By Laura Johnstone Writing has always been a lifeline for me. As someone who didn’t learn to read until I was 13 and who now finds deep meaning in storytelling, I’ve discovered that words can offer what sometimes people cannot—space to breathe, to process, to heal. And during one of the most emotionally complex timesContinue reading “Why I Was Inspired to Write Poetry: Healing Through Words in the Storm of High-Risk Pregnancy”
Author Archives: Laura Johnstone
To the Nurses Who Changed My Life: A Heartfelt Thank You on Nurses Day
Today’s daily writing prompt asked me, “What has made a positive impact in your life?” And without a shadow of a doubt, my answer is nurses. From the very beginning of my life, nurses were there. I was born prematurely at 28 weeks and 5 days, during a time when neonatal medicine was still findingContinue reading “To the Nurses Who Changed My Life: A Heartfelt Thank You on Nurses Day”
What Does Freedom Mean to Me?
Earlier this week, on the 8th of May, the world marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day—Victory in Europe Day. It’s a day that holds deep meaning for so many, including myself. It’s a moment to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by generations before us. For me, freedom begins with gratitude—gratitude for allContinue reading “What Does Freedom Mean to Me?”
Facing the Fear: My Experience with Hydrops Monitoring During Pregnancy
Watching a recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy, I was unexpectedly overwhelmed when a storyline featured a pregnant woman whose baby was diagnosed with hydrops fetalis. This brought back intense memories of my own pregnancy journey, where hydrops was a looming concern due to complications with my baby’s umbilical cord. Understanding Hydrops Fetalis Hydrops fetalis isContinue reading “Facing the Fear: My Experience with Hydrops Monitoring During Pregnancy”
Building a Business with Heart: My Career Plan for Supporting Parents Like Us
When I first became a parent, I knew my life was going to change—but I didn’t quite realise how much it would give me clarity and purpose. Having a premature baby, navigating NICU life, facing birth trauma, and walking the road of neurodiversity both personally and within my family—all of these experiences have shaped notContinue reading “Building a Business with Heart: My Career Plan for Supporting Parents Like Us”
Parenting While Sleep-Deprived and on Your Period: The Pain, the Power, and the Push to Keep Going
Let’s not sugar-coat it. Parenting when you’re exhausted is one thing. Parenting when you’re sleep-deprived and on your period is next-level hard. Add in cramps, emotional ups and downs, and zero personal space—and it can feel like a form of torture that nobody warned us about. But here’s the thing: we still show up. WeContinue reading “Parenting While Sleep-Deprived and on Your Period: The Pain, the Power, and the Push to Keep Going”
Grieving the Matriarch: Remembering My Nain 21 Years On
It’s been 21 years since my Nain passed away. She left us in February 2004, and today—on what would have been her 106th birthday—I find myself missing her more than ever. Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. It doesn’t quietly fade into the background. Some days, it feels like it happened yesterday, especially when milestones comeContinue reading “Grieving the Matriarch: Remembering My Nain 21 Years On”
When Sleep Regression Breaks You: Parenting Through the Hardest Nights
If you’re anything like me, you’ve Googled “Why is my toddler suddenly not sleeping?” at 3am while rocking a wriggling body who’s wide awake, chatty, and completely unaware that it’s the middle of the night. Right now, Amelia is going through the final major sleep regression—the one that tends to hit around 2 years old—andContinue reading “When Sleep Regression Breaks You: Parenting Through the Hardest Nights”
The Importance of Food Banks and Baby Banks: Support When You Need It Most
In the middle of parenting—especially when raising children with additional needs or after a difficult start like a NICU journey—it can be incredibly hard to ask for help. But the truth is, we’re not meant to do this alone. One of the most important forms of support in the community right now comes through foodContinue reading “The Importance of Food Banks and Baby Banks: Support When You Need It Most”
International Bereaved Mother’s Day: Honouring the Mothers Who Carry Love and Loss
Today is International Bereaved Mother’s Day – a day that quietly acknowledges what many hearts carry every day. It falls on the Sunday before traditional Mother’s Day in the United States, offering a space for those who may find that day too painful to face. This day is for the mothers who hold both loveContinue reading “International Bereaved Mother’s Day: Honouring the Mothers Who Carry Love and Loss”
The bad and your parenting journey 