In this episode of Raising with the Village, we hear from Sarah, whose baby arrived much earlier than expected — born at just 32 weeks after what began as a routine check-in following unexpected bleeding around 30 weeks.

Sarah takes us through how that moment led to an early delivery, and then into the emotional and psychological journey that followed: the uncertainty, loneliness, anxiety, and identity shift that come with having a premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

This conversation explores how motherhood can begin far from the imagined path — in waiting rooms, hospital corridors, and days blurred by routine checks — and how parents learn to find strength, resilience, and connection even in the most bewildering moments.

Highlights From This Episode

• What brought Sarah to the hospital at 30 weeks and how her son arrived unexpectedly at 32 weeks.
• The emotional rollercoaster of life in the NICU — waiting, uncertainty, and the challenge of holding hope.
• How a premature birth reshaped Sarah’s experience of early motherhood.
• The mental and emotional struggles that come with having a baby arrive too soon.
• What helped Sarah cope through NICU and in the months after.

Support & Resources Mentioned

If you’re navigating life with a premature baby or in the NICU, Sarah highlighted Miracle Moon as an incredibly valuable support resource — especially on Instagram and for connecting with other NICU parents who truly understand the emotional journey.
👉 Follow Miracle Moon on Instagram: @miraclemoonuk — a community offering peer support, shared stories, and compassionate guidance for parents with babies in neonatal care.
miraclemoon.co.uk

Miracle Moon started as a supportive Instagram space created by NICU parents and has grown into a wider community with mental health resources, peer support, and tools for resilience during and after neonatal care.
miraclemoon.co.uk

Why This Episode Matters

Premature birth changes the expected rhythm of pregnancy and early motherhood. Sarah’s story offers insight and companionship to anyone whose baby arrived before their due date, whose hospital stay was longer than planned, or whose experience didn’t match the picture in their mind. It reminds us that there is no “right” way to start motherhood, and that community — even online through shared stories — can make us feel a little less alone.

Connect with the Podcast

If this episode resonated with you, you’re not alone. You can:

• Listen and subscribe on your favourite podcast platform
• Share this episode with a friend who might need it
• Reach out on Instagram or via the show notes for support or to share your own story

Thank you for being part of Raising with the Village. 🌿

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

A short holiday message from Raising with the Village. In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on the first season of the podcast, thanking the parents who bravely shared their stories, and looking ahead to what’s coming next — including new parenting topics and voices from dads.

If you’ve been listening along, thank you for being part of this growing village. As we head into the holiday season, this episode is a gentle reminder that parenting can feel especially intense at this time of year, and that connection, support, and shared experiences matter more than ever.

New episodes return on Thursday 8th January. Until then, don’t forget to share your favourite episode, leave a review, and help more parents feel a little less alone.

Happy holidays from Raising with the Village — a podcast about real parenting stories, community, and support.

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

Emergency vs Elective C-Section: Two Very Different Births with Anita

In this episode of Raising with the Village, we sit down with Anita, a mum of two, to talk candidly about her experiences of both an emergency C-section and a planned (elective) C-section — and how different those two births felt physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Anita shares her first pregnancy journey, which was complicated by a lung defect diagnosed at the 20-week scan. With close monitoring and a planned induction at 38 weeks, she hoped for a vaginal birth — but after six long days of induction, her labour stalled, her waters broke, and signs of infection led to a fast-moving emergency C-section.

She walks us through what it’s really like when a birth plan changes suddenly: the speed, the sensory overload, the number of medical staff in theatre, and the surreal feeling of meeting your baby while still trying to process what just happened. Anita also shares what recovery looked like after an emergency C-section, including pain management, mobility, antibiotics, and the emotional impact of focusing entirely on her baby’s health.

A few years later, Anita found herself pregnant again — this time facing a different decision: VBAC or planned C-section. Drawing on her first experience, plus new factors like gestational diabetes, baby’s size, age, and childcare logistics, she chose an elective C-section.

In contrast to the emergency birth, Anita describes the second C-section as calm, controlled, and predictable — but not without its own challenges. She talks honestly about anxiety before planned surgery, the physical sensations of a spinal block, longer operating time due to scar tissue, and recovery while caring for a newborn and a toddler.

Throughout the conversation, Anita reflects on:

• How expectations shape our birth experiences
• The reality of C-section recovery (both times)
• What surprised her most about planned surgery
• Why there’s no “easy” or “right” way to give birth
• Practical advice she wishes she’d known sooner

This episode is a compassionate, realistic look at C-sections without judgement — ideal for anyone preparing for a Caesarean, considering their options after a previous C-section, or wanting to better understand what recovery can truly involve.

Topics We Cover:

• Emergency C-section after prolonged induction
• Planned vs emergency C-sections: key differences
• Induction, stalled labour, and infection risk
• Theatre experience and medical teams
• Skin-to-skin after C-section
• Pain management and mobility after surgery
• VBAC vs elective C-section decision-making
• Gestational diabetes and birth planning
• Recovering with a toddler at home
• Honest C-section recovery tips and preparation

Anita’s Top Advice for C-Section Recovery:

• Stock up on pain relief before going to hospital
• Keep track of medication timings
• Prepare meals, snacks, and easy food in advance
• Set expectations — recovery takes time
• Prep older children so they know not to jump or climb
• Take pain relief even on “good” days

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!

🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.