EP 25 | Emma – Two Premature Babies, Life in NICU, Pregnancy Loss & Finding Strength in Motherhood

<p>In this episode, Emma shares her experiences of premature birth, pregnancy loss, NICU and navigating two incredibly challenging postpartum seasons.</p><p>We discuss:</p><ul><li>Developing severe preeclampsia during Emma’s first pregnancy</li><li>Her son being born unexpectedly at 32 weeks</li><li>An emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic</li><li>Waiting 19 hours to meet her baby for the first time</li><li>Navigating NICU and special care during COVID restrictions</li><li>The isolation of being separated from her support network</li><li>Pumping, tube feeding, nipple shields and establishing breastfeeding with a premature baby</li><li>The emotional rollercoaster of NICU milestones and setbacks</li><li>Bringing a premature baby home and the anxiety surrounding illness during COVID</li><li>Experiencing two pregnancy losses between Emma’s children</li><li>Pregnancy after loss and the anxiety of another high-risk pregnancy</li><li>Emma’s daughter being born at 34 weeks and five days after experiencing preeclampsia again</li><li>Returning to special care for a second time</li><li>The difference the Ronald McDonald room made during their second experience</li><li>Navigating a special care stay while also having an older child at home</li><li>Emma’s son experiencing anaphylaxis shortly after her daughter came home</li><li>Her newborn daughter becoming critically unwell with meningitis and being admitted to PICU</li><li>Trying to recover from an emergency caesarean while both children needed significant care</li><li>The impact of stress and sleep deprivation on breastfeeding</li><li>The physical, mental, emotional and financial toll of prolonged hospital experiences</li><li>Finding support through family, friends, church, medical teams and other NICU parents</li><li>Why connecting with parents going through similar experiences can be so valuable</li><li>Using social media and sharing her story as a way of processing what happened</li></ul><p>You can find Emma on Instagram at @by.emmamae.</p><p>This weeks sponsor is Rest in the Postpartum Season - guided yoga nidra practices created for mothers. </p><p>If you’re looking for a simple way to slow down, rest and take a little time for yourself, you can find practices ranging from five to fifteen minutes at <a href="http://www.thepostpartumseason.com/">www.thepostpartumseason.com</a>.</p><p>And if you would like to buy a Postpartum Season cap, click this link below:</p><p><a href="https://www.thepostpartumseason.com/store/p/the-postpartum-season-cap">https://www.thepostpartumseason.com/store/p/the-postpartum-season-cap</a></p><p>Thank you for supporting the podcast!</p><p>As mentioned in the episode, here are some postpartum support resources. Please reach out if you need help.</p><p>Australia</p><ul><li>PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety &amp; Depression Australia)<br>Helpline: 1300 726 306<br>Website: <a href="https://www.panda.org.au/">https://www.panda.org.au</a></li><li>Lifeline Australia<br>13 11 14 (24/7)<br>Website: <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">https://www.lifeline.org.au</a></li><li>Beyond Blue<br>1300 22 4636<br>Website: <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/">https://www.beyondblue.org.au</a></li></ul><p> </p><p>New Zealand</p><ul><li>PlunketLine<br>0800 933 922 (24/7)</li><li>Healthline New Zealand<br>0800 611 116 (24/7)</li><li>1737 Need to talk?<br>Call or text 1737 (24/7)</li></ul><p> </p><p>Thank you for listening. Take care x</p>