In this episode of Nicu&You, Belle Stevenson is joined by Ciara O’Goan and Una Leonard from Support 2gether, an award-winning charity created to support families through postnatal mental health struggles.

Ciara shares her NICU journey following the birth of her son Jude — from the shock of separation and the relentless beeping of machines, to the emotional aftermath of postnatal depression and anxiety that followed her home. She opens up about the fear that stopped her from asking for help: the belief that admitting she was struggling might mean losing her child.

Una shares her own experience of motherhood, anxiety, and how early education around postnatal mental health ultimately helped her find her way through. Together, they explain how Support 2gether was born from lived experience — and why having “someone who gets it” can change everything.

This conversation tackles stigma head-on, challenges myths around asking for help, and reminds parents of one powerful truth: reaching out is not weakness — it’s strength.

💛 A supported parent is a protected child.

🎧 If you’re struggling, supporting someone who is, or reflecting on your own NICU journey, this episode is here to remind you: you are not alone, and this is not forever — it’s just your right now.

In this episode of Nicu&You, Belle Stevenson is joined by Marie McElroy, Lecturer in Social Work at Ulster University and registered social worker, for an honest and compassionate conversation about one of the biggest fears voiced by NICU and new parents: stigma.

Together they explore the fear that seeking support could lead to judgment, intervention, or even child removal — and what social work looks like today compared to the past. Marie breaks down how safeguarding decisions are actually made, why most social work involvement is supportive rather than punitive, and how the system is increasingly shifting toward compassion, collaboration, and early intervention.

This episode also dives into the emotional reality of pregnancy and NICU care, attachment and separation trauma, and why “a supported parent is a protected child” is more than just a phrase — it’s a principle.

Most importantly, this conversation challenges long-held myths and reassures parents that reaching out for help is not a weakness, but a strength.

🎧 If you’re a parent, expecting, or supporting someone through NICU care, this episode is a reminder: you are not alone, and help is there without judgment.

💛 Take care, and take it one day at a time.

In this powerful episode of Nicu&You, Belle Stevenson is joined by Rosemary, who shares her deeply personal experience of giving birth over 40 years ago. From early labour and limited communication, to her newborn daughter being taken to NICU without explanation, Rosemary recalls a time when medical care often came without clarity, compassion, or emotional support.

She opens up about the fear of separation, the impact of unanswered questions, and the lasting trauma of repeated miscarriages handled in silence. Her story highlights just how far perinatal and neonatal care has come — and why talking about mental health and lived experience matters now more than ever.

This conversation is a reminder of the importance of information, advocacy, and emotional support for parents navigating NICU journeys, both then and now.

If you’ve ever experienced pregnancy loss, NICU care, or the emotional weight of uncertainty in early parenthood, this episode offers honesty, reflection, and connection.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation around perinatal mental health and lived NICU experiences.

In this deeply emotional episode of Nicu&You, Belle Stevenson speaks with Geraldine and Adam about their son Kian’s extraordinary NICU journey. From early pregnancy complications and emergency relocation to Winnipeg, to the tense countdown to viability at 23 weeks, their story captures the extreme uncertainty many families face in neonatal intensive care.

Kian arrived fighting — tiny, strong, and determined — and spent six months in NICU undergoing life-saving interventions, setbacks, and moments of fragile hope. But alongside the medical journey was something just as powerful: the emotional toll on his parents, the strength they found in each other, and the support of the NICU community around them.

This episode also explores the devastating turning point of NEC, difficult conversations about quality of life, and the heartbreaking decision to transition to palliative care. Kian passed away in his parents’ arms, surrounded by love.

This is not just a story about NICU care — it’s about love, resilience, trauma, and the lasting impact of neonatal loss. Geraldine and Adam also share how they continue to honour Kian’s memory and support other NICU families through lived experience.

⚠️ Content note: This episode includes discussion of extreme prematurity, neonatal intensive care, and baby loss.

If you are a NICU parent, bereaved parent, or supporting someone through neonatal care, this conversation offers honesty, understanding, and connection.

🎧 Listen now. You are not alone.

In this powerful and deeply emotional episode of NICU & You, Deborah shares the story of her daughter Olivia, born prematurely at 32 weeks following a high-risk pregnancy marked by constant monitoring, rising heart rates, and an unexpected emergency delivery.

From two weeks on a hospital ward to a sudden C-section, Deborah takes us inside the moment everything changed—and the long night that followed, as Olivia was rushed to NICU and fought for her life.

You’ll hear:

• What it’s really like preparing for a premature birth and neonatal care
• The emotional impact of seeing your baby in an incubator for the first time
• How Olivia was defibrillated 13 times in her first week
• The unseen trauma parents carry during and after a NICU stay
• The incredible role of nurses, consultants, and support staff in the darkest moments
• Honest advice for parents navigating fear, uncertainty, and survival

This episode is raw, real, and ultimately hopeful—a story about resilience, love, and the strength it takes to face the unimaginable, one moment at a time.

If you’re a parent, expecting a baby, or supporting someone through NICU, this is a conversation you won’t forget.

👉 Follow NICU & You for more real stories, expert insight, and support for families navigating neonatal care.

In this powerful episode of NICU & You, host Belle Stevenson is joined by MLA Deborah Erskine, who shares her deeply personal journey through miscarriage, anxiety, and a high-risk pregnancy that took a dramatic turn at 29 weeks.

After years of trying to conceive—and a heartbreaking loss—Deborah finally receives the news she’s pregnant. But joy is quickly overshadowed by fear, silence, and the unspoken realities of perinatal mental health. Then, during a routine check-up, everything changes. A dangerously high fetal heart rate. A race against time. Blue lights to a specialist unit. And a diagnosis that no parent is prepared for.

In this honest and emotional conversation, Deborah opens up about:

• The hidden impact of miscarriage and why we don’t talk about it enough
• Living with anxiety throughout pregnancy after loss
• The moment everything changed at 29 weeks
• Navigating the unknown inside the NICU system
• The power of advocacy, asking questions, and being heard

This episode is a must-listen for parents, healthcare professionals, and anyone who wants to better understand the emotional reality behind neonatal journeys.

💛 If you’re in the middle of your own NICU story—you’re not alone.

Follow, subscribe, and share to help support more families navigating life in and beyond the NICU.

Drawing from her own experience as a premature twin and the profound grief of losing both parents to cancer at a young age, Andrea shares how her personal struggles shaped a compassionate approach to pastoral care. Together, Bell and Andrea discuss:

• How to walk alongside grieving parents when there are no answers, and why a comforting presence matters more than finding the right words.
• The critical lack of support for parents navigating loss within the medical system and the urgent need for a better experience.
• The power of a faith-based community and small, practical acts of kindness—like dropping off a pint of milk or a loaf of bread—to support grieving families.
• The importance of setting boundaries, leaning on a support network, and protecting your own mental health as a caregiver.

Whether you are a parent currently navigating the NICU, a healthcare worker, or a supporter trying to help a loved one through grief, this conversation is a gentle reminder that you do not have to walk this path alone.

🎧 Tune in to Nicu & You as we continue to make sense of the journey, one day at a time.

Following a complicated pregnancy and a diagnosis of hydrops fetalis, Joanne’s son, Fabar, was born critically ill. What followed was an intense and heartbreaking two weeks in the neonatal unit — a time shaped by fragile hope, deep uncertainty, and unimaginable decisions.

In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Joanne opens up about:

– The moment her pregnancy took an unexpected turn

– The emotional realities of life inside NICU

– The trauma and grief of losing a baby, and its lasting effects

– How her experience has shaped her journey through motherhood and her career

– The work she now does supporting families through Tiny Life

This conversation doesn’t shy away from difficult truths — from the strain on relationships to the long shadow of anxiety and grief. But it also speaks to love, remembrance, and the importance of giving space to stories of loss.

💛 Honest, moving, and profoundly human

💛 For anyone navigating NICU, grief, or trauma

💛 A reminder that even the briefest lives can leave the deepest mark

Because every baby has a story — and every story deserves to be heard.

After a complicated pregnancy and a diagnosis of hydrops fetalis, Joanne’s baby boy, Fabar, was born critically ill. What followed was a devastating two-week rollercoaster in the neonatal unit — filled with hope, heartbreak, and impossible decisions.

In this deeply honest episode, Joanne shares:

• The moment everything changed during pregnancy
• The emotional reality of life inside NICU
• The trauma, grief, and long-term impact of losing a baby
• How that experience shaped her life, motherhood, and career
• Why she now supports other families through Tiny Life

This conversation doesn’t shy away from the hard truths — from relationship strain and anxiety to the triggers that can last decades. But it also speaks to love, memory, and the importance of talking about loss.

💛 Raw, powerful, and deeply human

💛 For parents navigating NICU, grief, or trauma

💛 A reminder that even the shortest lives leave the biggest legacy

Because every baby has a story — and every story deserves to be heard.

In this powerful episode, Colleen shares the raw reality of navigating a high-risk pregnancy, an emergency premature birth at 30 weeks, and the emotional challenges of life inside the NICU. From moments of deep despair to unwavering faith, she opens up about the strength it took to keep going when hope felt out of reach.

She also reflects on the trauma, the small victories, and the resilience that carried her through — and the miracle of bringing her little boy home.

This is a story of survival, strength, and the power of hope when it matters most — a reminder that even in the darkest moments, you are never alone.

Clara also opens up about balancing life as a busy business owner with family life, offering insight, honesty, and plenty of laughs along the way. This is an episode full of resilience, warmth, and the craic you crave — a true reminder that every day in the NICU journey is taken one day at a time.