Dad Max and neonatologist Dr. Matt Buckingham join Maggie & Sarah today. Max and his partner Mathilde were anticipating a beautiful home birth, like the one they experienced with their older son, Diego.

Their world was turned upside down when Manaia arrived early weighing 620g. Max tells the powerful story of their 167-day stay in Christchurch NICU, and his experiences as a Dad trying to make sense of a world he knew nothing about and "where nothing is normal".

He talks about the rollercoaster of emotions he felt, from fear to pride; as well as the impact of not having control of what is happening; reclaiming stolen moments; and the importance of making more space for families to parent together in the unit.

Ngā mihi nui Max, Mathilde, Diego and Manaia for sharing your journey with us.

Amy Castle, the Kaiwhakahaere Matua of PADA – Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa, whose firstborn son, Abel was delivered at 30 weeks after a pregnancy that was not going to plan, joins hosts Maggie & Sarah for this episode.

Amy tells us about the lead up; delivery; NICU and SCBU experience, and how challenging it was reintegrating into the outside world with a little one with ongoing health challenges.

Throughout this kōrero, we talk a lot about communication - what's too much; what's too little; and how to avoid misunderstandings.

Amy shares her journey: from going from being someone who would not ask questions because she was too scared of the answers she might hear - to understanding how to advocate for herself and her whānau in a way that worked for her.

Find out more about the important work that PADA do at Home - PADA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa

Today, Maggie and Sarah welcome Hamish Mepham to the studio to talk about parenting your pēpē during tough times in hospital and at home.

Hamish is a social worker and Clinical Services Director at Home and Family, a Christchurch charity that supports families to be safe, successful, and nurture everyone's potential.

In this episode of One in Ten, Hamish talks about gently growing your skills as a parent and shares tips and tools for neonatal families as they build strong foundations for their families.

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Buckingham, neonatologist, NICU dad - and researcher into fatherhood on the unit, joins Maggie and Sarah to shine a light on how Dads and non-birthing partners experience neonatal intensive care.

From birth, to juggling life both at home and at the hospital, fathers can sometimes feel overlooked in the neonatal journey.

Matt shares voices from his research, and talks about the challenges - and triumphs for Dads and non-birthing partners as they support their partner, get to know the medical team, and bond with their baby, in an environment that probably wasn't quite what they had planned.

Dr. Maggie Meeks, neonatologist and counsellor, and Sarah, our CEO, are joined by Jemma, who talks frankly about her experience in NICU with baby Ella and their first experiences together at home. Jemma also brings insights from her mahi supporting neonatal whānau as a Little Miracles Trust Family Support Coordinator in the Christchurch unit.

We were stoked to also welcome midwife, Heidi Goebbels, who runs Christchurch's Birth After Thoughts clinic; and Neonatal Outreach Nurse, Kate Newman to our kōrero.

Both Heidi & Kate generously shared their expertise drawn from working with NICU families post-discharge, and together we talk about the emotional journey toward discharge as well as ways to ease the transition home - and onwards.

Today, Sarah, the Little Miracles Trust CEO and Dr. Maggie Meeks - neonatologist and counsellor are joined by Gabrielle Bisseker, Senior Psychologist in Christchurch NICU.

In this episode, we talk about the emotional rollercoaster of the neonatal journey. Gabbie shares some expert insights, and talks about some of the tools and techniques she recommends to parents as they navigate the day-to-day challenges of life in the unit with their pēpē.

Welcome to this episode of One in Ten. Sarah, our Chief Executive, and co-host Dr. Maggie Meeks, neonatologist and counsellor, are joined by neonatal physiotherapist Tiffany Hamilton whose daughter spent time in neonatal intensive care, and Larissa, mum to Eleanor & Reece, two babies with contrasting NICU journeys - one in New Zealand and one overseas.

Together we talk about the often-daunting challenge of connecting with your baby in the unit. From cares to ditching the clothes and going skin to skin, Larissa and Tiffany discuss how a multi-sensory approach can support bonding and brain development in an uncertain environment.

In this episode, our National Service Delivery Manager Jadey, is joined by Professor Katie Groom, Chair of the Carosika Collaborative Steering Group, for a heartfelt conversation with Katie S, who shares her remarkable experience with preterm births.

Katie opens up about the early arrivals of both her daughters—her firstborn at 31 weeks, and her second at just 23 weeks, weighing only 546g, roughly the equivalent to a block of butter. She shares the emotional and physical challenges she faced, including being on bed rest from 16 weeks, and the extraordinary measures she took to prevent labour before the critical 23-week mark. Katie reflects on the strength of her daughters and how incredibly well they are thriving today.

Professor Katie Groom sheds light on the statistics surrounding preterm birth and highlights how powerful knowledge is for high-risk pregnancies. Katie discusses clinical research, treatments available to reduce risk, and why early intervention plays such a vital role in improving outcomes.

This episode brings together personal resilience and expert insight—a great resource for those navigating the complexities of preterm birth.