91: The Hirschsprung’s Hour with Tom Richard - Episode 9191: The Hirschsprung’s Hour with Tom Richard - Episode 91
UK Health Radio Podcast
Nicole recounts her baby son Holt’s path to a small segment Hirschsprung’s diagnosis, from missed hospital red flags to major surgery and harsh nappy rash. The conversation centres on maternal instinct, advocacy and coping with the emotional and practical challenges of a rare gut condition.
41:53•28 Jul 2026
Trusting Mum Instinct: Holt’s Hirschsprung’s Journey on UK Health Radio
Episode Overview
- Trust your gut as a parent; instincts can highlight serious problems even when professionals are dismissive.
- Persistent vomiting, lethargy and a hard, distended stomach in a newborn are signs that need urgent attention.
- Opioid pain relief may worsen constipation, which can complicate conditions like Hirschsprung’s in babies.
- Severe, acidic nappy rash can be a major ongoing issue after Hirschsprung’s surgery and needs proactive skin care.
- There is no perfect way to handle Hirschsprung’s; giving yourself grace and doing the best you can is vital.
“First thing I'm going to say as a mom, always follow your gut. You know your baby better than anybody… you know what's right, you know what's wrong.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? On The Hirschsprung’s Hour, the focus this time is on a different but equally intense health battle, as Nicole, mum of four, talks through her six‑month‑old son Holt’s journey with small segment Hirschsprung’s disease. You’ll hear how a seemingly straightforward third C‑section and healthy pregnancy turned into an emergency dash to a university hospital when Holt began vomiting bright green bile, became lethargic and stopped feeding.
Nicole describes, in detail, the series of investigations – X‑rays full of gas, dye scans that stalled halfway through his stomach, and multiple biopsies that came back inconclusive before finally pointing to Hirschsprung’s.
She shares how missed red flags and assumptions about lactose intolerance delayed proper care, and how her instincts kept pushing things forward: “First thing I’m going to say as a mom, always follow your gut… you know what’s right, you know what’s wrong.” That line sums up the heart of the episode – parental advocacy in the middle of hospital chaos.
The conversation doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff: days with no feeding, sham feeds that “10 out of 10, do not recommend,” opioid pain relief that worsened constipation, and a six‑hour pull‑through surgery. Perhaps the most shocking part is Holt’s severe, almost burn‑like nappy rash from acidic stools and how Nicole had to figure out practical solutions like specific nappy brands and barrier care largely on her own.
Through it all, Nicole keeps a warm and slightly cheeky tone, talking about “pond water” bile and “sweet bad baby poop smell”, while also stressing how resilient babies can be and how lonely this condition can feel. Anyone dealing with complex paediatric conditions, chronic gut issues, or just trying to trust their gut in the face of medical uncertainty will find this story relatable, raw and oddly reassuring.
It might leave you asking: where could your own instincts be nudging you to speak up a bit louder?
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