We recently connected with Emily Gregory and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Emily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My name is Emily Gregory and I feel so honored to have been asked to share my family’s NICU story with you. My husband, Mike, and I welcomed our daughter, Olivia, into the world at 24 weeks and 6 days. She was only 1 pound, 11.9 ounces and was 12 inches in length. We would spend the next 100 days in the NICU and after discharge, Olivia spent the next 8 months on ¼ liter of oxygen and, thankfully, that has been the extent of her medical needs. She is now turning four years old at the end of August and doing everything a normal four year old does!

Right before discharge, Mike and I were looking for a way to give back to the NICU. We knew no gift would be able to say thank you enough for the NICU staff keeping our daughter alive for 100 days, but we sure could try. We set up an Amazon list and collected donations for the NICU including books, onesies, swaddle blankets, hats, bows, milestone cards & craft supplies for nurses. The day of Olivia’s discharge, we gifted our items to the NICU and knew that this would be a yearly fundraiser for us. In 2021 when we decided to do it again, I wanted to be able to collect enough donations to gift each individual room one care package that would be filled with some of the things I couldn’t get through the NICU without: a journal and pen, a coffee mug, a cooler & ice pack to transport breastmilk between home & the NICU, a $5 coffee gift card, a book to read to their baby & a “mama” bracelet. Again, I was blown away with our donations and had an abundance leftover.

It was at this point that I really started to think how I could make care packages for NICU families all year round and not just around Christmastime. I created a NICU journal where profits would be able to go towards the creation of ongoing NICU care packages and Preemie Parents & Co. was born. In 2023, over 300 care packages were donated not only to families at our local hospital, but shipped to NICU families in 39 different states!

The last few years have been a whirlwind but I absolutely love being able to do such important work making NICU families feel loved & supported!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My journey into the NICU advocacy and support space began with a deeply personal experience: the birth of my daughter Olivia at 24 weeks and 6 days. Her 100-day stay in the NICU and the subsequent months on supplemental oxygen opened my eyes to the emotional and logistical challenges that NICU families face. Motivated by the desire to ensure other families have a more supported and positive experience, I have dedicated myself to providing resources and advocacy for NICU parents. My work includes developing NICU journals to help families document their journeys, organizing mental health retreats to support healing, and creating educational courses to empower parents with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for their babies. My goal is to be a source of support and guidance for families navigating the NICU, helping them feel equipped, supported, and understood.

What sets my work apart is the personal connection and firsthand understanding I bring to everything I do. I understand the unique challenges and emotions of the NICU journey because I have lived it. This insight allows me to create resources and support systems that truly address the needs of NICU families. I am most proud of the positive impact my work has had on the lives of these families, helping them feel less alone and more empowered during a difficult time. I want families to know that my mission is driven by a deep commitment to improving the NICU experience for both babies and their families. Through my various initiatives, I aim to provide practical support, emotional healing, and a sense of community for those who need it most.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I built my audience on social media by sharing my personal journey and the challenges we faced with Olivia’s early birth and NICU stay, which resonated with many parents in similar situations. By consistently posting honest, relatable content and providing valuable resources for NICU families, I fostered a supportive and engaged community. Collaborating with other NICU advocates and organizations helped expand my reach and credibility. For those just starting to build their social media presence, my advice is to be authentic, engage genuinely with your audience, share content that offers real value, and connect with others in your niche to amplify your message.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

I created the NICU journal and NICU course myself, driven by the need I saw during my own experience and the experiences of other NICU parents. The NICU journal was designed to help families document their journeys, providing a way to process emotions and keep track of important information. The NICU course was developed to empower parents with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for their baby’s needs. I researched, designed, and wrote the content for both the journal and the course, ensuring they addressed the real challenges and needs of NICU families. Throughout the process, I learned the importance of staying connected with my audience to continually refine and improve the resources based on their feedback. This hands-on approach has allowed me to create truly valuable tools that make a difference in the lives of NICU families.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.preemieparentsco.com
• Instagram: @PreemieParentsCo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preemieparentsco

Image Credits

Photos taken by “The Keel Collective”