Kiwi Birth Tales

This episode of Kiwi Birth Tales is proudly sponsored by Woolworths NZ in support of the Little Miracles Trust.

In this episode I speak with Lucy about her spontaneous triplet pregnancy and the journey to welcoming her babies, Lainey, Archer and Morgan, at 30 weeks gestation.
Lucy shares what it was like finding out she was expecting triplets at her first ultrasound, navigating a high-risk pregnancy with Maternal Fetal Medicine, and the emotional weight of carrying three babies while facing serious medical complications including twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

We talk through:
Finding out she was pregnant with spontaneous triplets
A high-risk multiple pregnancy
Identical twins sharing a placenta
Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS)
Severe pregnancy sickness and fatigue
Being admitted to hospital at 29 weeks
Emergency caesarean birth
Premature babies born at 29 weeks
NICU and SCBU life with triplets
Kangaroo care and bonding with premature babies
Ronald McDonald House
Exclusive pumping and feeding premature babies
Navigating maternal mental health during a NICU stay
Lainey’s pneumothorax and serious infection
Bringing triplets home
The reality of life with newborn triplets

Lucy also shares honestly about the emotional impact of NICU life, feeling disconnected after birth, and the lack of postpartum support for mothers once their babies are admitted to intensive care.

I'm incredibly grateful to Woolworths NZ and Little Miracles Trust for supporting this month’s episodes focused on NICU and SCBU journeys.

Your Birth Project Online Hypnobirthing Course
https://www.fertilityassociates.co.nz/book-a-free-nurse-consult

Please seek support for any mental health concerns. Some helpful links are below:
Mental Health in Pregnancy
Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Aotearoa
Plunket - Dads Mental Health
Little Shadow - Private Counselling NZ

Find me @kiwibirthtales and @yourbirthproject
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Kiwi Birth Tales is proudly sponsored by Woolworths NZ in support of the Little Miracles Trust.

This week on Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Phoebe about her journey to motherhood with her daughter Amelie.

Phoebe’s pregnancy was mostly textbook until late in her third trimester when repeated growth scans showed her baby was measuring large. After discussions with Auckland Hospital, Phoebe chose to be induced at 38-39 weeks due to concerns around shoulder dystocia and baby’s size.

In this episode Phoebe shares her two-day induction, intense labour, emergency csection birth and the scary moments after Amelie was born and unable to breathe independently, resulting in a short NICU stay.

We also talk through Phoebe’s incredibly difficult postpartum experience. Around 12 weeks postpartum she developed severe back pain which was eventually diagnosed as Pregnancy and Lactation Osteoporosis (PLO), a rare condition that caused multiple spinal fractures while breastfeeding.

Phoebe speaks honestly about birth trauma, postpartum mental health, physical recovery, self advocacy and navigating another pregnancy after such a challenging first experience.

In this episode we cover:
Textbook pregnancy and easy conception
Growth scans and suspected large baby
Choosing induction at 38-39 weeks
Two-day induction at Auckland Hospital
Epidural and labour slowing down
Emergency caesarean birth
Baby requiring NICU support after birth
Birth trauma and postpartum emotions
Breastfeeding and cluster feeding
Severe postpartum back pain
Multiple spinal compression fractures
Pregnancy & Lactation Osteoporosis (PLO)
Weaning and recovery
Preparing for baby number two after trauma
Postpartum depression

Your Birth Project Online Hypnobirthing Course
https://www.fertilityassociates.co.nz/book-a-free-nurse-consult

Please seek support for any mental health concerns. Some helpful links are below:
Mental Health in Pregnancy
Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Aotearoa
Plunket - Dads Mental Health
Little Shadow - Private Counselling NZ

Find me @kiwibirthtales and @yourbirthproject
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final pregnancy diaries update before our baby is here!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Kiwi Birth Tales is proudly sponsored by Woolworths NZ in support of the Little Miracles Trust.

In this episode of Kiwi Birth Tales, I speak to Brianna. After experiencing reduced movements later in pregnancy, Bri underwent further monitoring where concerns were identified around cord blood flow. She shares the events that led to an emergency c-section at 35 weeks, Oakley’s transfer to Auckland Hospital NICU, and the emotional realities of navigating NICU and SCBU as a new mum.

We also talk about recovery, feeding challenges, support systems and life after bringing home a late preterm baby. Some of the topics we cover:

Reduced fetal movements in pregnancy
Abnormal cord blood flow pregnancy
CTG monitoring during pregnancy
Maternal fetal medicine involvement
Emergency c-section at 35 weeks
Late preterm birth experience
NICU experience in New Zealand
Baby transferred to Auckland Hospital NICU
SCBU and NICU journey
Recovery after emergency c-section
Breastfeeding and pumping after NICU birth
Formula feeding after NICU
Jaundice and blue light therapy
Mental health after NICU
Little Miracles Trust support
Parenting a premature baby

Your Birth Project Online Hypnobirthing Course
https://www.fertilityassociates.co.nz/book-a-free-nurse-consult

Please seek support for any mental health concerns. Some helpful links are below:
Mental Health in Pregnancy
Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Aotearoa
Plunket - Dads Mental Health
Little Shadow - Private Counselling NZ

Find me @kiwibirthtales and @yourbirthproject
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Kiwi Birth Tales is proudly sponsored by Woolworths NZ in support of the Little Miracles Trust.

In this episode of Kiwi Birth Tales, I speak to Samantha - we focus on her second pregnancy, which she conceived through IVF. Her pregnancy was not without challenges and they spent a lot of time in NICU as Otis was born just before 30 weeks. Some of the topics we cover:

IVF journey and embryo transfer
Early pregnancy after IVF
Bleeding in early pregnancy (week 10)
Subchorionic hematoma and pregnancy complications
Heavy bleeding at 13 weeks
Increased risk factors identified during pregnancy
Amniocentesis and genetic testing
Anatomy scan and ongoing monitoring
Pregnancy anxiety after complications
Hospital stays during pregnancy
Premature labour at 28 weeks
Emergency response and hospital admission
Birth of a premature baby
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) experience
Oxygen support and respiratory challenges in newborns
Feeding challenges and NICU care
Emotional impact of NICU on parents
Transition from NICU to Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)
Preparing to take baby home after NICU
Life after NICU and early newborn period
Long-term development and health outcomes

Your Birth Project Online Hypnobirthing Course
https://www.fertilityassociates.co.nz/book-a-free-nurse-consult

Please seek support for any mental health concerns. Some helpful links are below:
Mental Health in Pregnancy
Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Aotearoa
Plunket - Dads Mental Health
Little Shadow - Private Counselling NZ

Find me @kiwibirthtales and @yourbirthproject
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.