The NICU Space by Miracle Moon

In this episode, I’m joined by Hayley, NICU mum and creator behind The SEN and Prem Mum, who shares her experience of premature birth during COVID, her daughter’s neonatal journey, and the path to discovering autism and ADHD within her family.

We talk about Hayley’s experience of severe preeclampsia and delivering at 29 weeks, alongside her daughter’s autism diagnosis and her own late diagnosis of ADHD and autism. We explore the complex overlap between prematurity, trauma, and neurodivergence, as well as the realities of parenting neurodivergent children while navigating sensory overwhelm and finding support.

In this episode, we talk about:
Premature birth at 29 weeks due to severe preeclampsia
NICU experiences, separation after birth, and early emotional impact
Recognising early signs of autism and navigating diagnosis
The overlap between prematurity, trauma, autism, and ADHD
Receiving a late diagnosis of autism and ADHD as a parent
Parenting neurodivergent children and managing sensory overwhelm

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:

The NICU Space CommunityAn online support space for NICU parents at all stages of their journey. Inside you’ll find specialist resources, coping tools and connection with parents who understand what this experience can feel like.

The NICU Parent Handbook
A new resource I’ve created to help parents make sense of the thoughts and feelings that often follow neonatal care. It explores common experiences like guilt, grief, hypervigilance and anxiety, alongside practical tools to help parents cope. Coming soon.

Stay connected
Instagram: @miraclemoonuk
Website: ⁠miraclemoon.co.uk⁠
The NICU Space community: ⁠The NICU Space⁠

Connect with our guest, Hayley
Instagram: @the_sen_and_prem_mum

One last thing! Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. ⭐️

In this episode, Lorna Tallowin, NICU parent and founder of Super Dinky, turns the questions back to me, inviting me to share my own NICU journey.
We talk about my pregnancy, delivering unexpectedly at 31 weeks, and what the early weeks in neonatal intensive care were like. We also explore survival mode, dissociation, ongoing anxiety, and the identity shift that comes with being a NICU parent.
Lorna and I discuss why community, validation, and psychological support are so important for parents after NICU, and the gaps that still exist in care.

In this episode, we talk about:
My premature birth at 31 weeks and early NICU experiences
Survival mode, dissociation, and emotional overwhelm
Ongoing anxiety, hypervigilance, and health-related worry after NICU
Guilt, grief, and the pressure to “make it up” to your child
The importance of community and validation for NICU parents
How Miracle Moon began and grew from lived experience

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:
The NICU Space Community
An online support space for NICU parents at all stages of their journey. Inside you’ll find specialist resources, coping tools and connection with parents who understand what this experience can feel like.

The NICU Parent Handbook
A new resource I’ve created to help parents make sense of the thoughts and feelings that often follow neonatal care. It explores common experiences like guilt, grief, hypervigilance and anxiety, alongside practical tools to help parents cope. Coming soon.

Super Dinky
Founded by Lorna, NICU Mum and Beth NICU nurse, @superdinky creates meaningful products for NICU families while raising awareness of the experience and helping parents feel part of a wider community. SuperDinky - Premature Baby Clothes and NICU support based in the UK

Stay Connected
Instagram: @miraclemoonuk
Website: miraclemoon.co.uk
The NICU Space community: The NICU Space

One last thing! Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode. ⭐️

Before we mention today’s guest – a quick update about The NICU Space Podcast. Today’s episode wraps up season 3, and we’re going to be taking a short break over Christmas and early 2026. We hope that you and your family also manage a restful time over Christmas, whatever that looks like for you.
Today’s guest, Ola, is the founder of the charity “Colourful Beginnings”, which she created after having two premature babies in NICU. The charity does so much good work to support other NICU parents, primarily around sending out “treasure boxes” of things the parents can keep and know that they are being thought of.
She joins us to talk through her experiences in NICU, how the charity got started and the work that they do to help others going through the same.

In this episode, we’re chatting about:
- Ola’s experiences of having her first child at 23 weeks and her second at 29 weeks
- The disbelief and shock she went through on learning she was pregnant for a second time
- What led to her creating the charity, Colourful Beginnings
- The Colourful Beginnings treasure boxes and how the charity works to support other NICU parents

💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].
🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.
⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.

Kate’s son Frank battled group B strep meningitis at just 3 days old, which led to him being diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Kate shares with us her hospital experience, her fears that his conditions would limit his life, and how she accepted and came to terms with the life her family now lives.
Frank is a happy, giggly child and Kate is a wonderful influence for parents going through similar experiences to hers, you can follow her now “@overatkates”.

In this episode, we’re chatting about:
- The events that followed after Kate’s son, Frank, contracted group B strep at 3 days old
- What group B strep is and the aftermath of the infection
- Coming to terms with her son’s diagnoses of cerebral palsy and epilepsy
- Staying positive and how to move towards acceptance 

💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].
🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.
⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.

In today’s episode, we’re talking to three preemie parents about their NICU experiences and premature births – we discuss everything from preparing for a NICU stay, to the mental health impact afterwards, and even if there were any good parts of NICU. 
If you’ve got your own NICU story, we’re sure you’ll find similarities in our guests' experiences, and remind yourself that you’re not alone – help and support is out there.

In this episode, we’re joined by:
- Hanna, mum to 4 year old twin girls Ruby & Scarlet who were born at 27 weeks after a difficult pregnancy and spent 10 months in NICU and PICU
- Sammy, mum to Niamh, born unexpectedly early at 31 weeks after a smooth pregnancy and spent 6 weeks in special care
- Katy, mum to 3 year old Finley who had an expected NICU stay after he was born at 31 weeks due to a placental issue and spent 6 weeks in NICU across 2 hospitals

💌 Check out the full show notes for this episode here, where you can find timestamps, a transcript and any links or resources we think are relevant to this episode. If this episode resonates with you or if you have questions, reach out to us on Instagram or shoot us an email at [email protected].
🎧 We love engaging with our listeners! Share a screenshot of this episode and don't forget to tag us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miraclemoonuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ when you're tuning in.
⭐️ Help us spread the word by leaving a review and subscribing...that way, you won't miss a single episode.