NICU & You

The NICU & You Podcast is a bi-weekly series hosted by former neonatal nurse, clinical hypnotherapist, and author Belle Stevenson, supporting families through the NICU journey while raising awareness of perinatal mental health. Each episode, Belle speaks with guests about their real-life NICU experiences — the highs, the lows, and everything in between — blending professional insight with lived experience. Whether you’re in the NICU, adjusting to life after discharge, or supporting someone who is, this is a space to feel understood, connected, and reassured. One day at a time. Always.

NICU & You is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts NICU & You, a education show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #13

  When Everything Changes in Days: Lesley and William Mealiff & a NICU Heart Surgery Story

  Aug 19, 202641 minS1

  What happens when your full-term baby suddenly becomes critically ill within days — and you’re told they need emergency heart surgery? In this episode of Nicu&You , Belle Stevenson speaks with Leslie and William about their son Ralph’s journey through a diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta , a serious congenital heart condition that often appears after birth, when everything initially seems normal. From the shock of sudden deterioration, to the emotional rollercoaster of emergency surgery with just 45 minutes’ notice, this conversation captures the fear, urgency, and disbelief that so many NICU and cardiac families know all too well. Leslie and William share what it was like navigating intensive care, watching their baby undergo life-saving surgery, and trying to hold on to calm in an environment filled with uncertainty, monitors, and relentless beeping. They also reflect on how anxiety affected them differently, how it impacted their wider family, and how support systems like the Children’s Heartbeat Trust NI helped them through. This episode also explains coarctation of the aorta in clear, parent-friendly language, helping listeners understand what it means, why it can be so serious, and how treatment can lead to positive outcomes. Most importantly, this is a story of fear, resilience, teamwork, and hope — and a reminder that even in the most frightening moments, families are stronger than they realise. Things can change quickly — but so can outcomes. Take it one day at a time. Listen now for a powerful story of NICU care, heart surgery, and survival.

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  Episode #12

  When Your Baby Is Born with a Heart Condition: Fear, Support & Survival with Cathy Dalton, Children’s Heartbeat Trust NI

  Aug 5, 202629 minS1

  What happens when your baby is born with a condition that changes everything in an instant? In this episode of Nicu&You , Belle Stevenson is joined by Cathy Dalton, Family and Youth Services Manager at the Children’s Heartbeat Trust NI , a charity supporting children and families living with congenital heart disease. Cathy shares the origins of the organisation — founded by parents in 1984 — and the vital emotional, practical, and financial support it now provides to hundreds of families across Northern Ireland each year. Together, they explore what congenital heart disease means for families, the overwhelming fear that comes with diagnosis, and why no parent should have to face it alone. Cathy also discusses the importance of peer support, advocacy in cardiac care, and the realities of navigating hospital life — including the financial pressures that continue long after admission. This episode also highlights the Trust’s bereavement support programmes and the importance of resilience, community, and compassionate care when families are at their most vulnerable. Most importantly, it carries a clear message: support matters, asking for help is strength, and no family should walk this journey alone. You are not alone. Take it one day at a time. Listen now for insight, support, and understanding for families affected by congenital heart disease.

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  Episode #11

  A Supported Parent Is a Protected Child: Ciara & Una from Support 2gether on Postnatal Mental Health

  Jul 23, 202658 minS1

  What happens when the joy of becoming a parent is replaced by fear, anxiety, and silence? 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.

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  Episode #10

  A Supported Parent Is a Protected Child: Inside Social Work & Perinatal Mental Health

  Jul 8, 202631 minS1

  Why do so many parents feel that asking for help could put their baby at risk? 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.

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  Episode #9

  A Silence That Cost Too Much: Rosemary’s NICU Story from 40 Years Ago

  Jun 24, 202628 minS1

  What was it like to experience a NICU journey in a time when parents were often left in the dark, and emotional support simply didn’t exist? 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.

  ListenShow Notes

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