rare mitochondrial disorder. What began as a typical pregnancy quickly shifted into a complex medical journey marked by uncertainty, advocacy, and deep resilience.

Brent and Suzette vulnerably reflect on receiving Chloe’s diagnosis of Leigh Syndrome, navigating hospitalizations and developmental changes, and learning how to care for and advocate for their daughter while holding both grief and joy at the same time. Now 17 years into their journey, they offer powerful wisdom on part...

It’s time for another Mamas Call In episode! Our call-in episodes are some of our favorites because it gives us the chance to hear from this remarkable sisterhood.

This month’s prompt was: “What would you tell a NICU mama who just received a new diagnosis for her baby or NICU grad? What is something you would want her to know?” 

From reminders that you are not alone, to giving yourself grace in the unknown, to taking things one heartbeat at a time, this episode is filled with the words so many of us NICU mama...

In this week’s episode, in honor of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, we’re hosting a powerful roundtable conversation sharing real, honest stories from NICU moms navigating this diagnosis with their NICU miracles. Melissa, Vilma, Andrea, and Aisha together share about what it’s like to hear the words Cerebral Palsy for the first time, why it can feel so heavy, and how that understanding shifts over time. We unpack the reality that CP is a spectrum and that no two children and no two journeys look the same.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

In this week’s podcast episode, we continue Emilee’s story as she shares what life looked like after Oakley’s diagnosis and their transition home from the NICU. Emilee opens up about navigating the unknowns of Oakley’s rare genetic deletion, making decisions about medical interventions like a G-tube and hearing devices, and adjusting to life at home with a medically complex baby. She also reflects on the learning curve of advocating for her son, finding confidence in her voice as a mom, and the ways her own childhood growing up alongside a brother with the same diagnosis has shap...

In this week’s podcast episode, Emilee shares Part 1 of her son Oakley’s unexpected NICU journey, a story marked by emergency decisions, a rare genetic diagnosis, and a powerful full-circle moment within her own family.

After a healthy pregnancy, Emilee delivered Oakley six weeks early via emergency C-section when she noticed decreased movement in the middle of the night. What began as low blood sugar and a short NICU stay in their small Colorado town quickly turned into a transfer to Children’s Hospital, where Oakley was diagnosed with a rare genetic deletion on his X chromo...

It’s time for another Mamas Call In episode! Our call-in episodes are some of our favorites because it gives us the chance to hear from this remarkable sisterhood.

This month’s prompt was: “If you could go back in time and share a word of love with yourself while you were fresh in the NICU, what would you tell her?”

From reminders to breathe, to choosing patience, to giving yourself permission to rest, cry, and not have it all figured out, this episode is filled with the words we all needed then… and honestly, still need...

In this week’s podcast episode, Jessica shares the remarkable story of becoming a NICU mom through adoption. She opens up about her and her husband’s journey through foster care, infertility, and the unexpected call that would introduce them to their son, Noah. Just weeks before his birth, they learned he had a complex congenital heart defect, along with other medical concerns that left doctors unsure if he would survive.

Jessica vulnerably walks us through Noah’s early arrival, his emergency transfer to a Level IV NICU, a terrifying code event at one month old, and ultima...

In this week’s podcast episode, we’re sharing a 2026 refresh of one of our most requested and revisited conversations, originally recorded in 2021. We’re joined by pelvic floor physical therapist Jill Ehrmantraut of Apex Therapy for an honest and affirming discussion about pelvic floor health, physical healing, and sex after the NICU and birth trauma.

Jill helps us understand how birth, trauma, and chronic stress impact the body, the nervous system, and the pelvic floor. Together, we talk about common but often unspoken changes after birth, including pain with sex, muscle tension, weakness, scar tissue from C sect...

We are back!!! In this week’s podcast episode, we’re sharing a 2026 update and re-release of a conversation originally recorded in 2020, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day. We’re joined by maternal mental health therapist Natalie Reiter for an honest and compassionate discussion about sex and intimacy after the NICU and birth trauma.

Natalie explores how trauma impacts our nervous systems, why intimacy and sex are not the same thing, and how fear, pressure, and survival mode can affect connection after the NICU. Together, we talk about rebuilding intimacy, navigating mismatched desire, fear of pregnancy after tr...

In this week’s episode, Ashley and Aisha sit down for a cozy end-of-year conversation to close out the 2025 podcast season. Together, they reflect on the stories, experts, and full-circle moments that shaped this year’s episodes, and share how the Dear NICU Mama sisterhood continues to impact their own healing journeys.

They also introduce something brand new to the community: our Right On Time Holiday Book Drive. After receiving more than 130 nominations from NICU moms across the country, six hospitals were selected to receive donated copies of Right On Time. This is a meaningful way...

In this week’s episode, Ashley and Aisha sit down with two very special guests: Allie, a PA who cared for Ashley’s son during his NICU stay, and her husband, Troy—the illustrator of Right On Time, Dear NICU Mama’s first children’s board book. Together they share the full-circle story of how their NICU connection led to creating a book that honors and represents the diverse journeys of NICU families!

Ali reflects on her years in the NICU and her work in pediatric rehab, and Troy shares what it was like to illustrate a project so...

On this week’s episode, we welcome Dr. KC from Milestones & Motherhood — a pediatric physical therapist, early intervention specialist, and trusted guide for parents navigating developmental milestones. KC shares her own experience with late-preterm babies and how it shaped the compassionate, parent-centered approach she brings to her work.

We talk about what early intervention really is, why adjusted age matters, how to navigate comparison, and the power of celebrating the “mini-stones” along the way. KC offers gentle reassurance for NICU parents navigating developmental milestones post NICU.

Most of all, she reminds every parent listening that you are...

In this week’s podcast episode, Ashley and Aisha sit down with Dear NICU Mama co-founder Martha for a vulnerable and joy-filled conversation about the early days of the sisterhood and how it all began! From the first coffee date and color-coded binder to the launch of the podcast and the years of growth that followed, Ashley and Martha reflect on what it was like to build something so meaningful together.

They share openly about the pivots, challenges, and sacred moments that shaped Dear NICU Mama, from its local beginnings in Fargo to the national community it is...

In this week’s podcast episode, Ashley and Aisha sit down with their husbands, Ryan and Andy, for an intentional conversation about their experiences as NICU dads!

Ryan and Andy share vulnerably about the moments that shaped their journeys, from emergency deliveries and hospital stays to navigating grief, helplessness, and healing years later. They reflect on what it was like to support their partners through trauma, learn to surrender control, and find small ways to show up when so much felt out of their hands.

Together, they remind us that the NICU journey isn’t only...

In this week’s podcast episode, Ashley and Aisha sit down with NICU mamas Vilma and Sam for a vulnerable roundtable conversation about feeding journeys after the NICU, and what it’s like when a G-tube becomes part of your story.

They share vulnerably about the emotions that come with this transition, from the relief of finally going home, to the surrender that often follows. Together, they share about the realities of adjusting expectations, redefining milestones, and learning that every feeding journey looks different–and that’s okay.

This conversation is a reminder that whether your chi...

In this week’s podcast episode, we share the audio from our recent Walking Letter of Hope Day virtual event featuring licensed therapist and birth trauma survivor Kayleigh Summers, known as The Birth Trauma Mama!

Kayleigh joins us to talk about the lasting impact of birth and NICU trauma, what healing can look like, and the hope that comes from sharing our stories in community. She offers gentle, trauma-informed insight into understanding trauma as a neurobiological response, navigating feelings of hyper-vigilance and grief after the NICU, and finding ways to honor your healing while caring for your ch...

In this week’s podcast episode, Ashley and former and beloved podcast co-host Martha revisit an important conversation for our NICU sisterhood: understanding IEPs and how to advocate for your child in school.

This replay episode features special education expert Catherine Whitcher, founder of Master IEP Coach, who shares practical guidance on navigating the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, partnering with your child’s school, and finding hope and empowerment in every step.

Catherine reminds us that while the paperwork and terminology can feel overwhelming, an IEP is not a label: it’s a tool to hel...

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 import...

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...

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...

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 te...