
Ep16: Special Guest Edition — Inside NICU with Neonatal Doctor, Leanne — Nottinghamshire
From Marathons for Miracles by Olly Brown
April 15, 2026 · 57 min · Season 16 · Episode 1
About this episode
Olly Brown interviews neonatal doctor Leanne about the realities of life inside NICU and the complexities faced by families.
This week, Olly is joined by Leanne, a neonatal doctor, to explore the reality of life inside NICU. Leanne was introduced to us through Myles, our Nottinghamshire runner and paediatric nurse, ahead of Marathon 17 this weekend. From extremely premature babies to unexpected complications at birth, this episode sheds light on the care, communication, and emotional complexity families experience — and the role of the teams who support them. We cover: What NICU actually is — and the different levels of neonatal care Why babies are admitted (from prematurity to illness at birth) The reality of outcomes — from thriving to loss How doctors support families through incredibly difficult decisions The emotional complexity parents experience — even when outcomes are positive The role of communication, trust, and family-led care How NICU teams create meaningful moments, even in end-of-life care Why looking after yourself as a parent is so important The lasting psychological impact of a neonatal journey 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a…
People in this episode
Host: Olly Brown
Guest: Leanne
Topics covered
- neonatal care
- NICU
- premature babies
- emotional complexity
- family support
- communication
- parenting
Keywords
- NICU
- neonatal doctor
- prematurity
- birth complications
- family support
- emotional complexity
- communication
- parenting
- psychological impact
- care teams
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Nottinghamshire
More episodes of Marathons for Miracles
- Ep24: Midwifery, Motherhood, and Supporting Families Through Loss, with Jess & Laura — Somerset · June 11, 2026 · 54 min
- Ep23: Ness's Story, and Funding Research to Prevent Stillbirth, with Jonny — Surrey · June 3, 2026 · 44 min
- Ep22: Three Losses, One Rainbow Baby, and the Anxiety Between, with Bex — Gloucestershire · May 28, 2026 · 49 min
- Ep21: Losing Luca and Leila, and Finding Purpose Through Running, with James — Devon · May 21, 2026 · 55 min
- Ep20: From Heartbeat Scan to A Missed Miscarriage, with Nicole — Cornwall · May 14, 2026 · 49 min
- Ep19: Three Miscarriages, a Molar Pregnancy & the NHS Three-Loss Rule, with Tom & Amy — Yorkshire · May 7, 2026 · 1h 2m
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