Your stories

Stories and features about babies born premature or sick, their families and the health professionals who care for them.

Browse through stories shared by families and health professionals, by using the search box below or scrolling down to see our most recent stories.

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If you are a journalist looking for stories to feature, please call 02073785749 or email media@bliss.org.uk

Featured Story

The NICU experience for siblings - Amy and Alina's story

Posted on August 17, 2020

Amy tried to protect her three year old from her youngest daughter's neonatal journey. Now, as a family, they're confronting their emotions to help other children who have a sibling in neonatal care.
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"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…

Taking a break from the NICU – Leah's story

November 19, 2020

Leah describes how spending so much time in NICU took a toll on her mental health and the steps she took to make herself and her family feel less…

Postnatal depression after the birth of my daughter - Sophie’s story

November 13, 2020

In February 2019, Sophie's daughter Erin was born at 26 weeks and 6 days, weighing only 620g. She describes Erin's experience with necrotising…

"I felt overwhelmed watching my little boy while trying to support my wife" - Tom's story

November 05, 2020

Tom describes the experience of his son Rafferty being born with a rare blood condition seven weeks before his due date, as well as the acts of…

‘I will always love you, little man’ – Danny’s story

October 12, 2020

Danny shares the story of losing one of his triplets to Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)

Losing our two bears – Gary’s story

October 09, 2020

Gary looks back on the tragedy of losing his twin girls within four weeks of each other in 2003

"Arlo’s short life had taught me so many lessons" - Sarah's story

October 08, 2020

Following the loss of her son Arlo, Sarah is helping others who have faced baby loss with her book 'Arlo's Adventure'.

Feeding a full-term baby in NICU – Katy’s Story

October 02, 2020

Katy describes her experience of hand expressing, using a breast pump, formula and breast feeding as she did whatever she could to help her baby put…

Tube feeding, bottle feeding and breastfeeding - Anna's Story

October 02, 2020

Anna’s baby Drake first had to be tube-fed, then bottle-fed with expressed milk and formula top-ups before finally Anna’s dream of breastfeeding her…

Overcoming fears about feeding – Liz’s story

September 30, 2020

Feeding a 23-weeker is certainly a daunting prospect, whether it is with a tube or bottle. Liz shares some of the challenges she and her partner…

My baby’s cerebral palsy diagnosis – Katy’s story

September 28, 2020

Katy had no reason to think anything would be wrong when she gave birth at 41 weeks, until her baby was born not breathing and suffering seizures.

Struggling to latch – Amy’s story

September 17, 2020

Trying to breastfeed turned out to be a surprisingly difficult part of Amy’s neonatal journey as her milk supply was slow in coming in and her baby,…

'You never know how strong you are, until strong is all you can be' – Kim’s story

September 16, 2020

When Kim's baby was born with HIE, she not only faced a scary 14 days in neonatal care, but she had to keep it a secret from her older son who still…

Our 10-week rollercoaster – Grant and Katie’s Photo Diary

September 10, 2020

Grant and Katie wrote a journal to their son, Eric, tracking the highs and lows of their neonatal journey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having twins during COVID-19 – Tammy’s story

September 03, 2020

Restrictions to parental access at the neonatal unit meant Tammy and her husband had to take turns visiting their newborn twins and cope with hearing…

My baby’s PPHN diagnosis – Aimee’s Photo Blog

September 01, 2020

Through pictures of their time on the NICU, Aimee tells the story of her neonatal journey after her son Jax, born at 37 weeks, was diagnosed with…

My labour with sepsis, acidosis and HIE – Jess' story

August 31, 2020

Nothing about the birth of Jess' baby went to plan, but ever since Oliver has been thriving.