Reimagining Walkable Cities: Exploring the Experience of Mothers of Premature Babies

This article highlights an often-overlooked group in urban planning: first-time mothers of premature babies requiring neonatal care. Set in inner London, it explores how to reimagine urban spaces for a more sustainable and inclusive city. These mothers face complex challenges navigating the city: caring for medically fragile infants, managing oxygen tanks, non-folding prams, and avoiding infection risks. Drawing on an interdisciplinary project with neonatologists, the article examines the emotional and sensory dimensions of urban mobility. Using diary entries and walking interviews, it argues for the inclusion of affective and embodied experiences in planning to better support vulnerable groups in urban environments.