The Konnected NICU Space Podcast

Konnected Thru 22
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Kids & Family
  • Biweekly

The Konnected NICU Space Podcast is a safe and supportive space for Premature Birth/ NICU families, medical mamas, and parents navigating journeys that don’t come with a manual. Created through lived experience, this podcast shares real stories, honest conversations, and the emotional realities of premature birth, medical challenges, and life beyond the NICU. Here, we talk about the highs, the lows, and everything in between because no parent should ever feel alone in this journey.

  1. 3d ago

    When the Healthcare Provider Becomes the NICU Mom: A Six-Month Journey That Changed Everything

    What happens when you spend your days caring for other people's families while your own baby is fighting in the NICU? In this episode of The Konnected NICU Space, I sit down with Ashley O’Neil, nurse practitioner, author of It’s a NICU World, host of the Ask a NICU Mama Podcast, and founder of The O’Neil Foundation for Healing. Ashley shares a glimpse into her six-month NICU journey with her son and the emotional rollercoaster that came with it. Just two months into her son's NICU stay, she returned to work as a nurse practitioner, navigating the difficult reality of caring for her patients while carrying the weight of having her own baby in the hospital. She speaks about having to mask her feelings, show up professionally, and keep going even when her heart and mind were elsewhere. We also talk about how her experiences have influenced the work she does today through It’s a NICU World and The O’Neil Foundation for Healing. From creating resources and conversations for NICU families to building a nonprofit focused on supporting families navigating grief, loss, and complex medical journeys, Ashley is working to help families feel less alone. This conversation reminds us that even those who care for others need care and support themselves. It also highlights why support should not end when a baby leaves the NICU and why families deserve spaces where their experiences can be understood without having to explain everything. Join us for an honest conversation about the NICU journey, the emotions we sometimes feel we have to hide, and the purpose that can grow from our most difficult experiences. Connect with Ashley and learn more: 🌐 It’s a NICU World: https://www.itsanicuworld.com/ 💚 The O’Neil Foundation for Healing: https://www.itsanicuworld.com/the-o-neil-foundation 🎙️ Ask a NICU Mama Podcast: Available on all platforms.

    When the Healthcare Provider Becomes the NICU Mom: A Six-Month Journey That Changed Everything

  2. Oct 21

    Beyond the NICU: The Trauma, Guilt & Healing No One Talks About

    In this heartfelt episode of The Konnected NICU Space, Tamiya Griffin, founder of Your Mommy BFF, discusses the emotional and physical challenges NICU parents can face during and after their hospital stay. Tamiya opens up about her three NICU experiences, including her daughter’s six-week stay after being born at 31 weeks. She shares the realities of navigating postpartum recovery, pumping, loneliness, mom guilt, medical terminology, and the emotional difficulty of leaving your baby in the hospital while life continues at home. Tamiya discusses the importance of acknowledging NICU trauma, extending yourself grace, and recognizing that parents need support, too. She also explores the value of finding community, seeking perinatal mental health support, and caring for yourself while caring for your baby. Through her business, Your Mommy BFF, Tamiya supports families with pregnancy and postpartum planning, wellness checkins, and NICU preparation. This conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to navigate motherhood alone. Your healing matters, too. 💜 Connect with Tamiya:Instagram: @yourmommybff

    Beyond the NICU: The Trauma, Guilt & Healing No One Talks About

  3. Oct 7

    When the NICU Comes Home With You

    Leaving the NICU can feel like the finish line, but for many families, it’s really the beginning of a whole new journey. In this episode of The Konnected NICU Space, I’m talking with Sam, a dedicated NICU and medical mama whose own experience navigating PPROM at 21 weeks, a 24-week delivery, and a five-month NICU stay shaped her passion for supporting other families. After experiencing the complexities of micro-preemie care and life with a G-tube firsthand, Sam turned her experience into purpose through Under the Same Sky LLC, where she provides transition planning, home organization, and compassionate non-medical doula support for families navigating medical complexity. As a NICU Doula completing her final certification, Sam understands what it means to advocate at the bedside and the challenges that can come once you bring your baby home. We’re talking about the transition from NICU to home, medical complexity, advocacy, preparing for life after discharge, and why families deserve support throughout the entire journey. Because sometimes, leaving the NICU is just the beginning and no family should have to navigate what comes next alone. Connect with Sam:Instagram: @underthesameskydoulaWebsite: underthesameskydoula.comEmail: Hello@underthesameskydoula.com

    When the NICU Comes Home With You

  4. Sep 23

    From NICU to Home: The Role of Occupational Therapy with Jane Cranston

    On this episode of The Konnected NICU Space, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jane Cranston, Occupational Therapist and Founder & CEO of Tiny Transition Therapy Consulting PLLC. Jane and I explore the important role occupational therapists play in the NICU and how their support can make a difference for both babies and their families throughout the NICU journey. We talk about how occupational therapists help support a baby’s development, recognize their individual needs, and work alongside families and the medical team during such an overwhelming time. We also discuss the transition from the NICU to home and why that transition can bring a whole new set of challenges for families. Leaving the hospital may feel like a celebration, but for many NICU families, it can also come with uncertainty, questions, and the need for continued support. Jane shares her perspective on the importance of meeting families where they are and helping them feel more confident as they navigate life after the NICU. Jane also shares how she took her career experience and turned it into passion and purpose, ultimately establishing her own therapy services to support children and families in a way that reflects her experience, knowledge, and heart for this work. Whether you are a NICU parent, healthcare professional, or someone who wants to better understand the support available to NICU families, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.  To learn more about what services Jane offer, visit her website at https://www.tinytransitionstherapy.com/

    From NICU to Home: The Role of Occupational Therapy with Jane Cranston

  5. Sep 9

    When the Words Go Unspoken: Michelle shares her story on NICU Loss, Grief & Supporting Families Beyond the Hospital

    In this episode, Michelle opens up about something many NICU families experience but don’t always talk about the things that go unspoken. She shares what it felt like when the medical team seemed afraid to verbalize that Colette was dying, the emotional roller coaster ride of the NICU, the pressure of having to ask permission to parent your own baby, the financial impact of an unexpected premature birth, and the guilt that can come when bonding doesn’t look the way you imagined. And through her loss, Michelle turned her pain into purpose. She is now the founder and CEO of the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation, which has provided more than $2.1 million in direct financial assistance to over 4,000 families navigating high-risk pregnancies, NICU stays, and loss. This episode is for NICU parents.-For families who have experienced loss.- For anyone who has loved someone through a high-risk pregnancy.- And for healthcare providers who want to better understand what families need when the unthinkable happens. Please follow the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation on all social media platforms and visit the website for more information: https://colettelouise.com

    When the Words Go Unspoken: Michelle shares her story on NICU Loss, Grief & Supporting Families Beyond the Hospital

  6. Aug 26

    When You’re Told There’s No Hope: Zoe’s Journey of Advocacy, Faith & Finding a Second Opinion

    In this powerful episode of The Konnected NICU Space, we sit down with Zoe to hear her deeply personal journey of navigating an unexpected diagnosis during pregnancy. During her pregnancy, Zoe discovered that her son had a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD). Faced with overwhelming news, she was told by a doctor to consider terminating the pregnancy without being presented with other options or given the information she needed to make an informed decision. Instead of accepting that as the end of the conversation, Zoe continued to seek answers. She eventually connected with another medical provider who took the time to explain her son’s diagnosis, discuss available options, and provide the information and support she needed to make the decision that was right for her and her family. Although Zoe’s story is not specifically a NICU story, her experience speaks to many of the emotions and challenges that medical moms can face; fear, uncertainty, difficult decisions, advocating for your child, and learning to trust your instincts. This episode is a powerful reminder that you have the right to ask questions, seek more information, and get a second opinion. For moms receiving unexpected or life changing news during pregnancy, you don't have to navigate the unknown alone. Your questions matter. Your voice matters. And having the right information can make all the difference. Join us for an honest conversation about CHD, pregnancy, medical advocacy, second opinions, and the importance of finding providers who will listen, educate, and support families through difficult moments.

    When You’re Told There’s No Hope: Zoe’s Journey of Advocacy, Faith & Finding a Second Opinion

  7. Aug 12

    From Medical Fear to NICU Mom: A Journey of Resilience & Advocacy

    What happens when someone who has experienced deep medical trauma finds herself becoming a NICU mom to a 25 week preemie?  In this powerful episode of the Konnected NICU Space Podcast, Kristina Denham opens up about overcoming a deep fear of hospitals after a traumatic medical experience and the courage it took to learn how to trust medical professionals again. Kristina's journey would eventually lead her to becoming a NICU mom to a baby born at just 25 weeks. Her story is one of unexpected turns, including being told she couldn't have children, navigating a life changing autoimmune liver diagnosis, losing her job, housing, and health insurance, experiencing a 25-week delivery, and facing devastating grief. She also shares the impact of a hospital error that deeply affected her during an already vulnerable chapter of her life. Through it all, Kristina found a way to transform her experiences into purpose. Today, Kristina Denham is an artist, community builder, and founder of NICC the Incubator and the NICC SCOUTS TEAM, creative initiatives focused on transforming how families experience the NICU and maternal health journey. Through storytelling, art, community partnerships, and advocacy, she works to create educational resources, healing experiences, and meaningful support for families. Kristina's story reminds us that our hardest experiences don't have to define the rest of our story. Sometimes, the very experiences that break our hearts can become the foundation for the work we are called to do. To learn more about Kristina and the work of NICC the Incubator and the NICC SCOUTS TEAM, follow them on Instagram

    From Medical Fear to NICU Mom: A Journey of Resilience & Advocacy

  8. Jul 29

    Hope, Healing & Community: The Voices behind The Dear NICU Mama Podcast Share Their Stories.

    In this special episode of the Konnected NICU Space Podcast, we're turning the microphones around as two of the voices behind Dear NICU Mama share the deeply personal experiences that shaped their passion for serving NICU families. Ashley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Dear NICU Mama, shares the story of her son, who was born at 28 weeks and is now a thriving 7-year-old. Her experience navigating the NICU inspired her to create a community where NICU mothers feel seen, supported, and connected. You'll also hear from Aisha, a volunteer with Dear NICU Mama and co-host of the Dear NICU Mama Podcast. Aisha vulnerably shares her two NICU journeys the heartbreaking loss of her son, born at 24 weeks, and the incredible story of her daughter, born at 26 weeks and now 6 years old. She also shares how finding Dear NICU Mama helped her feel understood and gave her a place to heal. Their stories are powerful reminders that behind every advocate is a lived experience, and behind every voice is a story worth telling. To learn more about Dear NICU Mama and the amazing support they provide to NICU families, visit www.dearnicumama.com and follow Dear NICU Mama on Instagram and Facebook. Be sure to subscribe to the Dear NICU Mama Podcast on Apple Podcasts.

    Hope, Healing & Community: The Voices behind The Dear NICU Mama Podcast Share Their Stories.
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About

The Konnected NICU Space Podcast is a safe and supportive space for Premature Birth/ NICU families, medical mamas, and parents navigating journeys that don’t come with a manual. Created through lived experience, this podcast shares real stories, honest conversations, and the emotional realities of premature birth, medical challenges, and life beyond the NICU. Here, we talk about the highs, the lows, and everything in between because no parent should ever feel alone in this journey.

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