Unexpected Beginnings: The Neonatal Unit (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

In this episode we meet Dylan and Vicky whose daughter Ruby was taken to neonatal shortly after she was born and sadly never came home. Dylan and Vicky have shared their story in the hope that it can help others realise they are not alone. 

There are also some charitable organisations that can offer support including

• SANDS – Stillborn and neonatal death charity.
• Bliss – for baby’s born premature or sick
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

In this episode we talk about the development of the lungs and why it is that so many babies who spend time on neonatal end up needing hospital support in their early years when they pick up coughs and colds. We speak to neonatal mum Charlotte Butterfield who talks about her experiences as well as Consultant Neonatologist Dr Liz McKechnie

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This podcast has been funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, the charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Thanks to donations and Gifts in Wills, they provide an additional £6.6 million a year to fund projects that make a real difference to patients, families and staff and enhance the care the NHS already provides. This includes life-saving equipment, treatments, and research into rare diseases, and helps to bring hope, happiness and home comforts to every bedside.

You can make a donation to help support their work here

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Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented by Caroline Verdon and Kerry McCarthy

This episode looks at the stresses and strains that having a newborn on a neonatal unit can have on Dads and non-birthing partners.

We speak to Becky and Dan. When they had baby Alf, he went to neonatal, Becky was very unwell and so was taken to the postnatal ward and Dan was rushing around between the two, trying to be everywhere at once. From feelings of helplessness, struggles with bonding and generally feeling completely overwhelmed - these emotions are really common.

In Leeds, at both St James' hospital and the LGI, support is available especially for Dads and non-birthing partners from Dad Matters. Dad Matters has local organisations all over the country and exists to support Dads and partners in the first 1001 days of their parenting journey. It’s looked after by the Leeds Home Start team and its Dad Matters coordinator is Darren O’Donovan…

If you'd like to find out more about the support available to you, you can find out more information about Dad Matters Leeds and Home Start Leeds here. You can also contact your GP, midwife and/or health visitor.

There are also some charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies, including looking after your mental health
• Mind – for better mental health

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Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry McCarthy

Having a baby in neonates can often leave parents feeling stressed, overwhelmed and anxious. Lots of parents have spoken about how they felt robbed of the beautiful newborn period they had been dreaming of but whilst this stage might be different to how you had expected, there are still ways to create magical memories. In this episode Caroline and Kerry chat to parents and staff about different ways of marking milestones like Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries to create beautiful memories that last a lifetime. With friends and family often feeling helpless, this is something they can get involved in too.

This podcast has been funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, the charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Thanks to donations and Gifts in Wills, they provide an additional £6.6 million a year to fund projects that make a real difference to patients, families and staff and enhance the care the NHS already provides. This includes life-saving equipment, treatments, and research into rare diseases, and helps to bring hope, happiness and home comforts to every bedside.

You can make a donation to help support their work here

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Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented by Caroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

This episode looks at how hard it can be when you have children at home as well as in the neonatal unit. How can you even begin to include them? Should you include them? How can you split your time so that everyone feels loved and supported?

There are also some charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies, including looking after your mental health
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

In 2021 we created Unexpected Beginnings - the neonatal unit podcast. It was a world first that gave an insight into neonatal life from the perspective of the people who matter the most to the patients – their parents. 

Now thanks to funding from Leeds Hospitals Charity and the support of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust we’re back with a brand new season. It's hosted by Caroline Verdon and Kerry McCarthy who've both had babies on the neonatal unit and have first hand experience of some of the highs and lows that parents can experience.

In this series we’re going to be looking more deeply at everything from mental health to common conditions that some neonatal babies can have. Through listening to other parents experiences and speaking to doctors, surgeons, mental health workers and everyone in-between, this podcast aims to make you feel less alone and more supported, signposting you to help and information along the way.

The brand new series of Unexpected Beginnings launches on Monday 18th December at 8am

This podcast looks at the highs and the lows of life on the neonatal unit. Recorded with Leeds Children's Hospital and funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, this podcast is hosted by Caroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike .

They have both had babies on the neonatal unit and know first hand how hard it can be. The hope is that by sharing their stories and those of other parents, this podcast will be able to hold your hand at whatever point you are in the journey

This episode is about settling into neonatal. Everyone’s journey is different both in terms of the time a baby might spend in the unit and the obstacles they might face. Despite this there are a lot of common thoughts and feelings that parents share and we look at some of these in this episode

There are also some charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies, including looking after your mental health
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

Having a baby who has to go to neonatal can be scary. Whether your baby is premature or full term, it's not something we hope for and often can happen unexpectedly or with little notice. This episode looks at what the neonatal unit is, who it's for and what you can expect.

More information on the issues raised in this episode can be found by following these links

What is Neonatal care

Leeds Children’s Hospital neonatal care

There are also some charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies, including looking after your mental health
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospital and funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast – creative audio productions. and was presented by Caroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

This episode is about giving feedback. It can feel daunting when you're on the unit to speak up if you feel uncomfortable or unhappy about something but in actual fact, your voice is very much welcomed and key to making positive changes for parents and babies. Our guest this month is Karen Williams who is the parent and family engagement lead for the neonatal network and her job is about making sure that our voices as parents, carers and family members are being heard.

In the episode she talks about the Parent Package which was developed as a resource for parents, by parents. If you'd like to find out more about the work being done by the neonatal network you can find them here on Facebook and Insta

If you'd like to become involved in the PAG or any future projects by sharing your thoughts on the unit then you can contact Karen directly via email karen.williams132@nhs.net or what’s app 07765 447 354 - you can be involved as much or as little as you want.

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This podcast has been funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, the charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Thanks to donations and Gifts in Wills, they provide an additional £6.6 million a year to fund projects that make a real difference to patients, families and staff and enhance the care the NHS already provides. This includes life-saving equipment, treatments, and research into rare diseases, and helps to bring hope, happiness and home comforts to every bedside.

You can make a donation to help support their work here

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Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented by Caroline Verdon and Kerry McCarthy

This episode looks at what it’s like meeting your baby for the first time when your baby has had to be taken to neonatal. They could be premature or fullterm and often don’t look how you imagined whether that’s because of their size, development or the wires and medical equipment they’re attached to.

More information on the issues raised in this episode can be found by following these links

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospital and funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast – creative audio productions. and was presented by Caroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

After spending time in neonatal it’s common for parents to struggle with their mental health but sometimes that struggle becomes invasive and it can begin to control and dominate your life. This episode looks at some of the more dominating struggles parents can have and at the support that is available

There are also some charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies, including looking after your mental health
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

In this episode we meet Michelle and Tim whose daughter Freya was born at 25 weeks and at 26 weeks was diagnosed with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). This episode looks at Freya’s surgery and the neonatal experience that went with it.

You can find out more about NEC here

There are also some charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies, including looking after your mental health
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

In this episode we talk to Ashley Emmerson who is a Mum to twin girls who were born at just over 33 weeks. Ashley is in quite a unique position as not only has she spent time on a neonatal unit as a parent, she is also a Neonatal Sister at Leeds Children's Hospital.

You can find out more about the Leeds Twins and Multiples Pregnancy Service here.

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This podcast has been funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, the charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Thanks to donations and Gifts in Wills, they provide an additional £6.6 million a year to fund projects that make a real difference to patients, families and staff and enhance the care the NHS already provides. This includes life-saving equipment, treatments, and research into rare diseases, and helps to bring hope, happiness and home comforts to every bedside.

You can make a donation to help support their work here

*

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented by Caroline Verdon and Kerry McCarthy

This episode looks at how it’s almost expected for parents to struggle with their mental health when they have spent time in neonatal. The unit is traumatic and intense and parents can spend weeks feeling on edge and fearful and that is bound to have an impact. Here we look at some of the common mental health issues parents can have, at why they occur and at some of the support that is available. 

There are also some charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies, including looking after your mental health
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

In this episode of 'Unexpected Beginnings: The Neonatal Unit,' hosts Caroline Verdon and Kerry McCarthy dive into the challenges and support surrounding breastfeeding in neonatal care.

This episode features expert insights from consultant neonatologist Dr. Emily Shaw and personal stories from Mum Leah Frost about her complex journey with her son Max and daughter Lila. The discussion emphasizes the importance of breast milk, the available support and the emotional hurdles that are often faced.

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You can find out more about breastfeeding support both in and out of the hospital here and here

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Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry McCarthy

Going home is everyone’s goal and there is a sense of relief that theterrifying part of your baby’s life is over but often it’s not that simple and parents can find being out of a clinical environment challenging. In this episode we look at some of those challenges and how to tackle them

There are some charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies, including looking after your mental health
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

In this months episode we speak with Consultant Obstetrician Mr. Nigel Simpson about pre-eclampsia and how to prepare for an early birth. We also talk about the importance of breaking down barriers between parents and their babies once they're in a neonatal unit.

You can find out more about pre-eclampsia here

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This podcast has been funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, the charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Thanks to donations and Gifts in Wills, they provide an additional £6.6 million a year to fund projects that make a real difference to patients, families and staff and enhance the care the NHS already provides. This includes life-saving equipment, treatments, and research into rare diseases, and helps to bring hope, happiness and home comforts to every bedside.

You can make a donation to help support their work here

*

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented by Caroline Verdon and Kerry McCarthy

This episode looks at practical ways of helping you to bond with your baby whilst remembering that it is hard on neonatal and it is common for things to feel difficult.

There aresome charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospitaland funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike 

This episode looks at how common it is to find it difficult to bond with your baby especially when your baby is on a neonatal unit. It looks at different parents experiences and the scientific and biological reasons why bonding can be hard. More information on this topic can be found here:

There are also some charitable organisations that can be really helpful including

• Bliss – they offer advice for parents of premature and sick babies, including looking after your mental health
• Mind – for better mental health

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals, shared in the interests of helping others and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your GP, midwife, health visitor, local Maternity Assessment Unit or 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was made with Leeds Children’s hospital and funded by Leeds Hospital’s Charity.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions. and was presented byCaroline Verdon and Kerry Bickerdike