1 00:00:05,646 --> 00:00:11,485 Speaker 1: You're listening to a Mum and Me podcast. Hi, it's 2 00:00:11,526 --> 00:00:14,726 Speaker 1: Cassenne Lukige here, host of Diary of a Birth, and 3 00:00:14,806 --> 00:00:18,166 Speaker 1: this summer we've curated your delivery room playlist to bring 4 00:00:18,206 --> 00:00:21,846 Speaker 1: you even more unmissable birth stories. This summer, we're bringing 5 00:00:21,886 --> 00:00:24,726 Speaker 1: you our favorite episodes of Diary of a Birth right 6 00:00:24,806 --> 00:00:28,446 Speaker 1: here in your feet. That's your holiday listening sworded And 7 00:00:28,526 --> 00:00:31,086 Speaker 1: if you're looking for more to listen to, Every Muma 8 00:00:31,166 --> 00:00:35,205 Speaker 1: mea podcast is curating your summer listening right across our network. 9 00:00:35,446 --> 00:00:39,286 Speaker 1: From pop culture to beauty to powerful interviews, there's something 10 00:00:39,326 --> 00:00:46,966 Speaker 1: for everyone. Check out the link in the show notes. Hi, 11 00:00:47,086 --> 00:00:50,686 Speaker 1: I'm Cassennia Lukich and this is Diary of a Birth. 12 00:00:52,006 --> 00:00:55,365 Speaker 1: Sometimes the most powerful birth stories aren't just about bringing 13 00:00:55,406 --> 00:00:59,446 Speaker 1: a baby into the world. They're about discovering strength you 14 00:00:59,526 --> 00:01:03,645 Speaker 1: never knew you had. Today's guest had already proven her 15 00:01:03,686 --> 00:01:07,886 Speaker 1: resilience after a spinal search complication left her unable to walk. 16 00:01:08,606 --> 00:01:13,726 Speaker 1: She'd fought back to fitness and independence, but pregnancy tested 17 00:01:13,726 --> 00:01:15,446 Speaker 1: her in unimaginable ways. 18 00:01:15,966 --> 00:01:20,366 Speaker 2: So round about the three four month mark, I could 19 00:01:20,446 --> 00:01:23,406 Speaker 2: not sleep for the pain in my leg. Like I'm talking, 20 00:01:23,846 --> 00:01:26,766 Speaker 2: I've been awake for twenty four hours. I'm so much 21 00:01:27,326 --> 00:01:31,046 Speaker 2: discomfort and I fell over and I went to the 22 00:01:31,046 --> 00:01:33,006 Speaker 2: hospital because everything just felt wrong. 23 00:01:33,846 --> 00:01:37,366 Speaker 1: By the time COVID hit, she was housebound on heavy medication, 24 00:01:37,606 --> 00:01:41,446 Speaker 1: facing possible early delivery, but she was determined to give 25 00:01:41,486 --> 00:01:44,926 Speaker 1: her daughter the best start, even if it meant months 26 00:01:44,926 --> 00:01:47,806 Speaker 1: of pain. So let's meet today's mum. 27 00:01:48,606 --> 00:01:51,286 Speaker 2: Hi, this is Bria, and this is my diary of 28 00:01:51,326 --> 00:01:55,646 Speaker 2: a birth with Theodora. 29 00:01:55,726 --> 00:01:58,366 Speaker 1: So, Brian, I wanted to start off with a little 30 00:01:58,366 --> 00:02:02,286 Speaker 1: bit about your history because you have had a number 31 00:02:02,286 --> 00:02:06,006 Speaker 1: of health issues since you were what seventeen? Yeah, do 32 00:02:06,006 --> 00:02:08,326 Speaker 1: you want to talk us through your health history so 33 00:02:08,365 --> 00:02:10,645 Speaker 1: we can't understand where you were before you got pregnant. 34 00:02:10,805 --> 00:02:14,846 Speaker 2: So I had a really bad back from puberty. I 35 00:02:14,925 --> 00:02:17,725 Speaker 2: had sciatica down both of my legs that would come 36 00:02:17,726 --> 00:02:20,886 Speaker 2: and go, and I would frequently have issues and that 37 00:02:21,006 --> 00:02:24,405 Speaker 2: progressed all the way through my life and I would 38 00:02:24,405 --> 00:02:26,525 Speaker 2: manage it and I'd have some time in bed and 39 00:02:26,685 --> 00:02:31,405 Speaker 2: it was all contained, I guess, until I was about 40 00:02:31,446 --> 00:02:35,006 Speaker 2: twenty seven. I'd move from New Zealand to Australia. I 41 00:02:35,166 --> 00:02:39,365 Speaker 2: was working in a professional job and I just had 42 00:02:39,365 --> 00:02:41,606 Speaker 2: another flare and I couldn't manage it. I just could 43 00:02:41,685 --> 00:02:44,005 Speaker 2: not get on top of it. And it turned out 44 00:02:44,006 --> 00:02:46,005 Speaker 2: that a couple of the disks of my lower spine 45 00:02:46,046 --> 00:02:49,525 Speaker 2: had shifted and they were crushing my spinal cord, and 46 00:02:49,606 --> 00:02:53,565 Speaker 2: so I had a spinal surgery, and in that spinal surgery, 47 00:02:53,726 --> 00:02:56,326 Speaker 2: I lost the use of feeling of one of my legs. 48 00:02:56,886 --> 00:02:59,766 Speaker 2: So if you put your finger on your belly button 49 00:02:59,965 --> 00:03:03,806 Speaker 2: and just go straight down and across your hips like nothing, 50 00:03:03,886 --> 00:03:07,445 Speaker 2: couldn't feel it, couldn't move anything like that. So that 51 00:03:07,525 --> 00:03:10,366 Speaker 2: was pretty jarring at twenty seven and I'm in a 52 00:03:10,365 --> 00:03:13,525 Speaker 2: different country from my family and my friends, and everyone 53 00:03:13,606 --> 00:03:16,925 Speaker 2: really rally around to support me. And over the course 54 00:03:16,925 --> 00:03:19,645 Speaker 2: of a couple of years, I learned to walk again. 55 00:03:19,886 --> 00:03:22,326 Speaker 2: I got off all the pain medication that I was on. 56 00:03:22,405 --> 00:03:26,286 Speaker 2: I still have disc issues, and I still have what's 57 00:03:26,286 --> 00:03:29,326 Speaker 2: called a foot drop, so I can't lift my toes 58 00:03:29,846 --> 00:03:31,646 Speaker 2: as well as on one of my legs, so I 59 00:03:31,685 --> 00:03:33,725 Speaker 2: do have a trip risk, and I've got pins and 60 00:03:33,805 --> 00:03:36,725 Speaker 2: needles in my leg permanently. But I got to the 61 00:03:36,766 --> 00:03:39,165 Speaker 2: point where I was doing CrossFit five times a week, 62 00:03:39,206 --> 00:03:42,766 Speaker 2: I was traveling, I moved to England. I'm just doing 63 00:03:42,846 --> 00:03:47,926 Speaker 2: life in pain and that progressed and I would manage that. 64 00:03:48,206 --> 00:03:50,646 Speaker 2: And when I was planning to get pregnant, I knew 65 00:03:50,686 --> 00:03:53,406 Speaker 2: I needed to make sure my body was really strong. 66 00:03:53,846 --> 00:03:55,886 Speaker 2: I knew that I needed to be in the best 67 00:03:55,926 --> 00:04:01,486 Speaker 2: possible condition because pregnancy is not great on anyone's fine. 68 00:04:02,246 --> 00:04:06,086 Speaker 2: Pregnancy is not easy on the body, and some of 69 00:04:06,126 --> 00:04:09,206 Speaker 2: the pain medications that I would utilize, like saying Europine 70 00:04:09,606 --> 00:04:12,126 Speaker 2: it's not safe for pregnancy, So I also needed to 71 00:04:12,526 --> 00:04:13,206 Speaker 2: prepare for that. 72 00:04:13,726 --> 00:04:16,565 Speaker 1: The spinal surgery you had, was that just a complication 73 00:04:16,726 --> 00:04:19,646 Speaker 1: of a surgery? Is that how you're expecting to come 74 00:04:19,726 --> 00:04:22,286 Speaker 1: out of it? Like, was it something that it was 75 00:04:22,325 --> 00:04:23,046 Speaker 1: just a complication. 76 00:04:23,565 --> 00:04:27,286 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a non complication that can happen. It 77 00:04:27,325 --> 00:04:30,206 Speaker 2: doesn't happen too often, but just the state I was in, 78 00:04:30,686 --> 00:04:33,766 Speaker 2: the disc matter was really messed up into the spinal 79 00:04:33,806 --> 00:04:37,565 Speaker 2: cord when they were operating, So it was like a 80 00:04:37,606 --> 00:04:40,885 Speaker 2: really rare complication in that case. But fast forward when 81 00:04:40,885 --> 00:04:43,286 Speaker 2: we talk about the second spinal surgery, it was a 82 00:04:43,325 --> 00:04:45,886 Speaker 2: much higher risk on that same thing happening. Yeah. 83 00:04:46,206 --> 00:04:48,886 Speaker 1: So you and your partner met in the UK, Yeah, 84 00:04:48,885 --> 00:04:52,046 Speaker 1: and then you got pregnant at thirty five, So was 85 00:04:52,086 --> 00:04:55,285 Speaker 1: that just one surgery between that twenty seven and thirty five. 86 00:04:55,565 --> 00:04:59,366 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I had just needed the one surgery, and 87 00:04:59,366 --> 00:05:01,325 Speaker 2: I think I was actually thirty four. It was not 88 00:05:01,406 --> 00:05:04,246 Speaker 2: quite a geriatric pregnancy. I do remember that it was 89 00:05:04,246 --> 00:05:08,326 Speaker 2: a disabled but not quite geriactrical pregnancy. I had not 90 00:05:08,406 --> 00:05:12,085 Speaker 2: needed any more surgical interventions. I still had, you know, 91 00:05:12,246 --> 00:05:15,766 Speaker 2: a pretty exciting bag of medications that I would use 92 00:05:16,366 --> 00:05:20,005 Speaker 2: when I needed, but I wouldn't need them daily or 93 00:05:20,046 --> 00:05:23,206 Speaker 2: even monthly, to be honest, But I hadn't don't had 94 00:05:23,206 --> 00:05:28,005 Speaker 2: to have any medical interventions after that first operation. It 95 00:05:28,086 --> 00:05:32,366 Speaker 2: wasn't until I've got pregnant that things started to unravel. 96 00:05:32,406 --> 00:05:36,086 Speaker 2: And it was like it wasn't even a positive pregnancy test, 97 00:05:36,126 --> 00:05:40,166 Speaker 2: it was conception onwards. It was instant. Yeah. 98 00:05:40,445 --> 00:05:44,286 Speaker 1: Yeah, the act of getting pregnant sort of undid all 99 00:05:44,366 --> 00:05:48,525 Speaker 1: of this hard, you know, rehabilitation work that you had done. 100 00:05:48,646 --> 00:05:52,205 Speaker 2: I think without the rehabilitation work and the real I'd 101 00:05:52,246 --> 00:05:56,445 Speaker 2: spend a good twelve months with personal trainer, like I 102 00:05:56,486 --> 00:05:58,686 Speaker 2: want to get strong for pregnancy, so we'd be really 103 00:05:58,686 --> 00:06:01,286 Speaker 2: deliberate about that. So I think without it, things potentially 104 00:06:01,325 --> 00:06:05,166 Speaker 2: would have gone much worse. But what happened was as 105 00:06:05,166 --> 00:06:08,366 Speaker 2: soon as the relax and entered my system, I just 106 00:06:08,806 --> 00:06:12,646 Speaker 2: seemed to relax all the structures that I had built 107 00:06:12,966 --> 00:06:17,046 Speaker 2: up in my body to be strong, and so my 108 00:06:17,166 --> 00:06:19,646 Speaker 2: leg would hurt more, or my pens and needles would 109 00:06:19,646 --> 00:06:22,686 Speaker 2: be worse, or just bending over. Was like that shouldn't 110 00:06:23,406 --> 00:06:26,206 Speaker 2: that shouldn't hurt that much. Because managing a spinal injury 111 00:06:26,246 --> 00:06:28,886 Speaker 2: for that long you kind of start to know like, ah, 112 00:06:28,966 --> 00:06:31,966 Speaker 2: this symptom I can put up with that. This symptom 113 00:06:32,086 --> 00:06:33,885 Speaker 2: I need to tree out it this way like it's 114 00:06:34,206 --> 00:06:35,646 Speaker 2: for me. It's like a little bit like having a 115 00:06:35,726 --> 00:06:38,005 Speaker 2: child already liked. I learned how to manage it. And 116 00:06:38,046 --> 00:06:40,286 Speaker 2: so once I got pregnant, I was like, this is 117 00:06:40,325 --> 00:06:42,486 Speaker 2: going in a direction that I am not used to. 118 00:06:42,526 --> 00:06:47,726 Speaker 2: It's escalating faster, the symptoms don't move through the same process, 119 00:06:47,765 --> 00:06:52,526 Speaker 2: and so pretty much straight away and we got pregnant 120 00:06:52,565 --> 00:06:55,645 Speaker 2: the first time we tried. So of all the things 121 00:06:55,646 --> 00:06:58,645 Speaker 2: we're going to share today, fertility was not one of 122 00:06:58,686 --> 00:07:04,326 Speaker 2: those issues for us, and I tested positive within a 123 00:07:04,325 --> 00:07:07,406 Speaker 2: couple of weeks. Luck I woke up on a Monday 124 00:07:07,406 --> 00:07:09,886 Speaker 2: morning and said, I'm pregnant. My periods half now late. 125 00:07:09,966 --> 00:07:12,086 Speaker 2: It was literally one of those people, and I tested 126 00:07:12,086 --> 00:07:14,806 Speaker 2: the next day, and that sort of explained it, And 127 00:07:14,846 --> 00:07:17,926 Speaker 2: so began a journey of just trying to keep up 128 00:07:17,966 --> 00:07:21,206 Speaker 2: with what was happening in my body. The pregnancy itself 129 00:07:21,286 --> 00:07:25,126 Speaker 2: was really easy. I think I was described as obstetrically boring, 130 00:07:25,526 --> 00:07:28,766 Speaker 2: but the container that had the uterus and the baby 131 00:07:28,926 --> 00:07:29,926 Speaker 2: was really complicated. 132 00:07:30,286 --> 00:07:32,126 Speaker 1: I know that you mentioned a lot one of your 133 00:07:32,166 --> 00:07:36,766 Speaker 1: biggest issues was facing the medical system and trying to 134 00:07:36,806 --> 00:07:39,806 Speaker 1: figure out a way to manage your care correctly. 135 00:07:40,366 --> 00:07:40,886 Speaker 2: Yeah. 136 00:07:41,086 --> 00:07:43,406 Speaker 1: Can you talk to us a little bit about how 137 00:07:43,446 --> 00:07:46,606 Speaker 1: you entered the system and how you kind of were 138 00:07:46,646 --> 00:07:47,845 Speaker 1: able to gather a team. 139 00:07:48,646 --> 00:07:51,366 Speaker 2: Yeah, So we made the very deliberate choice to go 140 00:07:51,406 --> 00:07:54,965 Speaker 2: into the public system. The advice we received that I 141 00:07:55,166 --> 00:07:58,206 Speaker 2: was so complicated we were probably going to be pumped 142 00:07:58,286 --> 00:08:01,926 Speaker 2: back into the public system, So we started there. I 143 00:08:01,966 --> 00:08:04,806 Speaker 2: shared all of my medical information, so by the time 144 00:08:04,886 --> 00:08:08,086 Speaker 2: I was in that already put me into an obstetric stream. 145 00:08:08,246 --> 00:08:10,606 Speaker 2: I was not under the care of like a midware 146 00:08:10,606 --> 00:08:14,126 Speaker 2: free group practice or anything like that, primarily because they 147 00:08:14,166 --> 00:08:15,766 Speaker 2: just didn't know how my body was going to react. 148 00:08:15,806 --> 00:08:17,526 Speaker 2: So that was really good in that I was already 149 00:08:17,526 --> 00:08:23,086 Speaker 2: in that stream. What was really difficult. Was so around 150 00:08:23,086 --> 00:08:27,446 Speaker 2: about the three four month mark, I could not sleep 151 00:08:27,526 --> 00:08:30,646 Speaker 2: for the pain in my leg. Like I'm talking, I've 152 00:08:30,686 --> 00:08:34,606 Speaker 2: been awake for twenty four hours. I'm in so much discomfort, 153 00:08:34,766 --> 00:08:38,126 Speaker 2: and I fell over and I went to the hospital 154 00:08:38,206 --> 00:08:41,846 Speaker 2: because everything just felt wrong, and they ended up doing 155 00:08:41,846 --> 00:08:44,405 Speaker 2: an MRI on my body because they wanted to see 156 00:08:44,446 --> 00:08:48,566 Speaker 2: what was happening with the spine during the pregnancy. So 157 00:08:48,646 --> 00:08:52,766 Speaker 2: that's great. The maternity hospitals connected to a normal hospital, 158 00:08:53,045 --> 00:08:55,646 Speaker 2: they do the MRI there. I come back to the 159 00:08:55,686 --> 00:09:00,285 Speaker 2: practice and the neurosurgery team has said, oh, it's a 160 00:09:00,326 --> 00:09:02,966 Speaker 2: minor dispulge, it'll be resolved in six to eight weeks. 161 00:09:03,246 --> 00:09:06,526 Speaker 2: And the midwife who's the one meeting through the obstetric 162 00:09:06,726 --> 00:09:08,966 Speaker 2: streamers like, but you'll be six to eight weeks more 163 00:09:09,006 --> 00:09:12,126 Speaker 2: pregnant by then. Then I have to go away and 164 00:09:12,165 --> 00:09:16,046 Speaker 2: come back and nothing's progressed because the neurosurgeons don't know 165 00:09:16,086 --> 00:09:19,285 Speaker 2: about babies and the obstetricians don't know about spines, and 166 00:09:19,326 --> 00:09:22,766 Speaker 2: nobody wants to help me with this absolutely debilitating pain 167 00:09:22,846 --> 00:09:26,526 Speaker 2: where I'm not sleeping for days, like I'm not able 168 00:09:26,566 --> 00:09:27,006 Speaker 2: to sleep. 169 00:09:27,446 --> 00:09:30,366 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I suppose in terms of pain management. What 170 00:09:30,446 --> 00:09:32,646 Speaker 1: were you because you can't take neurop and you can 171 00:09:32,646 --> 00:09:34,886 Speaker 1: take pan at all, but I suppose at that level 172 00:09:34,926 --> 00:09:36,926 Speaker 1: of pain, what were you able to take? 173 00:09:37,326 --> 00:09:39,766 Speaker 2: So of my own volition, I could take the pan 174 00:09:39,806 --> 00:09:42,126 Speaker 2: at all, which is what's recommended, and you can't take neurophine, 175 00:09:42,126 --> 00:09:44,606 Speaker 2: and some of it was inflammation related, so that was 176 00:09:44,606 --> 00:09:48,045 Speaker 2: really frustrating, but anything stronger than that, like, I needed 177 00:09:48,526 --> 00:09:51,606 Speaker 2: the obstetrician and the neurosurgeon to kind of prescribe it. 178 00:09:51,646 --> 00:09:53,646 Speaker 2: So the issue we were having was no one would 179 00:09:53,686 --> 00:09:55,566 Speaker 2: prescribe it because they didn't know about the other thing. 180 00:09:56,366 --> 00:10:00,805 Speaker 2: And I turn up to one appointment and I'm just crying. 181 00:10:00,926 --> 00:10:04,966 Speaker 2: I'm in so much pain. I'm crying and midwives, bless 182 00:10:04,966 --> 00:10:07,246 Speaker 2: them that my sister in law's a midwife. It is 183 00:10:07,285 --> 00:10:12,526 Speaker 2: an amazing profession. She walks out and I can hear 184 00:10:12,566 --> 00:10:16,366 Speaker 2: her yell something like, I get in here. This girl 185 00:10:16,606 --> 00:10:19,126 Speaker 2: is suffering. You need to come in here and help her. 186 00:10:19,606 --> 00:10:23,646 Speaker 2: And so she appears to wrangle an obstetrician in. I 187 00:10:23,646 --> 00:10:26,486 Speaker 2: think there was a physician. Because I had gestational diabetes. 188 00:10:26,526 --> 00:10:28,966 Speaker 2: They couldn't get the neurosurgery person in, but they got 189 00:10:29,045 --> 00:10:31,086 Speaker 2: enough people in and she was like, what is the 190 00:10:31,126 --> 00:10:34,966 Speaker 2: pain management plan here? So eventually I got onto some 191 00:10:35,006 --> 00:10:38,646 Speaker 2: pretty like heavy medications, usually ones that you get like 192 00:10:38,726 --> 00:10:41,326 Speaker 2: after a C section, stuff like that, that I could 193 00:10:41,486 --> 00:10:44,405 Speaker 2: use for cut through pain. So actually, one of the 194 00:10:44,405 --> 00:10:47,006 Speaker 2: things that happened was they wanted to give me a 195 00:10:47,165 --> 00:10:50,046 Speaker 2: nerve pain medication I took every day that would cut 196 00:10:50,086 --> 00:10:53,326 Speaker 2: down my nerve pain. I love life to the max, 197 00:10:53,606 --> 00:10:55,646 Speaker 2: so if you down my nerve pain, I'm just going 198 00:10:55,686 --> 00:10:59,326 Speaker 2: to live there, right And I got my partner and 199 00:10:59,366 --> 00:11:01,045 Speaker 2: my mum at the time to look up the symptoms 200 00:11:01,045 --> 00:11:03,286 Speaker 2: because I couldn't cope with seeing that. They looked up 201 00:11:03,326 --> 00:11:05,925 Speaker 2: the symptoms and we've been given some of the information 202 00:11:06,006 --> 00:11:08,966 Speaker 2: from the doctor, and there was a risk of heart 203 00:11:09,006 --> 00:11:14,606 Speaker 2: defect or the baby versus these other medications which are 204 00:11:14,646 --> 00:11:18,006 Speaker 2: often associated with being highly addictive. So I actually, as 205 00:11:18,045 --> 00:11:21,006 Speaker 2: a patient went in and said, here are my patient files. 206 00:11:21,165 --> 00:11:25,446 Speaker 2: Using these addictive medications on and off throughout my disability. 207 00:11:26,045 --> 00:11:28,526 Speaker 2: I don't want to risk a heart issue with the 208 00:11:28,566 --> 00:11:31,286 Speaker 2: baby if I could demonstrate to you that I can 209 00:11:31,366 --> 00:11:35,326 Speaker 2: safely take these other medications. And so they agreed, which 210 00:11:35,405 --> 00:11:37,566 Speaker 2: was really great. They trusted me. I could give them evidence. 211 00:11:37,606 --> 00:11:39,085 Speaker 2: They trusted me. But that was probably one of the 212 00:11:39,165 --> 00:11:43,126 Speaker 2: first like really advocating for myself, saying I want to 213 00:11:43,165 --> 00:11:45,966 Speaker 2: be able to take this type of medication in this 214 00:11:46,126 --> 00:11:48,806 Speaker 2: way under your care. And we also found one that 215 00:11:48,926 --> 00:11:50,766 Speaker 2: helped me stay asleep through the pain. 216 00:11:51,045 --> 00:11:54,285 Speaker 1: It was like a like an antihistamine. 217 00:11:53,366 --> 00:11:56,286 Speaker 2: An antihistamine one yep that I ended up taking quite 218 00:11:56,285 --> 00:11:58,685 Speaker 2: a lot of. But it would if I could sleep 219 00:11:58,726 --> 00:12:01,966 Speaker 2: through the pain. I was okay, Yeah, So we had 220 00:12:02,446 --> 00:12:07,206 Speaker 2: a cocktail that I could and initially didn't need to 221 00:12:07,206 --> 00:12:10,246 Speaker 2: take too much, but it got a lot more intense 222 00:12:10,285 --> 00:12:10,846 Speaker 2: over the time. 223 00:12:10,966 --> 00:12:13,086 Speaker 1: This is only a four months mind you, So as 224 00:12:13,126 --> 00:12:17,006 Speaker 1: the pregnancy progresses, the paint's getting worse, I'm assuming because 225 00:12:17,006 --> 00:12:21,926 Speaker 1: you're getting bigger, obstetrically boring. So Bob is growing well. 226 00:12:21,966 --> 00:12:24,766 Speaker 2: She's doing all the things she's supposed to do. There 227 00:12:24,846 --> 00:12:28,446 Speaker 2: was nothing concerning, nothing to worry about. It was me 228 00:12:28,726 --> 00:12:32,526 Speaker 2: that wasn't coping. And prior to getting pregnant, I spent 229 00:12:32,686 --> 00:12:35,846 Speaker 2: like two to four days a fortnight in Sydney, like 230 00:12:35,886 --> 00:12:37,646 Speaker 2: I was traveling up there. I live in Melbourne. I 231 00:12:37,646 --> 00:12:40,806 Speaker 2: was traveling up there all the time. So at four 232 00:12:40,846 --> 00:12:42,886 Speaker 2: months I have to go back to work and say hey, 233 00:12:43,165 --> 00:12:47,286 Speaker 2: I can't. I'm to Sydney. I can't run these collaboration 234 00:12:47,446 --> 00:12:51,286 Speaker 2: workshops with loads of senior executives. I can't do my 235 00:12:51,486 --> 00:12:54,085 Speaker 2: job and I'm definitely not gonna be able to do 236 00:12:54,086 --> 00:12:55,925 Speaker 2: it for the rest of the duration of the pregnancy. 237 00:12:56,285 --> 00:12:59,366 Speaker 2: And I'd say the most surprising thing of the whole pregnancy. 238 00:12:59,526 --> 00:13:01,606 Speaker 2: I thought pregnancy was going to be hard because of 239 00:13:01,646 --> 00:13:04,966 Speaker 2: my back, but I thought that my workplace was going 240 00:13:05,045 --> 00:13:08,486 Speaker 2: to be I had to advocate for myself and the 241 00:13:08,526 --> 00:13:13,446 Speaker 2: medical system would be supportive as a person with a 242 00:13:13,486 --> 00:13:17,246 Speaker 2: disability who was pregnant, And it just was the exact opposite. 243 00:13:17,366 --> 00:13:19,846 Speaker 2: My workplace. I had a great boss and a great 244 00:13:20,006 --> 00:13:24,246 Speaker 2: hr business partner, and they just found every policy and 245 00:13:24,285 --> 00:13:27,766 Speaker 2: every procedure and every available support to help me out. 246 00:13:28,285 --> 00:13:31,086 Speaker 2: They changed the type of work I was doing with 247 00:13:31,126 --> 00:13:33,926 Speaker 2: that impact in my income. They just did everything and 248 00:13:34,006 --> 00:13:35,966 Speaker 2: I never had to stress about work. I never had 249 00:13:35,966 --> 00:13:38,606 Speaker 2: to stress about needing to take a bit of time off. 250 00:13:38,606 --> 00:13:40,806 Speaker 2: I never had to stress about what was going to 251 00:13:40,806 --> 00:13:43,565 Speaker 2: happen when I came back. They went above and beyond. 252 00:13:44,126 --> 00:13:46,886 Speaker 1: I mean, that's how it should be. It's not. Unfortunately, 253 00:13:46,926 --> 00:13:49,806 Speaker 1: it's not like that in every workplace, and I've experienced 254 00:13:49,846 --> 00:13:53,606 Speaker 1: both sides the coin and to have that level of support, 255 00:13:53,966 --> 00:13:57,646 Speaker 1: particularly with something chronic like what you have, yeah, and 256 00:13:57,766 --> 00:13:59,726 Speaker 1: have people being able to be like, you know what, 257 00:13:59,766 --> 00:14:01,846 Speaker 1: it's fine, We're going to make the accommodations because we 258 00:14:01,926 --> 00:14:05,285 Speaker 1: value you as an employee. That is just I'm so 259 00:14:05,526 --> 00:14:08,166 Speaker 1: glad that you at least had that, even though the 260 00:14:08,246 --> 00:14:11,445 Speaker 1: medical system was harder to navigate for you. 261 00:14:11,726 --> 00:14:13,045 Speaker 2: I don't know how I would have been able to 262 00:14:13,086 --> 00:14:15,926 Speaker 2: cope with fast fighting fires on two fronts. And bear 263 00:14:15,926 --> 00:14:18,846 Speaker 2: in mind, by the time I'm having this MRI and 264 00:14:18,886 --> 00:14:21,446 Speaker 2: getting this medication and this midwife is sort of wrangling 265 00:14:21,446 --> 00:14:23,966 Speaker 2: the doctors. We're in January twenty twenty, We're it like 266 00:14:24,526 --> 00:14:28,526 Speaker 2: COVID's happening over there. It's something that we're not too 267 00:14:28,566 --> 00:14:32,726 Speaker 2: stressed about yet. So by the time I progressed through 268 00:14:32,766 --> 00:14:35,526 Speaker 2: this pregnancy, like bear in mind, I'm still going to 269 00:14:35,566 --> 00:14:38,126 Speaker 2: the gym four or five times a week because I 270 00:14:38,246 --> 00:14:41,846 Speaker 2: have to keep moving. I've set this target for whatever reason, 271 00:14:42,366 --> 00:14:44,086 Speaker 2: that I'm going to be able to continue to do 272 00:14:44,446 --> 00:14:47,006 Speaker 2: overhead squats, Like if I can keep doing an overhead 273 00:14:47,006 --> 00:14:50,006 Speaker 2: squat with thirty five kilos on the bar, my body's 274 00:14:50,046 --> 00:14:52,406 Speaker 2: going to be doing okay, So say that it's hurting, 275 00:14:52,446 --> 00:14:56,326 Speaker 2: But I'm also like, I'm on that bike, like, oh 276 00:14:56,406 --> 00:14:59,006 Speaker 2: my god. I got so circup the bike because it 277 00:14:59,086 --> 00:15:00,926 Speaker 2: was the only way I could get any cardio in 278 00:15:01,686 --> 00:15:04,446 Speaker 2: just doing everything sensible, So stopping the setups when you 279 00:15:04,446 --> 00:15:06,326 Speaker 2: have to stop setups. And I never did a box 280 00:15:06,366 --> 00:15:08,366 Speaker 2: jump because my foot doesn't work. But like I was, 281 00:15:08,846 --> 00:15:10,686 Speaker 2: I was going to the gym and working with people 282 00:15:10,686 --> 00:15:13,886 Speaker 2: I've worked with before I acquired my disability, throughout my 283 00:15:13,966 --> 00:15:16,406 Speaker 2: disability throughout this pregnancy, to be like, how do I 284 00:15:16,446 --> 00:15:18,606 Speaker 2: stay as strong as I can within the context of 285 00:15:18,646 --> 00:15:20,686 Speaker 2: this unbearable pain. 286 00:15:21,006 --> 00:15:24,406 Speaker 1: It's amazing. It's also a testament to your mental strength 287 00:15:24,446 --> 00:15:27,166 Speaker 1: as well. Let's fast forward a little bit to March 288 00:15:27,206 --> 00:15:29,966 Speaker 1: twenty twenty. How far along are you at in March 289 00:15:30,006 --> 00:15:31,926 Speaker 1: twenty twenty when COVID really hits. 290 00:15:32,366 --> 00:15:37,966 Speaker 2: So by round about March, I'm already not going into 291 00:15:37,966 --> 00:15:39,566 Speaker 2: the city. Oh, because the other thing that happens at 292 00:15:39,606 --> 00:15:41,686 Speaker 2: the end of that year is the bushfires in Melbourne, 293 00:15:41,766 --> 00:15:44,086 Speaker 2: so pregnant people are not supposed to go outside. So like, 294 00:15:44,206 --> 00:15:46,366 Speaker 2: I've been working from home a lot at this point, 295 00:15:46,646 --> 00:15:49,166 Speaker 2: so I'm at home permanently, Like the idea of getting 296 00:15:49,166 --> 00:15:54,646 Speaker 2: into the office is just not possible. I am taking 297 00:15:54,646 --> 00:15:58,326 Speaker 2: these heavy medications, like four times a day. I am 298 00:15:58,406 --> 00:16:02,566 Speaker 2: still working. I'm lying in my bed. My partner stopped 299 00:16:02,566 --> 00:16:05,205 Speaker 2: working because, like I couldn't even stand to make a 300 00:16:05,246 --> 00:16:07,766 Speaker 2: piece of toast, so I could lie down in bed 301 00:16:07,846 --> 00:16:11,486 Speaker 2: and do my job camera off. But I couldn't really 302 00:16:12,526 --> 00:16:16,366 Speaker 2: do too much else. And so by this point I'm 303 00:16:16,406 --> 00:16:20,846 Speaker 2: being treated by the neurosurgery department within their physiodepartment to 304 00:16:20,926 --> 00:16:25,206 Speaker 2: help me with anything particular that I need. I'm going 305 00:16:25,246 --> 00:16:27,646 Speaker 2: in and out of the hospital three or four times 306 00:16:27,646 --> 00:16:30,006 Speaker 2: a week at this point to be checked and make 307 00:16:30,046 --> 00:16:33,246 Speaker 2: sure everything's fine. But it was probably around that time 308 00:16:33,446 --> 00:16:37,286 Speaker 2: that they said to me, like I was really maxing 309 00:16:37,326 --> 00:16:40,366 Speaker 2: out the amount of pain meds we could take, and 310 00:16:40,446 --> 00:16:44,726 Speaker 2: they said to me, if it wasn't COVID would probably 311 00:16:44,806 --> 00:16:49,086 Speaker 2: take her out. But we don't know the effect of 312 00:16:49,166 --> 00:16:52,086 Speaker 2: COVID on baby's lungs, So as long as you can 313 00:16:52,166 --> 00:16:54,846 Speaker 2: cope with the pain, would like to keep her inside. 314 00:16:55,206 --> 00:16:57,126 Speaker 1: How far along we at this point. 315 00:16:56,686 --> 00:16:59,646 Speaker 2: Thirty two thirty three weeks, You don't want to bring 316 00:16:59,646 --> 00:17:02,246 Speaker 2: a baby out early if you don't need to so 317 00:17:02,286 --> 00:17:04,726 Speaker 2: it was around about Easter time, maybe April. I stopped 318 00:17:04,806 --> 00:17:09,406 Speaker 2: work and the hospital said, if you lose control of 319 00:17:09,486 --> 00:17:14,646 Speaker 2: your foot, your bladder, or your bow, then irreparable damage 320 00:17:14,686 --> 00:17:16,686 Speaker 2: is happening to your body and will take the baby out. 321 00:17:16,926 --> 00:17:20,126 Speaker 2: But until then, can you take this medication? Can you 322 00:17:20,126 --> 00:17:22,526 Speaker 2: put up with the pain? And I was like, yep, 323 00:17:22,606 --> 00:17:26,046 Speaker 2: we can do that, because you're like, you're already a mother, right, 324 00:17:26,046 --> 00:17:28,286 Speaker 2: You're already like, I will do anything for the health 325 00:17:28,286 --> 00:17:30,726 Speaker 2: and safety of this baby. And it wasn't going to 326 00:17:30,726 --> 00:17:32,806 Speaker 2: do a reparable damage. And I probably spent half my 327 00:17:32,886 --> 00:17:36,806 Speaker 2: life floating in the bath at that point because that 328 00:17:36,966 --> 00:17:39,686 Speaker 2: was a nice feeling, like the temperature and it was 329 00:17:40,086 --> 00:17:42,486 Speaker 2: a good way to take the weight off. And we 330 00:17:42,686 --> 00:17:48,726 Speaker 2: just waited coming up, You're gonna have to take the 331 00:17:48,726 --> 00:17:51,566 Speaker 2: baby out so we could operate on her spine. No preamble, 332 00:17:51,846 --> 00:17:54,486 Speaker 2: no nothing, just goes and dry with that, and the 333 00:17:54,566 --> 00:17:59,846 Speaker 2: midwive's face drops. 334 00:18:01,246 --> 00:18:04,486 Speaker 1: When did theodora come out? Tell me about her birthday? 335 00:18:05,486 --> 00:18:08,726 Speaker 2: Everyone who had a baby in COVID knows like you're 336 00:18:09,086 --> 00:18:11,646 Speaker 2: you're in the hospital by yourself. So all my appointments, 337 00:18:11,686 --> 00:18:14,046 Speaker 2: my partner hadn't been able to come with me, but 338 00:18:14,126 --> 00:18:16,726 Speaker 2: I can't walk, Like I'm on crutches. I can't walk. 339 00:18:16,766 --> 00:18:19,246 Speaker 2: I need a wheelchair once I get into the hospital. 340 00:18:19,326 --> 00:18:23,366 Speaker 2: So for thea's birth, it's Mother's Day twenty twenty. It's 341 00:18:23,366 --> 00:18:27,886 Speaker 2: a Sunday, and I call out to my partner. I'm like, hey, 342 00:18:28,126 --> 00:18:31,806 Speaker 2: so I can't move my foot and they're like, okay, 343 00:18:31,926 --> 00:18:34,406 Speaker 2: I guess we're having a baby today. And do you 344 00:18:34,446 --> 00:18:37,606 Speaker 2: know what's the most ridiculous thing. We hadn't packed a bag. 345 00:18:38,006 --> 00:18:40,486 Speaker 2: Do you know how much like energy and like Instagram 346 00:18:40,566 --> 00:18:42,846 Speaker 2: is actually dedicated to like what to put in your bag? 347 00:18:42,886 --> 00:18:45,126 Speaker 2: We were so distracted with everything else. We were like 348 00:18:45,286 --> 00:18:49,126 Speaker 2: surprised we were having a baby. Anyway. So we go 349 00:18:49,246 --> 00:18:53,526 Speaker 2: into the hospital on the Mother's Day afternoon and I'm 350 00:18:53,566 --> 00:18:55,646 Speaker 2: really adamant the whole way through, even though it was 351 00:18:55,686 --> 00:18:57,606 Speaker 2: my spine that was not doing well. I was not 352 00:18:57,726 --> 00:19:00,326 Speaker 2: going into the main hospital. I was always coming into 353 00:19:00,326 --> 00:19:02,686 Speaker 2: the maternity hospital and they could bring the specialist over. 354 00:19:03,606 --> 00:19:05,966 Speaker 2: So they bring the specialist over and it's my days 355 00:19:06,006 --> 00:19:08,406 Speaker 2: to the really, you know, if one's with their families, 356 00:19:08,406 --> 00:19:11,846 Speaker 2: and we get we're gonna guess like the more junior doctors. 357 00:19:12,246 --> 00:19:15,446 Speaker 2: So we're in the room with my partner, a medwife, 358 00:19:15,886 --> 00:19:20,406 Speaker 2: an obstetrician in the emergency room, the neurosurgery junior, I'm 359 00:19:20,406 --> 00:19:24,406 Speaker 2: gonna guest, comes in, touches, my foot doesn't move, goes away, 360 00:19:24,526 --> 00:19:28,886 Speaker 2: causes boss comes back and says, yeah, so you're gonna 361 00:19:28,886 --> 00:19:30,286 Speaker 2: have to take the baby out so we can operate 362 00:19:30,326 --> 00:19:33,846 Speaker 2: on her spine. No preamble, no, nothing, just goes in 363 00:19:33,966 --> 00:19:38,326 Speaker 2: dry with that, and the midwives face drops, like midwives 364 00:19:38,326 --> 00:19:42,046 Speaker 2: have seen everything, and your face drops, and that's the 365 00:19:42,046 --> 00:19:45,046 Speaker 2: moment where we're like, oh, this doesn't happen very often. 366 00:19:45,366 --> 00:19:48,726 Speaker 2: She composes herself, as does obstetrician, like, no one's unprofessional 367 00:19:48,726 --> 00:19:50,646 Speaker 2: in that in that moment, but they just sort of 368 00:19:51,726 --> 00:19:54,206 Speaker 2: what felt like pushing up against the system and constantly 369 00:19:54,246 --> 00:19:57,926 Speaker 2: advocating for myself. Once that happened, they just went, they launched, 370 00:19:57,966 --> 00:20:00,126 Speaker 2: and they were like, right, this is what we're gonna do. 371 00:20:01,566 --> 00:20:02,846 Speaker 1: They finally became a team. 372 00:20:03,766 --> 00:20:07,526 Speaker 2: They became a team. So I actually have a sensitivity 373 00:20:07,926 --> 00:20:10,286 Speaker 2: to some types of anesthetics, so I had to go 374 00:20:10,326 --> 00:20:15,686 Speaker 2: speak to the aethetist in the maternity hospital and it 375 00:20:15,726 --> 00:20:19,126 Speaker 2: was a really interesting conversation because that trying to make 376 00:20:19,126 --> 00:20:23,046 Speaker 2: sure that you have the most engaging birth right that 377 00:20:23,326 --> 00:20:25,246 Speaker 2: they want you to be there when the baby comes 378 00:20:25,246 --> 00:20:28,686 Speaker 2: out rather than under general anesthetic. And also there's risks 379 00:20:28,686 --> 00:20:30,806 Speaker 2: when you're under general anesthetic because it goes and it 380 00:20:30,846 --> 00:20:34,006 Speaker 2: gets into the baby pretty quick. But in my case, 381 00:20:34,566 --> 00:20:37,326 Speaker 2: the anethetist, I think, first of all, said oh, you're 382 00:20:37,366 --> 00:20:40,526 Speaker 2: an exciting case today, so that was cool. I wasn't 383 00:20:40,566 --> 00:20:44,006 Speaker 2: obstetrically boring in that moment, and then said, oh, well, 384 00:20:44,326 --> 00:20:47,166 Speaker 2: because you've got scar tissue in your lower spine from 385 00:20:47,166 --> 00:20:51,086 Speaker 2: your spinal surgery, if we put an epidural in here, 386 00:20:52,166 --> 00:20:55,246 Speaker 2: you might feel some of the cuts. And I was like, 387 00:20:55,446 --> 00:20:57,806 Speaker 2: absolutely not. I don't want that. I don't want that 388 00:20:57,886 --> 00:21:00,886 Speaker 2: at all. I know No. It was just this really 389 00:21:00,926 --> 00:21:03,606 Speaker 2: bizarre like is that would that be okay by you? 390 00:21:03,726 --> 00:21:06,766 Speaker 2: And I'm like, no, I don't want to feel any 391 00:21:06,806 --> 00:21:08,006 Speaker 2: part of that sea section. 392 00:21:08,286 --> 00:21:09,086 Speaker 1: That's insane. 393 00:21:09,446 --> 00:21:11,246 Speaker 2: Look at the moment, I was just looking at them 394 00:21:11,326 --> 00:21:13,526 Speaker 2: like is this a real question? Like do I really 395 00:21:13,566 --> 00:21:15,366 Speaker 2: have to respond and say no, thank you, I don't 396 00:21:15,406 --> 00:21:17,886 Speaker 2: feel any incision of my sea section. But I mean 397 00:21:17,926 --> 00:21:20,366 Speaker 2: on the flip side, I ended up under gymeral anesthetic 398 00:21:20,446 --> 00:21:23,046 Speaker 2: for the birth. My partner couldn't be in the room 399 00:21:23,166 --> 00:21:27,846 Speaker 2: because it's really confronting to see your loved ones out 400 00:21:28,046 --> 00:21:31,205 Speaker 2: under anesthetic. But they had I think they took her 401 00:21:31,246 --> 00:21:34,086 Speaker 2: out with them under a minute of going under. Oh wow, 402 00:21:34,246 --> 00:21:36,686 Speaker 2: because they don't want any of the they don't want 403 00:21:36,686 --> 00:21:38,246 Speaker 2: a baby to be born with the anesthetics. 404 00:21:38,446 --> 00:21:40,646 Speaker 1: How many weeks were you when you finally went in 405 00:21:40,686 --> 00:21:41,486 Speaker 1: for that sea section? 406 00:21:41,806 --> 00:21:45,126 Speaker 2: I was thirty seven plus six. I've managed to carry 407 00:21:45,126 --> 00:21:47,326 Speaker 2: her to term, which will I think to this day 408 00:21:47,486 --> 00:21:51,206 Speaker 2: be one of my greatest accomplishments because we grew her 409 00:21:51,646 --> 00:21:54,606 Speaker 2: to a healthy size. 410 00:21:54,686 --> 00:21:56,806 Speaker 1: Oh I'm so happy for you because that would have 411 00:21:56,846 --> 00:21:59,086 Speaker 1: been so stressful and considering the amount of pain that 412 00:21:59,126 --> 00:22:02,126 Speaker 1: you were under, it's amazing that you were able to 413 00:22:02,206 --> 00:22:04,726 Speaker 1: do that. But you basically had to go straight to 414 00:22:04,806 --> 00:22:05,446 Speaker 1: spinal search. 415 00:22:06,206 --> 00:22:08,886 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they they actually didn't take us straight and 416 00:22:09,046 --> 00:22:10,766 Speaker 2: they sent my partner home and said, go have a 417 00:22:10,806 --> 00:22:13,606 Speaker 2: good night's sleep. This is so complicated. All of our 418 00:22:13,646 --> 00:22:16,246 Speaker 2: specialists will be here on Monday. We'll have everyone we 419 00:22:16,326 --> 00:22:20,006 Speaker 2: need so that Bria's under anesthetic, the baby safe, like, 420 00:22:20,046 --> 00:22:22,046 Speaker 2: we'll have the full team. So that was okay. We 421 00:22:22,086 --> 00:22:25,726 Speaker 2: went to sleep that night and so we had Theodora 422 00:22:26,326 --> 00:22:31,326 Speaker 2: on Monday about eleven something like that, and I'm under 423 00:22:31,366 --> 00:22:35,205 Speaker 2: general anesthetic and they take her out, give her to 424 00:22:35,206 --> 00:22:39,206 Speaker 2: my partner like walk away, and so they're like is 425 00:22:39,206 --> 00:22:43,086 Speaker 2: she okay? Like everything fine, and they get given this 426 00:22:43,166 --> 00:22:46,965 Speaker 2: like sticky baby to get dressed in some formula and stuff. 427 00:22:47,726 --> 00:22:51,766 Speaker 2: So then later that day they take me and get 428 00:22:51,766 --> 00:22:55,766 Speaker 2: an MRI. But like, I've just had a see section. 429 00:22:55,966 --> 00:22:58,926 Speaker 2: So there's like six or eight people. They have to 430 00:22:58,966 --> 00:23:01,566 Speaker 2: wheel me between hospitals. There's all sorts of protocol because 431 00:23:01,566 --> 00:23:05,726 Speaker 2: we're in COVID. They wheel me through. They left me 432 00:23:05,926 --> 00:23:09,606 Speaker 2: up and put me in the MRI, and like I 433 00:23:09,766 --> 00:23:11,726 Speaker 2: was just lying you have to say still in the MRI. 434 00:23:12,326 --> 00:23:14,966 Speaker 2: And I'm just lying there with like tears like rolling 435 00:23:15,006 --> 00:23:17,646 Speaker 2: down my face because I'm just trying to hold myself 436 00:23:17,726 --> 00:23:22,166 Speaker 2: so still and I'm so terrified. Like last time this happened, 437 00:23:23,006 --> 00:23:26,886 Speaker 2: I lost the use of the leg. So we go 438 00:23:27,006 --> 00:23:29,686 Speaker 2: back to the hospital, I have a night with my 439 00:23:29,766 --> 00:23:33,006 Speaker 2: partner and my daughter, and then the next morning they 440 00:23:33,006 --> 00:23:35,886 Speaker 2: wheeled me off to the other hospital. And in this 441 00:23:35,966 --> 00:23:40,086 Speaker 2: whole process, the only time I saw my partner cry 442 00:23:40,606 --> 00:23:43,446 Speaker 2: was when I left to go to the other hospital. 443 00:23:43,926 --> 00:23:46,366 Speaker 2: Because it was COVID, they weren't allowed to come and 444 00:23:46,406 --> 00:23:47,926 Speaker 2: see me after the operation. 445 00:23:47,846 --> 00:23:49,686 Speaker 1: And you weren't allowed to be with your baby either. 446 00:23:50,206 --> 00:23:52,326 Speaker 2: I wasn't allowed to be with my baby, and initially 447 00:23:52,326 --> 00:23:55,326 Speaker 2: the hospital protocol said you need to go home with 448 00:23:55,446 --> 00:24:00,246 Speaker 2: the baby, and like hands washed dom right, because that's 449 00:24:00,246 --> 00:24:03,366 Speaker 2: what the protocol said. And to the hospital's credit, like 450 00:24:03,406 --> 00:24:05,446 Speaker 2: once we were having a baby, they were so good. 451 00:24:05,646 --> 00:24:08,686 Speaker 2: They were like, this does not make sense. So they 452 00:24:08,726 --> 00:24:11,926 Speaker 2: called the head of the hospital on Mother's Day and say, hey, 453 00:24:11,926 --> 00:24:14,606 Speaker 2: we've got the situation within the other parents should be 454 00:24:14,646 --> 00:24:16,646 Speaker 2: staying in the hospital. We know that that's not protocol, 455 00:24:16,646 --> 00:24:18,726 Speaker 2: but this is a situation. Like I couldn't get myself 456 00:24:18,766 --> 00:24:21,366 Speaker 2: to the toilet, I couldn't do anything, So my partner 457 00:24:21,366 --> 00:24:25,566 Speaker 2: got to stay in the maternity hospital. I went next door. 458 00:24:25,966 --> 00:24:30,526 Speaker 2: I had a spinal surgery on the Tuesday, and I 459 00:24:30,566 --> 00:24:33,046 Speaker 2: like hyperventilated on the table before they could knock me 460 00:24:33,086 --> 00:24:35,966 Speaker 2: out because they said to me, it's like a forty 461 00:24:35,966 --> 00:24:39,886 Speaker 2: percent chance we're gonna net your spinal cord, and I'm like, wait, 462 00:24:39,886 --> 00:24:41,966 Speaker 2: this isn't this is like that's a lot, that's a 463 00:24:42,006 --> 00:24:46,286 Speaker 2: really high and then you have to lie perfectly flat 464 00:24:46,366 --> 00:24:48,206 Speaker 2: or they have to gl it back together, and I'm 465 00:24:48,326 --> 00:24:50,006 Speaker 2: just like, I'm. 466 00:24:49,806 --> 00:24:52,046 Speaker 1: A mess and you've just had a C section. 467 00:24:52,486 --> 00:24:54,886 Speaker 2: Yeah, so your hormones absolutely like you're going to You're 468 00:24:54,886 --> 00:24:57,366 Speaker 2: going to cry. It everything right. Everyone was just so 469 00:24:57,486 --> 00:25:00,006 Speaker 2: nice because this was just such a messed up situation, 470 00:25:00,366 --> 00:25:04,566 Speaker 2: and they calmed me down and I had the operation 471 00:25:04,966 --> 00:25:10,046 Speaker 2: and I woke up after the anesthetic and a friend 472 00:25:10,366 --> 00:25:13,126 Speaker 2: came and was my person there to help me through 473 00:25:13,126 --> 00:25:15,606 Speaker 2: and that was really great. And the hospital said, okay, well, 474 00:25:15,606 --> 00:25:18,246 Speaker 2: when you can get up, go to the toilet, not 475 00:25:18,406 --> 00:25:21,406 Speaker 2: passed out, come back to hurt bed, you can go 476 00:25:21,446 --> 00:25:25,126 Speaker 2: back to your baby. So it's like eleven o'clock at night, 477 00:25:25,446 --> 00:25:28,166 Speaker 2: and like I'm nothing if not stubborn, and I'm like 478 00:25:29,006 --> 00:25:31,766 Speaker 2: chopped front to back trying to get out of bed 479 00:25:31,806 --> 00:25:33,806 Speaker 2: to go to the toilet, and the nurse is like, 480 00:25:34,526 --> 00:25:36,486 Speaker 2: nobody's letting you out of here tonight, No one is. 481 00:25:36,606 --> 00:25:38,846 Speaker 2: This is not happening till it tomorrow morning. Lie down 482 00:25:38,846 --> 00:25:41,606 Speaker 2: and go to sleep. Absolutely adamant. I just needed to 483 00:25:41,606 --> 00:25:44,046 Speaker 2: get back there. The maternity hospital is so good, like 484 00:25:44,086 --> 00:25:46,486 Speaker 2: the medwives were coming over and helping me get the 485 00:25:46,526 --> 00:25:50,566 Speaker 2: colostrum out so that they could take it back for theya. 486 00:25:50,966 --> 00:25:53,366 Speaker 2: Everyone just was like, this is messed up, this will 487 00:25:53,406 --> 00:25:55,526 Speaker 2: be messed up with that COVID, and so they just 488 00:25:55,526 --> 00:25:58,846 Speaker 2: did everything that they could, and I had to have 489 00:25:59,166 --> 00:26:01,126 Speaker 2: two blood transfusions because you know, there's a lot of 490 00:26:01,126 --> 00:26:05,086 Speaker 2: blood coming out at this point, and the hospitals coordinated 491 00:26:05,126 --> 00:26:08,726 Speaker 2: for me, so like if the neurosurgery department had done 492 00:26:08,806 --> 00:26:10,686 Speaker 2: whatever blood test it was to see if I needed 493 00:26:10,726 --> 00:26:15,286 Speaker 2: another transfusion, they were responsible for administering it. So they 494 00:26:15,326 --> 00:26:18,646 Speaker 2: worked with the maternity hospital to get the right people 495 00:26:18,686 --> 00:26:20,086 Speaker 2: to check me off so I could go back to 496 00:26:20,086 --> 00:26:23,646 Speaker 2: the maternity hospital and Attornity Hospital could be responsible for 497 00:26:24,326 --> 00:26:27,886 Speaker 2: any iron or blood transfusions that I needed, so I 498 00:26:27,886 --> 00:26:30,086 Speaker 2: could get back to my baby and stay there with 499 00:26:30,126 --> 00:26:32,846 Speaker 2: my partner, and they didn't have to leave because I 500 00:26:32,926 --> 00:26:35,686 Speaker 2: was back, because I wasn't doing anything other than lying there. 501 00:26:36,006 --> 00:26:40,166 Speaker 2: Like it was an absolute mess in so many ways, 502 00:26:40,886 --> 00:26:45,526 Speaker 2: but people really rallied around to help us make the 503 00:26:45,566 --> 00:26:47,606 Speaker 2: best of it and to do the right thing for 504 00:26:47,686 --> 00:26:49,646 Speaker 2: us in those moments, and so what could have been 505 00:26:50,286 --> 00:26:53,766 Speaker 2: it's objectively quite traumatic, was less traumatic than it needed 506 00:26:53,806 --> 00:26:56,566 Speaker 2: to be because people just did the best they could 507 00:26:56,606 --> 00:26:57,166 Speaker 2: in that moment. 508 00:26:57,526 --> 00:27:02,246 Speaker 1: Yeah, and your partner is, you know, obviously terrified for you. 509 00:27:03,526 --> 00:27:07,486 Speaker 1: Thankfully they're able to stay in the ward with the baby. Yeah, 510 00:27:07,686 --> 00:27:10,806 Speaker 1: but well, okay, now I'm a parent, what do I 511 00:27:10,886 --> 00:27:11,366 Speaker 1: do now? 512 00:27:12,486 --> 00:27:15,526 Speaker 2: Like, so, one of the real positives is my partner's 513 00:27:15,526 --> 00:27:18,926 Speaker 2: sister is a midwife and she was in the UK 514 00:27:18,966 --> 00:27:21,846 Speaker 2: at the time, so the night times in Australia were 515 00:27:21,926 --> 00:27:25,526 Speaker 2: like her daytime, so she so, like my partner, could 516 00:27:25,566 --> 00:27:29,006 Speaker 2: call their sister and asked about So that was quite good. 517 00:27:29,246 --> 00:27:31,726 Speaker 2: The maternity hospital and the midwives were all standing like 518 00:27:32,446 --> 00:27:35,686 Speaker 2: outside trying to help. And we stay for another like 519 00:27:36,606 --> 00:27:39,206 Speaker 2: two or three days. I say, there are two wounds 520 00:27:39,206 --> 00:27:42,566 Speaker 2: to check and all of that. But again, like it 521 00:27:42,686 --> 00:27:46,246 Speaker 2: was COVID time we went home. We have no family here. 522 00:27:46,526 --> 00:27:49,166 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you're recovering from multiple surgeries. 523 00:27:49,646 --> 00:27:52,166 Speaker 2: Yes, And the reason I went in was because my 524 00:27:52,166 --> 00:27:55,286 Speaker 2: foot wasn't working, so I'm learning to walk again. One 525 00:27:55,326 --> 00:27:56,966 Speaker 2: of the things that worked really well was that the 526 00:27:57,046 --> 00:27:59,326 Speaker 2: midwives would come to the house and check on you 527 00:27:59,406 --> 00:28:01,246 Speaker 2: and the baby and check on the C section, and 528 00:28:01,286 --> 00:28:04,086 Speaker 2: they also checked on the surgical scar that was my back. 529 00:28:04,166 --> 00:28:06,526 Speaker 2: Rather than a second nurse happened to come in and 530 00:28:06,606 --> 00:28:09,366 Speaker 2: one checks the front, one checks the back. So like 531 00:28:09,406 --> 00:28:12,326 Speaker 2: they just coordinated on some really basic stuff that maybe 532 00:28:12,366 --> 00:28:17,846 Speaker 2: COVID prompted them to do. The neurosurgery department had hydrotherapy 533 00:28:17,926 --> 00:28:22,446 Speaker 2: recovery for their surgical patients. Yes, it was for my back, 534 00:28:22,486 --> 00:28:25,846 Speaker 2: but actually I'd also had this baby come out, and 535 00:28:25,886 --> 00:28:31,086 Speaker 2: so it was also so so good for my core recovery. 536 00:28:31,606 --> 00:28:34,846 Speaker 1: Yeah, so now that these five how is your movement now? 537 00:28:34,886 --> 00:28:37,126 Speaker 1: How is your recovery being over the last five years. 538 00:28:37,286 --> 00:28:40,406 Speaker 2: Look, I'm able to walk. I use a walking stick. 539 00:28:40,446 --> 00:28:44,086 Speaker 2: Today things are just deteriorating a little bit. But immediately 540 00:28:44,126 --> 00:28:46,766 Speaker 2: after her birth, my mum was actually able to come 541 00:28:46,766 --> 00:28:49,726 Speaker 2: from New Zealand and she happens to be a physical therapist, 542 00:28:50,046 --> 00:28:52,526 Speaker 2: so she really focused on how came learn to walk again. 543 00:28:52,846 --> 00:28:53,966 Speaker 1: Oh that's amazing. 544 00:28:54,046 --> 00:28:56,166 Speaker 2: And she stayed with us for six weeks, and so 545 00:28:56,206 --> 00:28:59,086 Speaker 2: I was able to walk much faster than she hadn't 546 00:28:59,086 --> 00:29:01,566 Speaker 2: have been there if I relied on all those other services. 547 00:29:02,446 --> 00:29:06,646 Speaker 2: Twelve months after I'd had their idea, a competition at 548 00:29:06,646 --> 00:29:10,166 Speaker 2: a CrossFit gym. I can last. Like, don't get me wrong, 549 00:29:10,206 --> 00:29:10,846 Speaker 2: but I did it. 550 00:29:11,086 --> 00:29:12,766 Speaker 1: Oh my god, you're amazing. 551 00:29:12,846 --> 00:29:15,246 Speaker 2: Brier. I was back at the gym as much as 552 00:29:15,246 --> 00:29:19,326 Speaker 2: I can. My body is not the same as pre pregnancy, 553 00:29:18,766 --> 00:29:23,446 Speaker 2: and I don't have the same strength. My back is 554 00:29:23,486 --> 00:29:26,566 Speaker 2: not quite so good. But it's really hard to go 555 00:29:26,606 --> 00:29:28,006 Speaker 2: to the gym five days a week when you have 556 00:29:28,046 --> 00:29:31,726 Speaker 2: a baby and a kid, Like, it's just as different hard. 557 00:29:32,166 --> 00:29:36,006 Speaker 2: So I go. I do different things, like I go 558 00:29:36,086 --> 00:29:38,966 Speaker 2: to acquisized classes, I ride a bike to work, I 559 00:29:39,006 --> 00:29:41,566 Speaker 2: do yoga stuff like that. But yeah, I got my 560 00:29:41,606 --> 00:29:46,326 Speaker 2: body back to being still disabled but not it wasn't debilitating, 561 00:29:46,366 --> 00:29:47,006 Speaker 2: it wasn't forever. 562 00:29:47,566 --> 00:29:50,806 Speaker 1: So that was really good from your story me hearing it, 563 00:29:51,046 --> 00:29:53,646 Speaker 1: You're saying you're stubborn, but I think it's it's to 564 00:29:53,686 --> 00:29:56,126 Speaker 1: your benefit in this stage because you were like, I'm 565 00:29:56,126 --> 00:29:59,166 Speaker 1: going to walk again. I really applaud you for that. 566 00:29:59,206 --> 00:30:00,046 Speaker 1: It's incredible. 567 00:30:00,326 --> 00:30:02,286 Speaker 2: I like to say I got really difficult jobs, and 568 00:30:02,326 --> 00:30:03,406 Speaker 2: then by that I mean like, I do a lot 569 00:30:03,446 --> 00:30:06,766 Speaker 2: of disability advocacy stuff, right, And I joke, I've learned 570 00:30:06,806 --> 00:30:08,686 Speaker 2: to walk three times in my life, Like, how hard 571 00:30:08,686 --> 00:30:11,926 Speaker 2: can this be? One of the benefits of acquiring disability 572 00:30:11,926 --> 00:30:14,046 Speaker 2: in my twenties is so much eager you have to 573 00:30:14,126 --> 00:30:15,806 Speaker 2: let go of I've walked with a limp since I 574 00:30:15,846 --> 00:30:18,086 Speaker 2: was twenty seven. I don't get to wear high heels, 575 00:30:18,126 --> 00:30:20,646 Speaker 2: and some days the medication makes my skin hurt. I 576 00:30:20,686 --> 00:30:23,926 Speaker 2: don't wear makeup something like that. You get to figure 577 00:30:23,926 --> 00:30:25,726 Speaker 2: out what really matters. And I wanted to be a 578 00:30:25,806 --> 00:30:28,366 Speaker 2: mom that was rolling around in the garden with my kid, 579 00:30:28,486 --> 00:30:30,606 Speaker 2: and so that was the most important thing. So why 580 00:30:30,646 --> 00:30:32,526 Speaker 2: am I going to the gym? Why am I doing 581 00:30:32,526 --> 00:30:36,286 Speaker 2: this activity? Because I want to be active in her life. 582 00:30:36,646 --> 00:30:38,886 Speaker 2: And for example, we made the choice not to have 583 00:30:39,166 --> 00:30:42,726 Speaker 2: any more kids because the surgeon's like, oh, you can 584 00:30:42,766 --> 00:30:45,886 Speaker 2: have another one, you might need a spinal fusion, And 585 00:30:45,966 --> 00:30:49,006 Speaker 2: I was like, a spinal fusion, a toddler and a newborn. 586 00:30:49,126 --> 00:30:52,126 Speaker 2: Count me out. I've got one kid. She's hilarious, she's 587 00:30:52,206 --> 00:30:54,526 Speaker 2: such fun. I get to be an active part of 588 00:30:54,526 --> 00:30:57,046 Speaker 2: her life. That's like the anchor point that's the most 589 00:30:57,086 --> 00:30:59,806 Speaker 2: important in my backsides to her, It's like, Okay, what 590 00:30:59,846 --> 00:31:01,046 Speaker 2: do I need to do to be the type of 591 00:31:01,126 --> 00:31:01,926 Speaker 2: mum that I want to be? 592 00:31:02,566 --> 00:31:05,486 Speaker 1: What would you say that this whole experience has taught you? 593 00:31:05,766 --> 00:31:09,966 Speaker 2: So I think I never really talked about having a 594 00:31:10,006 --> 00:31:13,966 Speaker 2: disability at work, and it impacted me hugely in my career, 595 00:31:14,086 --> 00:31:15,966 Speaker 2: Like it does, because if you don't ask for what 596 00:31:16,006 --> 00:31:18,686 Speaker 2: you need, then it can really inhibit your ability to 597 00:31:18,726 --> 00:31:22,726 Speaker 2: do your job. And after I experienced pregnancy and the 598 00:31:22,726 --> 00:31:25,206 Speaker 2: difficulties in the medical system and all the support that 599 00:31:25,246 --> 00:31:28,166 Speaker 2: I got at work, it actually encouraged me to start 600 00:31:28,206 --> 00:31:30,806 Speaker 2: speaking about this at work. And I shared my story 601 00:31:30,846 --> 00:31:35,166 Speaker 2: once and then someone's like, hey, would you mind telling 602 00:31:35,206 --> 00:31:37,006 Speaker 2: a group of people? And I told my story again 603 00:31:37,046 --> 00:31:40,046 Speaker 2: and someone would message and say, hey, I'm now asking 604 00:31:40,086 --> 00:31:42,806 Speaker 2: for that because I knew this policy existed. And then 605 00:31:42,846 --> 00:31:45,246 Speaker 2: I got asked to lead our employee resource group at 606 00:31:45,246 --> 00:31:50,966 Speaker 2: my previous organization, and I got to bring together people 607 00:31:50,966 --> 00:31:54,086 Speaker 2: with disabilities and cares at work, and I got to 608 00:31:54,166 --> 00:31:56,446 Speaker 2: run an annual event for the whole company. And then 609 00:31:56,526 --> 00:31:59,846 Speaker 2: that snowboard in too, do you want to write an 610 00:31:59,846 --> 00:32:03,686 Speaker 2: accessibility action plan for the business, And then that snowboarden 611 00:32:03,846 --> 00:32:06,806 Speaker 2: to like winning a wards and getting all of this traction, 612 00:32:06,926 --> 00:32:09,966 Speaker 2: and so I found that by last year I won 613 00:32:10,606 --> 00:32:13,526 Speaker 2: the Disability Inclusion Change Maker of the Year with the 614 00:32:13,566 --> 00:32:17,246 Speaker 2: Australian Disability Network simply off the back of I told 615 00:32:17,246 --> 00:32:20,726 Speaker 2: my story and it helped someone. And then it just 616 00:32:21,246 --> 00:32:23,886 Speaker 2: I just saw the power of your voice and sharing 617 00:32:23,926 --> 00:32:26,366 Speaker 2: your story and what you can do for someone and 618 00:32:26,406 --> 00:32:29,526 Speaker 2: how you can help them. And that was probably one 619 00:32:29,606 --> 00:32:31,846 Speaker 2: of the most beautiful things other than my daughter to 620 00:32:31,846 --> 00:32:33,766 Speaker 2: come out of this, was the confidence to share it 621 00:32:33,806 --> 00:32:41,806 Speaker 2: and how I've been able to help others. 622 00:32:40,446 --> 00:32:43,326 Speaker 1: With such a complex medical case. I wanted to find 623 00:32:43,366 --> 00:32:48,046 Speaker 1: out from our resident obstrician and gynecologist, doctor Bronwin and Devine, 624 00:32:48,686 --> 00:32:51,366 Speaker 1: what do you do if your patient has a complex 625 00:32:51,446 --> 00:32:56,126 Speaker 1: medical history and requires not just obstetric support but also 626 00:32:56,366 --> 00:32:57,726 Speaker 1: additional specialists. 627 00:32:58,126 --> 00:33:01,566 Speaker 3: So this is probably done par excellence in the public 628 00:33:01,566 --> 00:33:05,166 Speaker 3: hospital system. It's certainly possible in the private sector, but 629 00:33:05,566 --> 00:33:07,846 Speaker 3: when you work in a big public hospital, you've got 630 00:33:07,886 --> 00:33:12,126 Speaker 3: access to what we call a multidisciplinary team. So if 631 00:33:12,166 --> 00:33:15,246 Speaker 3: someone had history spinal surgery or a spinal injury and 632 00:33:15,446 --> 00:33:18,966 Speaker 3: was pregnant, we would manage them in conjunction with the 633 00:33:19,006 --> 00:33:23,926 Speaker 3: spinal team, often the neurosurgeons and the neurologists, and the 634 00:33:24,686 --> 00:33:28,646 Speaker 3: very specialized nursing staff who deal with spinal patients. We 635 00:33:28,686 --> 00:33:32,366 Speaker 3: would liaise very carefully with the anesthetists because they're obviously 636 00:33:32,486 --> 00:33:36,766 Speaker 3: very much involved with particularly if someone's having acessarean section 637 00:33:36,926 --> 00:33:39,726 Speaker 3: with an algesias going to be or anesthesia is going 638 00:33:39,766 --> 00:33:43,326 Speaker 3: to be conducted during that procedure. So it's one of 639 00:33:43,366 --> 00:33:46,006 Speaker 3: the good things about working in a big public hospital 640 00:33:46,046 --> 00:33:49,366 Speaker 3: is you get this lovely interaction between all the medical 641 00:33:49,406 --> 00:33:52,886 Speaker 3: teams coming and talking together and planning things in a 642 00:33:52,966 --> 00:33:55,966 Speaker 3: very methodical way for patients. One of the things I 643 00:33:56,006 --> 00:33:58,726 Speaker 3: noted in this particular case was that it occurred during 644 00:33:58,806 --> 00:34:02,086 Speaker 3: COVID and that was really must have been really rough 645 00:34:02,166 --> 00:34:05,166 Speaker 3: because COVID was such a I think we're realizing now 646 00:34:05,966 --> 00:34:09,605 Speaker 3: far reaching impacts on pretty much all of society by 647 00:34:09,926 --> 00:34:14,606 Speaker 3: the COVID pandemic. People coming through the healthcare system who 648 00:34:14,966 --> 00:34:18,126 Speaker 3: may not have been affected by COVID, but people whose 649 00:34:18,205 --> 00:34:22,285 Speaker 3: healthcare was limited or compromised because there was so much 650 00:34:22,286 --> 00:34:26,326 Speaker 3: of healthcare resources that were being sequestered into caring for 651 00:34:26,526 --> 00:34:29,366 Speaker 3: critically sick people with COVID, and so it meant that 652 00:34:29,886 --> 00:34:35,006 Speaker 3: people's experiences in the healthcare system were certainly limited. In 653 00:34:35,006 --> 00:34:37,326 Speaker 3: this particular case, it would have been very tricky for 654 00:34:37,406 --> 00:34:39,765 Speaker 3: her to go through with all the limitations that we 655 00:34:39,886 --> 00:34:47,846 Speaker 3: had because of the compromise to the healthcare system. 656 00:34:48,046 --> 00:34:50,846 Speaker 1: Diary of a Birth was hosted by me Kasanilukitch with 657 00:34:50,966 --> 00:34:54,766 Speaker 1: expert input from doctor Bronwin Devine. If you like our show, 658 00:34:54,846 --> 00:34:57,526 Speaker 1: don't forget to subscribe and rpe. It goes a long 659 00:34:57,565 --> 00:35:01,725 Speaker 1: way to allowing us to continue sharing your stories. This 660 00:35:01,886 --> 00:35:05,486 Speaker 1: episode was produced by Ella Maitland and myself Casenular Kid, 661 00:35:05,886 --> 00:35:21,406 Speaker 1: with audio production by Tina Mattalov. Mamma Mia acknowledges the 662 00:35:21,446 --> 00:35:24,806 Speaker 1: traditional owners of the land. We have recorded this podcast 663 00:35:24,886 --> 00:35:28,645 Speaker 1: on the Gadigul people of the Eora Nation. We pay 664 00:35:28,685 --> 00:35:32,085 Speaker 1: our respects to their elders past and present, and extend 665 00:35:32,125 --> 00:35:35,766 Speaker 1: that respect to all Aboriginal and torres Rate Islander cultures.