Dear NICU Mama

In this week's episode, Ashley and Aisha are joined by fellow NICU mamas Mollie and Latoya for a heartfelt roundtable conversation in honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Together, these mamas share their experiences navigating life after the loss of their children, how grief has evolved over time, and the ways they have found comfort and support along the way. They discuss the unpredictable waves of grief, the importance of allowing ourselves to feel without expectation, and what it means to continue honoring their babies through everyday moments and meaningful traditions. Whether you are navigating loss yourself or walking alongside someone who is, we hope this conversation reminds you that grief looks different for everyone, there is no timeline for healing, and our babies' lives and legacies will always matter. To every loss mama in our sisterhood, we see you, we love you, and we remember your babies with you. To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and the International Wave of Light, this week's episode is dedicated to remembering and honoring the babies who left this world far too soon. In this week's podcast episode, Ashley and Aisha share the names and stories of babies whose lives have left a lasting impact on the hearts of those who love them. Together, we make space for remembrance, grief, and the love that continues long after goodbye. To every family who entrusted us with your baby's name and story, thank you. It is one of our greatest honors to know your babies through you and to remember them alongside you. Their names are forever etched in our hearts. To every loss mama listening, we see you, we love you, and we remember your baby with you. You are not alone. This episode is dedicated to your babies. May their names always be spoken, their lives always be honored, and their memories never forgotten.

In this week’s episode, we are sharing a replay centered on grief and the many ways it can show up throughout the NICU journey and beyond. As mentioned in the introduction, our Wave of Light episode will be published on October 14. Below, you’ll find a form where you can share the name of your baby or babies so we can gently honor and remember them during that episode. Thank you for trusting us with their names and allowing us to remember them alongside you. Wave of Light Form: https://form.jotform.com/dearnicumama/wave-of-light-podcast-episode When we think of grief, we often think of grieving someone that has passed away. But what about when we grieve something we have lost, like an experience or the motherhood journey we always envisioned we would have? On this week's episode, we speak with Jessica Hotchkiss from Praireland Counseling Services about grief and its relation to NICU motherhood. In this episode we cover: Myths and truths about grief What healthy grieving looks like What NICU mothers might grieve Will grief always hurt and is there a timeline? How to move through grief without rushing the healing process Our hope is that this episode affirms that no matter where you are in your healing journey, that your grief is valid and not too big. You are never ever alone! Jessica Hotchkiss is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of North Dakota and a Certified Child Life Specialist. Specializing in death, grief, and bereavement, Jessica has 10 years of experience in both the hospital and outpatient settings providing support to children, adults and families. She also holds certification as a grief counselor conducting training and presentations at the local, national, and international levels. Jessica has created courses for master's and doctoral counseling students in the area of bereavement and is passionate about preparing individuals to work with grief and loss. Her research and expertise works to combat burnout, compassion fatigue, and death anxiety. She specializes in working with children and families living with chronic or terminal medical conditions or experiencing medical trauma. To get connected with Jessica: Website | Instagram | Facebook To get connected with DNM: Website | Private Facebook Group | Instagram

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 Support the show