Your stories

"Everything that I had planned was taken away from me" - Kaitlin's story

February 26, 2021

After a pregnancy with no issues, when Kaitlin gave birth to her full term baby, he unexpectedly needed care in NICU. Her son, Lleyton suffered a…

"I felt useless, helpless and that it was all my fault" - Kerry's story

February 23, 2021

Kerry's daughter Evie was born full term and diagnosed with HIE, a type of newborn brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen and/or blood flow. Kerry…

Having a premature and full term baby in neonatal care – Bethany’s story

February 19, 2021

Bethany experienced neonatal care for the first time when son born prematurely in 2018, and again when her second son Teddy was born at term but…

"It was hard to understand how a full term baby could be so poorly" - Kim's story

February 19, 2021

Kim's baby was born full term at 41 weeks and two days. During birth her baby Blake suffered a brain injury causing her to need treatment in NICU.…

"I am in awe of my mum's strength" - Jo's generational story

February 18, 2021

This Mother's Day, Jo is reflecting on her mother's strength when she was born at 25 weeks in 1988, as well as celebrating her own pregnancy - she's…

"Each time I walked into NICU, I expected the worst" - Stacey's story

February 12, 2021

"I call NICU 'parenting boot-camp' and I don’t think I’d be the parent I am now without it" - Rosie's story

February 05, 2021

With George being a full term baby, Rosie did not expect him to end up in NICU. Here, Rosie tells her birth story, how she and her family dealt with…

"It is an experience that changes you" - Frankie's story

January 29, 2021

After being in NICU for 5 weeks after giving birth to Arlo, Frankie met Georgie, who also had a NICU baby. Together they set up an Instagram account…

"It felt like a never ending battle" - Charlotte's story

January 21, 2021

When Charlotte gave birth unexpectedly at 31 weeks, her daughter, Leela, was admitted to neonatal care. Read her story here.

"You just don’t know until you go through it" - Giorgia's story

January 15, 2021

Giorgia's son Arlo was born 11 weeks premature during the height of the pandemic. She explains how the parental restrictions and neonatal experience…

"I felt guilty that I couldn’t keep her safe inside me, where she belonged" - Amy's story

January 07, 2021

Betsie overcame so much during her first few months. She was an IVF baby, as her father had radiotherapy and chemotherapy for an incurable brain…

"I was petrified that I would give birth extremely early, with no one by my side" - Rachael's story

December 31, 2020

Rachael gave birth prematurely to her son, Joshua, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, she tells her story and how the difficult restrictions…

A Christmas to remember - Rachael's story

December 24, 2020

Rachael's baby wasn’t due until mid February, but having had her first child a month early two years previously, she knew that he might be born…

"I wasn't looking forward to Christmas Day if my boy wasn't coming home" - Lizzie's story

December 21, 2020

Having a premature baby seven weeks early leading up to Christmas was never a possibility I had considered. The fact that things didn't go to plan is…

Our baby woke up on her first Christmas Day without us - Karen's story

December 18, 2020

Just before Christmas, four years ago, I was seven months pregnant. My husband and I were looking forward to the holidays. It was due to be our last…

Our daughter's first Christmas was in NICU - Clare's story

December 11, 2020

Clare tells the story of her daughter Savannah's first Christmas, which was spent in NICU. They made the most of a difficult situation and her…

"I feel I should have enjoyed her early months, but simply couldn't" - Eleanor's story

December 03, 2020

Eleanor discusses how her daughter's difficult birth journey affected her mental health, and how she is coping now.

"It is essential that mothers find a community of lived experience" - Charlotte's story

November 27, 2020

Charlotte describes the importance of community after going through the neonatal journey, and how herself and her friend Vicky are helping other…