About
Ashley O’Neil, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner, writer, and speaker whose advocacy is rooted in lived experience. As a NICU/preemie mother, a widow, and a bereaved parent, Ashley brings a deeply personal perspective to maternal and neonatal health. With over a decade in nursing and five years as a family nurse practitioner, she now uses her voice to elevate the needs of NICU families, offering practical resources, compassionate support, and hope. She is the author of It’s a NICU World, a children’s book, and It’s a NICU World: Your Guide During Your Baby’s NICU Stay, a resource designed to support and empower NICU parents. Ashley also hosts the Ask a NICU Mama podcast, where she candidly explores the emotional and medical complexities of life in and after the NICU. Through her work, Ashley is committed to ensuring families feel seen, supported, and empowered, even in their most vulnerable moments. She is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Empowering NICU Families Through Shared Stories and Support
Our Mission
It’s a NICU World exists to walk alongside NICU and medically complex families with honest education, compassionate advocacy, and real-life support - helping families feel informed, empowered, and less alone during and after their NICU journey.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every NICU family feels seen, supported, and prepared - where medical complexity does not mean isolation, and where families are equipped with knowledge, community, and hope long after discharge.
