1 00:00:05,646 --> 00:00:07,006 Speaker 1: You're listening to a. 2 00:00:09,526 --> 00:00:10,685 Speaker 2: Mom with Me podcast. 3 00:00:11,006 --> 00:00:14,286 Speaker 1: Hi, it's cassmue Lukige here, host of Diary of a Birth, 4 00:00:14,566 --> 00:00:17,925 Speaker 1: and this summer we've curated your delivery room playlist to 5 00:00:17,966 --> 00:00:21,526 Speaker 1: bring you even more unmissable birth stories. This summer, we're 6 00:00:21,566 --> 00:00:24,286 Speaker 1: bringing you our favorite episodes of Diary of a Birth 7 00:00:24,526 --> 00:00:27,926 Speaker 1: right here in your feet. That's your holiday listening sorded. 8 00:00:28,366 --> 00:00:30,806 Speaker 1: And if you're looking for more to listen to, every 9 00:00:30,846 --> 00:00:34,566 Speaker 1: Muma mea podcast is curating your summer listening right across 10 00:00:34,606 --> 00:00:38,565 Speaker 1: our network. From pop culture to beauty to powerful interviews, 11 00:00:38,726 --> 00:00:41,126 Speaker 1: there's something for everyone. Check out the link in the 12 00:00:41,126 --> 00:00:44,486 Speaker 1: show notes. This episode of Diary of a Birth contains 13 00:00:44,525 --> 00:00:49,605 Speaker 1: graphic descriptions, including blood loss and traumatic injury. Please proceed 14 00:00:49,686 --> 00:00:58,286 Speaker 1: with caution. Additional resources can be found in the show notes. Hi, 15 00:00:58,486 --> 00:01:02,006 Speaker 1: I'm cassmue Lukic and this is Diary of a Birth. 16 00:01:02,806 --> 00:01:06,006 Speaker 1: Here in Australia. We're fortunate enough to have access to 17 00:01:06,086 --> 00:01:10,206 Speaker 1: excellent healthcare, but pregnancy and birth can still be incredibly 18 00:01:10,286 --> 00:01:15,566 Speaker 1: dangerous and complications can and do happen. Today's episode is 19 00:01:15,806 --> 00:01:18,526 Speaker 1: not here to scare you, but to arm you with 20 00:01:18,646 --> 00:01:22,006 Speaker 1: information to tell a story of a mum who faced 21 00:01:22,046 --> 00:01:26,486 Speaker 1: an incredibly rare complication known as a placental abruption. 22 00:01:28,806 --> 00:01:31,366 Speaker 2: So I was laying in bed and I felt a 23 00:01:31,566 --> 00:01:35,965 Speaker 2: pot in my uterus. I could hear and feel it. 24 00:01:36,446 --> 00:01:39,846 Speaker 2: As I pulled my underwear down, blood ran down my 25 00:01:39,966 --> 00:01:42,806 Speaker 2: legs and spilled out over onto the floor. 26 00:01:43,206 --> 00:01:47,126 Speaker 1: As I'm not a doctor, I'll leave the medical explanations 27 00:01:47,166 --> 00:01:50,446 Speaker 1: to doctor Bromin Devine later on in the episode. But 28 00:01:50,846 --> 00:01:54,646 Speaker 1: it can be fatal to both mother and baby. Today's 29 00:01:54,686 --> 00:01:59,806 Speaker 1: mum exhibited incredible bravery and with luck, good timing, and 30 00:01:59,846 --> 00:02:03,246 Speaker 1: a fast acting medical team, both her and her Bob 31 00:02:03,406 --> 00:02:07,046 Speaker 1: are healthy and thriving. So let's meet today's mom. 32 00:02:07,406 --> 00:02:09,726 Speaker 2: Hi, I'm Sabrina and this is a diary of my 33 00:02:09,805 --> 00:02:10,806 Speaker 2: birth with Sienna. 34 00:02:15,525 --> 00:02:20,165 Speaker 1: Sabrina, your story came through and you wrote this beautiful, 35 00:02:20,166 --> 00:02:23,566 Speaker 1: beautiful email and it really sort of struck a chord 36 00:02:23,925 --> 00:02:31,365 Speaker 1: because it was a really traumatic and challenging birth for you. Yes, 37 00:02:31,886 --> 00:02:35,686 Speaker 1: you already had one baby, Kingston, That's right, So this 38 00:02:35,805 --> 00:02:38,286 Speaker 1: was your second birth. So I feel like sometimes we 39 00:02:38,365 --> 00:02:40,646 Speaker 1: get to our second birth and we go, yep, I 40 00:02:40,685 --> 00:02:44,046 Speaker 1: know what I'm doing. But how did you feel when 41 00:02:44,046 --> 00:02:46,685 Speaker 1: you fell pregnant with Sienna? 42 00:02:47,046 --> 00:02:50,525 Speaker 2: I was really excited. It was a lot shorter process 43 00:02:50,606 --> 00:02:52,206 Speaker 2: than the first time round, because I feel like I 44 00:02:52,245 --> 00:02:54,365 Speaker 2: had a bit more understanding of my body and how 45 00:02:54,405 --> 00:02:57,966 Speaker 2: to go about falling pregnant, and so I thought, I 46 00:02:58,006 --> 00:03:00,006 Speaker 2: know what I'm doing with the pregnancy, I know what 47 00:03:00,085 --> 00:03:03,486 Speaker 2: to expect and from what you hear from everybody, labor 48 00:03:04,365 --> 00:03:08,365 Speaker 2: ideally is same bit shorter. That was the hope. 49 00:03:08,405 --> 00:03:11,886 Speaker 1: Anyway, how old was Kingston when you fell pregnant with Sienna? 50 00:03:11,965 --> 00:03:15,206 Speaker 2: I think it was about two years old, give or 51 00:03:15,245 --> 00:03:16,645 Speaker 2: take either side a little bit. 52 00:03:16,846 --> 00:03:20,126 Speaker 1: Emmanuel, who is your partner? You're excited, You've got your 53 00:03:20,166 --> 00:03:24,326 Speaker 1: first trimester, everything's going well. How are you feeling during 54 00:03:24,365 --> 00:03:24,846 Speaker 1: this time? 55 00:03:25,166 --> 00:03:28,525 Speaker 2: I was feeling really great. Obviously, noticing a big difference 56 00:03:28,566 --> 00:03:31,166 Speaker 2: between my first and my second pregnancy. I had a 57 00:03:31,206 --> 00:03:34,966 Speaker 2: toddler to keep up with. I was a lot more tired. 58 00:03:35,126 --> 00:03:39,445 Speaker 2: So with my first pregnancy I was extremely active, and 59 00:03:39,646 --> 00:03:42,246 Speaker 2: my second pregnancy I was really struggling to fit in 60 00:03:42,406 --> 00:03:46,285 Speaker 2: conventional exercise, but I probably was running around a lot, 61 00:03:47,086 --> 00:03:51,006 Speaker 2: so that was probably the biggest difference. But otherwise very 62 00:03:51,286 --> 00:03:55,766 Speaker 2: lucky to have very regular, unexciting pregnancies. 63 00:03:56,126 --> 00:04:00,126 Speaker 1: So with your first baby you went into spontaneous labor. 64 00:04:00,366 --> 00:04:03,885 Speaker 1: As I understand it, you were seven hours, you had gas. 65 00:04:04,006 --> 00:04:07,885 Speaker 1: It was pretty straightforward. So in your head you're imagining 66 00:04:07,926 --> 00:04:11,166 Speaker 1: that same sort of situation again exactly. 67 00:04:11,326 --> 00:04:14,966 Speaker 2: My fear was when do I leave home to get 68 00:04:14,966 --> 00:04:18,046 Speaker 2: to the hospital knowing that the active part of labor 69 00:04:18,086 --> 00:04:21,806 Speaker 2: would likely be shorter, and because I had, you know, 70 00:04:21,846 --> 00:04:24,686 Speaker 2: a relatively short labor the first time, for a first 71 00:04:24,686 --> 00:04:27,966 Speaker 2: time mum, I didn't push for very long. My question 72 00:04:28,166 --> 00:04:30,205 Speaker 2: was more, you know, how can I have that at 73 00:04:30,246 --> 00:04:33,325 Speaker 2: home birth experience but still make it to the hospital 74 00:04:33,325 --> 00:04:35,926 Speaker 2: in time for the grand finale? Yeah? 75 00:04:36,086 --> 00:04:37,845 Speaker 1: What kind of system were you in? Were you in 76 00:04:37,885 --> 00:04:41,765 Speaker 1: the public system, private system? How was your birth supported? 77 00:04:42,046 --> 00:04:45,325 Speaker 2: So I was in the public system. I was seeing 78 00:04:45,366 --> 00:04:48,406 Speaker 2: obstetricians a whole way through though, because I have problems 79 00:04:48,406 --> 00:04:51,206 Speaker 2: with my thyroids, so they were keeping an eye on 80 00:04:51,246 --> 00:04:54,046 Speaker 2: that the whole way. That, however, didn't put me into 81 00:04:54,086 --> 00:04:56,846 Speaker 2: any sort of high risk territory. It was just more 82 00:04:56,926 --> 00:05:00,325 Speaker 2: keeping a second set of eyes on my pregnancy. 83 00:05:00,646 --> 00:05:04,526 Speaker 1: So you get through your second trimester, the trimester, can 84 00:05:04,565 --> 00:05:07,005 Speaker 1: you talk us through through a little bit about the 85 00:05:07,086 --> 00:05:10,246 Speaker 1: last few weeks before you going into labor? 86 00:05:10,606 --> 00:05:13,965 Speaker 2: How are you feeling I feel like big question. I 87 00:05:14,126 --> 00:05:17,886 Speaker 2: was not feeling amazing. I felt like my body was 88 00:05:17,926 --> 00:05:21,806 Speaker 2: getting bigger rapidly this time around, and probably due to 89 00:05:21,885 --> 00:05:25,686 Speaker 2: my muscles being a little bit more lax. I worked 90 00:05:25,726 --> 00:05:29,686 Speaker 2: a lot later in my second pregnancy, so I worked 91 00:05:29,765 --> 00:05:32,965 Speaker 2: all the way up until thirty eight weeks, thinking that 92 00:05:33,005 --> 00:05:35,206 Speaker 2: I would try to extend my maternity leave a little 93 00:05:35,206 --> 00:05:38,846 Speaker 2: bit longer and work from home a bit more. And 94 00:05:39,565 --> 00:05:42,965 Speaker 2: I was honestly feeling quite stressed with the idea of 95 00:05:43,005 --> 00:05:46,846 Speaker 2: finishing up work, handing over things that were happening. I 96 00:05:46,926 --> 00:05:49,406 Speaker 2: was on a contract at work that was finishing up 97 00:05:49,406 --> 00:05:52,005 Speaker 2: in the next two months, and I didn't have a 98 00:05:52,005 --> 00:05:54,606 Speaker 2: clear outcome of whether my job would be extended at 99 00:05:54,606 --> 00:05:58,765 Speaker 2: that point. So I think in my pregnancy I felt 100 00:05:58,806 --> 00:06:02,206 Speaker 2: really good, but just life and its entirety was a 101 00:06:02,246 --> 00:06:04,246 Speaker 2: lot at that point, so I hadn't put a lot 102 00:06:04,286 --> 00:06:08,246 Speaker 2: of focus to birthing like I had in my first pregnancy. 103 00:06:08,646 --> 00:06:13,686 Speaker 1: In terms of your support system with you know, your husband, emmanual, family, 104 00:06:14,366 --> 00:06:15,565 Speaker 1: how is that around you? 105 00:06:16,046 --> 00:06:20,206 Speaker 2: Fantastic? I'm really lucky to have my husband, and then 106 00:06:20,246 --> 00:06:23,246 Speaker 2: I have a sister who also has children the same 107 00:06:23,286 --> 00:06:26,606 Speaker 2: age as me, and my mother is also very involved 108 00:06:26,606 --> 00:06:28,766 Speaker 2: in my family life. So I've got a great little 109 00:06:28,806 --> 00:06:29,566 Speaker 2: network around me. 110 00:06:29,966 --> 00:06:34,166 Speaker 1: Okay, so let's get up to the day of a 111 00:06:34,206 --> 00:06:36,046 Speaker 1: guess going into labor. If that's what what can you 112 00:06:36,086 --> 00:06:38,686 Speaker 1: call it? What was your day like in the morning? 113 00:06:39,005 --> 00:06:43,885 Speaker 2: Okay? So I had had those period like cramps the 114 00:06:44,005 --> 00:06:47,166 Speaker 2: night before and that night, and I'd woken up and 115 00:06:47,206 --> 00:06:50,005 Speaker 2: it was still the same, so that lower kind of 116 00:06:50,166 --> 00:06:53,006 Speaker 2: backache that you have just before you get your period. 117 00:06:53,046 --> 00:06:55,566 Speaker 2: And I thought, oh, I remember this feeling. I remember 118 00:06:55,565 --> 00:06:59,846 Speaker 2: that sensation. Is something coming. And I said to my husband, 119 00:07:00,526 --> 00:07:03,366 Speaker 2: it's fine, go to work. We don't live far away 120 00:07:03,366 --> 00:07:06,845 Speaker 2: from the hospital. He doesn't work far away from me. 121 00:07:07,486 --> 00:07:10,126 Speaker 2: And I was quite confident in the way that I 122 00:07:10,126 --> 00:07:13,806 Speaker 2: had birthed previously, that if I was to go into labor, 123 00:07:14,166 --> 00:07:17,006 Speaker 2: that he would have time to come home, and that 124 00:07:17,486 --> 00:07:21,806 Speaker 2: I was comfortable resting and being active and just being 125 00:07:21,806 --> 00:07:24,366 Speaker 2: around the house in those early hours. So I was 126 00:07:24,486 --> 00:07:28,166 Speaker 2: very comfortable in saying, a man, head off to work, 127 00:07:28,846 --> 00:07:31,246 Speaker 2: and I'll give you a call if I need you. 128 00:07:31,366 --> 00:07:34,126 Speaker 2: But I feel confident that if I'm going to go 129 00:07:34,166 --> 00:07:37,886 Speaker 2: into labor, it will probably be tonight, you know, when 130 00:07:37,926 --> 00:07:40,886 Speaker 2: I'm comfortable and I'm sleepy, I'll wake up and things 131 00:07:40,926 --> 00:07:41,606 Speaker 2: will progress. 132 00:07:42,046 --> 00:07:43,566 Speaker 1: And where was Kingston at this point? 133 00:07:43,966 --> 00:07:47,526 Speaker 2: He was in childcare, which was fantastic. So that was 134 00:07:47,566 --> 00:07:51,406 Speaker 2: actually my first day of maternity leave too. So I 135 00:07:51,446 --> 00:07:54,486 Speaker 2: just thought, I'll go for a walk. I vividly remember 136 00:07:54,526 --> 00:07:59,006 Speaker 2: cooking spinach and ricotta rolls and thinking I can put 137 00:07:59,086 --> 00:08:01,046 Speaker 2: some in the fridge, I can pop some in the freezer. 138 00:08:01,366 --> 00:08:06,526 Speaker 2: We've got some, you know, storage there. And then I 139 00:08:06,726 --> 00:08:09,526 Speaker 2: thought to myself, well, who knows how long the night 140 00:08:09,606 --> 00:08:12,006 Speaker 2: could potentially be, and if there will be an is sleep, 141 00:08:12,286 --> 00:08:15,845 Speaker 2: So I will try my best to lay in bed 142 00:08:15,926 --> 00:08:18,806 Speaker 2: and watch a movie at the minimum. 143 00:08:18,286 --> 00:08:21,046 Speaker 1: Which is very well deserved. You don't need to explain 144 00:08:21,086 --> 00:08:25,446 Speaker 1: that first day of maternity leave. Husbands at work above 145 00:08:25,566 --> 00:08:29,806 Speaker 1: number one, Kiston is at daycare. You've got some time 146 00:08:29,846 --> 00:08:33,686 Speaker 1: to kind of recuperate. So you're trying to recuperate, prepare 147 00:08:33,726 --> 00:08:37,206 Speaker 1: yourself for what's to come. So you're having a rest 148 00:08:37,246 --> 00:08:39,846 Speaker 1: in bed and tell us what happens next. 149 00:08:40,405 --> 00:08:43,006 Speaker 2: So I was laying in bed and I felt a 150 00:08:43,206 --> 00:08:47,405 Speaker 2: pop in my uterus. And I cannot tell you to 151 00:08:47,446 --> 00:08:50,246 Speaker 2: this day whether it was an audible pop, but to me, 152 00:08:50,326 --> 00:08:54,045 Speaker 2: it felt very audible. I could hear and feel it, 153 00:08:55,285 --> 00:08:57,686 Speaker 2: and I thought, oh, that was really funny. It was 154 00:08:57,726 --> 00:09:01,086 Speaker 2: almost like when you click a muscle or something. Something's 155 00:09:01,165 --> 00:09:04,966 Speaker 2: quite obviously happened. And I had enough time to pull 156 00:09:05,006 --> 00:09:10,446 Speaker 2: out my and google pregnant uterus pop. And whilst I 157 00:09:10,566 --> 00:09:14,926 Speaker 2: was googling, I felt a gush between my thighs. And 158 00:09:15,045 --> 00:09:20,166 Speaker 2: with my first pregnancy, my waters did not break spontaneously. 159 00:09:20,246 --> 00:09:23,446 Speaker 2: That was done in the hospital, and so I thought, oh, 160 00:09:23,806 --> 00:09:26,006 Speaker 2: this must be my waters, this must be what it 161 00:09:26,045 --> 00:09:30,086 Speaker 2: feels like. And I was very well prepared. I had 162 00:09:30,246 --> 00:09:33,646 Speaker 2: dark charcoal sheets on the bed in case, you know, 163 00:09:33,726 --> 00:09:36,046 Speaker 2: anything was to happen over the next couple of days, 164 00:09:36,086 --> 00:09:39,846 Speaker 2: and avoiding stains. So I had to flip my legs 165 00:09:39,886 --> 00:09:42,165 Speaker 2: over to the side of the bed and I pulled 166 00:09:42,206 --> 00:09:44,606 Speaker 2: down my underwear to how to look at the waters 167 00:09:44,606 --> 00:09:47,126 Speaker 2: and see if there was anything in them. And as 168 00:09:47,126 --> 00:09:50,446 Speaker 2: I pulled my underwear down, the blood ran down my 169 00:09:50,526 --> 00:09:53,405 Speaker 2: legs and spilled out over onto the floor. 170 00:09:53,966 --> 00:09:56,726 Speaker 1: You get up and you see all of this blood, 171 00:09:57,006 --> 00:10:01,606 Speaker 1: which I imagine would be quite terrifying for you. What was 172 00:10:01,646 --> 00:10:02,606 Speaker 1: your first thought? 173 00:10:03,285 --> 00:10:06,966 Speaker 2: That it's not normal? It was red, so it wasn't 174 00:10:07,086 --> 00:10:12,805 Speaker 2: old blood, it was fresh, and it was continuous. So 175 00:10:12,886 --> 00:10:14,926 Speaker 2: the first thing I did was I picked up my 176 00:10:15,006 --> 00:10:17,926 Speaker 2: phone and I called the ambulance straight away. I was 177 00:10:17,966 --> 00:10:20,406 Speaker 2: in the exact same spot that I had when I 178 00:10:20,526 --> 00:10:23,165 Speaker 2: flicked my legs over their bed. I hadn't stood up. 179 00:10:23,206 --> 00:10:25,646 Speaker 2: I just grabbed my phone and straight away called Triple 180 00:10:25,726 --> 00:10:28,046 Speaker 2: zero Emergency Services. 181 00:10:28,126 --> 00:10:29,566 Speaker 3: Tell me exactly what happened. 182 00:10:30,206 --> 00:10:33,286 Speaker 4: I'm thirty eight and a half weeks pregnant. I started 183 00:10:33,366 --> 00:10:36,806 Speaker 4: popping in my uterref and I just add a huge 184 00:10:36,886 --> 00:10:38,726 Speaker 4: gush of blood and it's not stopping. 185 00:10:38,886 --> 00:10:41,046 Speaker 3: All right, Let's get you that help right away. Do 186 00:10:41,086 --> 00:10:43,686 Speaker 3: you have anybody there with you at the moment, No, 187 00:10:43,806 --> 00:10:46,686 Speaker 3: I'm home alone. Okay. Now can you see I feel 188 00:10:46,726 --> 00:10:48,686 Speaker 3: all touch any part of the baby now? 189 00:10:49,926 --> 00:10:52,165 Speaker 4: No, my vagina feels closed still. 190 00:10:52,366 --> 00:10:54,646 Speaker 3: Okay, are you having contractions? 191 00:10:54,886 --> 00:11:00,205 Speaker 4: I had had very dull period, pain white contractions, not 192 00:11:00,486 --> 00:11:05,046 Speaker 4: sin last more black and heats. Yeah, okay, there's more blood. 193 00:11:05,285 --> 00:11:08,646 Speaker 3: Yeah, understood, I'm keeping them up, David. Okay, now you 194 00:11:08,766 --> 00:11:10,886 Speaker 3: just try and rest. Okay, So do not fit on 195 00:11:10,926 --> 00:11:13,846 Speaker 3: the toilet, and just in case this is the baby coming, 196 00:11:13,926 --> 00:11:16,886 Speaker 3: do not try to prevent the burse all right, Yeah, 197 00:11:17,006 --> 00:11:19,766 Speaker 3: assume the most comfortable position here and take deep breath 198 00:11:19,886 --> 00:11:22,086 Speaker 3: between contractions. 199 00:11:21,846 --> 00:11:24,646 Speaker 4: And you're going to put a exposable underwear on. 200 00:11:25,126 --> 00:11:29,606 Speaker 3: Good idea. There's a blood still coming out now, yeah, yeah, okay. 201 00:11:30,646 --> 00:11:32,246 Speaker 3: How are you feeling now? Any changes? 202 00:11:33,165 --> 00:11:35,846 Speaker 4: No, no change here, It's more I'm you're just trying 203 00:11:35,846 --> 00:11:40,446 Speaker 4: to manage how I feel. Okay, there's no pain, there's 204 00:11:40,486 --> 00:11:42,165 Speaker 4: just lots of blood steel. 205 00:11:41,886 --> 00:11:45,966 Speaker 3: Lots of blood. All right, don't over exert yourself. All right, 206 00:11:47,486 --> 00:11:48,126 Speaker 3: how are you doing this? 207 00:11:49,285 --> 00:11:52,086 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm okay, I'm dushy, I'm dusty. 208 00:11:52,206 --> 00:11:53,886 Speaker 3: Blood it's still gusting. Okay. 209 00:11:54,846 --> 00:11:57,086 Speaker 1: One of the first things that really struck me was 210 00:11:57,126 --> 00:12:01,046 Speaker 1: how calm you were. Do you think that was kind 211 00:12:01,086 --> 00:12:03,766 Speaker 1: of part of your sort of response in terms of 212 00:12:03,846 --> 00:12:06,886 Speaker 1: just not a trauma response, but you were in fight mode. 213 00:12:06,726 --> 00:12:11,086 Speaker 2: Yes, and everything in that moment. I think it took 214 00:12:11,486 --> 00:12:14,606 Speaker 2: six or seven minutes perhaps for the ambulance to arrive, 215 00:12:15,206 --> 00:12:17,566 Speaker 2: and a lot was done in those six or seven minutes. 216 00:12:18,206 --> 00:12:21,166 Speaker 2: So I called Toriple zero. I popped them on loud 217 00:12:21,165 --> 00:12:26,405 Speaker 2: speaker and straightway new group message to my mum, to 218 00:12:26,446 --> 00:12:29,926 Speaker 2: my husband, to my sister, and it was husband, you 219 00:12:29,966 --> 00:12:31,846 Speaker 2: need to get to the hospital and meet me an 220 00:12:31,846 --> 00:12:36,805 Speaker 2: emergency asap. Drop what you're doing. I'm bleeding. And then 221 00:12:36,846 --> 00:12:39,366 Speaker 2: it was to my sister and my mom, letting them 222 00:12:39,405 --> 00:12:41,726 Speaker 2: know what had happened, and also letting my mum know 223 00:12:41,846 --> 00:12:44,326 Speaker 2: that she's going to have to be your childcare pickup today, 224 00:12:45,045 --> 00:12:48,006 Speaker 2: but before she does the childcare pickup, she'll probably have 225 00:12:48,126 --> 00:12:50,486 Speaker 2: to come to my house and clean my bed and 226 00:12:50,526 --> 00:12:54,806 Speaker 2: all the flaws. I also, in that time managed to 227 00:12:54,846 --> 00:12:57,726 Speaker 2: find an old T shirt to chuck on, thinking that 228 00:12:57,846 --> 00:12:59,486 Speaker 2: I'm going to have to walk out of the house. 229 00:12:59,526 --> 00:13:02,966 Speaker 2: I can't do that in my underwear. I found a 230 00:13:03,045 --> 00:13:05,966 Speaker 2: towel so that I could hobble around the house to 231 00:13:06,006 --> 00:13:09,326 Speaker 2: get what I needed without dripping all over the house. 232 00:13:10,246 --> 00:13:13,165 Speaker 2: And I kind of wiggled my way standing on the 233 00:13:13,206 --> 00:13:17,006 Speaker 2: tower to the bathroom and found one of my disposable 234 00:13:17,246 --> 00:13:20,605 Speaker 2: adult nappies that I had ready for my postpartum experience, 235 00:13:20,646 --> 00:13:22,726 Speaker 2: and I popped one of those on. And once I 236 00:13:22,846 --> 00:13:25,926 Speaker 2: had my bags at the front door, it was unlocking 237 00:13:25,966 --> 00:13:29,806 Speaker 2: the front doors because I thought to myself, what happens 238 00:13:29,846 --> 00:13:32,246 Speaker 2: if I pass out from blood loss and they can't 239 00:13:32,326 --> 00:13:35,126 Speaker 2: get in the front door. What happens then? So I 240 00:13:35,206 --> 00:13:37,726 Speaker 2: opened all the doors and had them swung open, so 241 00:13:38,526 --> 00:13:41,046 Speaker 2: worst case scenario, they could walk straight in and I 242 00:13:41,086 --> 00:13:43,206 Speaker 2: would be there at the door waiting for them. 243 00:13:43,566 --> 00:13:46,325 Speaker 1: And while you're doing this, I just think this is 244 00:13:46,366 --> 00:13:51,766 Speaker 1: such a classic moment of mother's strength. Your gushing blood 245 00:13:51,806 --> 00:13:52,726 Speaker 1: this entire time. 246 00:13:53,126 --> 00:13:56,326 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was, and I kept saying that to the 247 00:13:56,366 --> 00:14:00,486 Speaker 2: person on the phone call, and they're trying to be 248 00:14:00,606 --> 00:14:04,126 Speaker 2: really relaxed, and they're trying to reassure you, and she 249 00:14:04,246 --> 00:14:07,046 Speaker 2: was saying things like, don't prevent the baby from coming, 250 00:14:07,126 --> 00:14:11,166 Speaker 2: and make yourself comfortable, And I'm there, going how do 251 00:14:11,246 --> 00:14:14,046 Speaker 2: I make myself comfortable? Do I just sit on the 252 00:14:14,086 --> 00:14:17,925 Speaker 2: floor on this towel bleeding? I found myself standing up, 253 00:14:18,045 --> 00:14:22,886 Speaker 2: just holding on too like a buffet kind of side table, 254 00:14:23,206 --> 00:14:26,526 Speaker 2: just waiting for the ambulance to arrive, with eyesight on 255 00:14:26,606 --> 00:14:28,126 Speaker 2: the driveway the whole time. 256 00:14:28,526 --> 00:14:31,246 Speaker 1: What was your brain doing? Were you just basically really 257 00:14:31,286 --> 00:14:34,406 Speaker 1: in the moment at that point, or were you thinking 258 00:14:34,806 --> 00:14:35,406 Speaker 1: the worst? 259 00:14:36,086 --> 00:14:41,006 Speaker 2: I was trying very hard to be absolutely in the moment. 260 00:14:41,366 --> 00:14:44,806 Speaker 2: In the group message that I had started, my sister 261 00:14:44,886 --> 00:14:47,526 Speaker 2: did ask me if I had felt the baby, and 262 00:14:48,006 --> 00:14:50,686 Speaker 2: I had had those thoughts kind of enter my brain 263 00:14:50,726 --> 00:14:54,526 Speaker 2: at different moments, and I was trying to push them away. 264 00:14:54,886 --> 00:14:57,726 Speaker 2: I did hypno birthing with my son when I had 265 00:14:57,726 --> 00:15:02,646 Speaker 2: my spontaneous vaginal birth, and it was the exact same 266 00:15:03,006 --> 00:15:05,646 Speaker 2: in this situation where I just went back to to 267 00:15:06,286 --> 00:15:08,766 Speaker 2: you know, it just becomes all about breathing, and it 268 00:15:08,806 --> 00:15:12,286 Speaker 2: becomes all about just controlling the thoughts that are entering 269 00:15:12,326 --> 00:15:14,406 Speaker 2: your mind and getting rid of the ones that are 270 00:15:14,446 --> 00:15:19,166 Speaker 2: unhelpful and clinging desperately onto the ones that are helpful. 271 00:15:19,526 --> 00:15:23,006 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's that sushi train analogy, right, you know, you 272 00:15:23,126 --> 00:15:26,526 Speaker 1: let that thought pass, you take the one off that's helpful, 273 00:15:27,006 --> 00:15:28,406 Speaker 1: keep the sushi trying going. 274 00:15:29,046 --> 00:15:34,966 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, coming up, We're taking you into surgery. We'll 275 00:15:34,966 --> 00:15:38,166 Speaker 2: try to stop the bleeding. If we can't stop the bleeding, 276 00:15:38,726 --> 00:15:45,366 Speaker 2: we will perform a hysterectomy. 277 00:15:45,566 --> 00:15:47,646 Speaker 1: Tell me about the paramedics arriving. 278 00:15:48,006 --> 00:15:51,726 Speaker 2: So the paramedics reversed up the driveway and they came 279 00:15:51,766 --> 00:15:56,766 Speaker 2: in and they were fabulous. They grabbed my things. They 280 00:15:56,886 --> 00:16:00,446 Speaker 2: even went to my kitchen and grabbed a garbage bag 281 00:16:00,606 --> 00:16:04,326 Speaker 2: and we changed over the disposal nappy that I was wearing, 282 00:16:04,686 --> 00:16:06,766 Speaker 2: and they took the used one with them in a 283 00:16:06,806 --> 00:16:10,086 Speaker 2: garbage bag. So they obviously had the foresight to know 284 00:16:10,166 --> 00:16:13,966 Speaker 2: that that would be required, and I walked to the ambulance, 285 00:16:14,446 --> 00:16:17,646 Speaker 2: got on the trolley and was strapped in and I 286 00:16:17,806 --> 00:16:21,406 Speaker 2: just remember hanging on for dear life on like this 287 00:16:21,486 --> 00:16:22,766 Speaker 2: little pole next to me. 288 00:16:23,366 --> 00:16:25,646 Speaker 1: So you're in the ambulance. Now, what are the para 289 00:16:25,806 --> 00:16:28,166 Speaker 1: medics saying to you at this point? 290 00:16:29,246 --> 00:16:34,646 Speaker 2: Honestly, I think it was just very everyday shitter chatter 291 00:16:34,806 --> 00:16:38,766 Speaker 2: type thing. They had no way of monitoring the baby 292 00:16:39,206 --> 00:16:42,686 Speaker 2: at that point. All they could do was watch my heartbeat. 293 00:16:43,646 --> 00:16:46,806 Speaker 2: They were reassuring me that my heartbeat was good, and 294 00:16:46,846 --> 00:16:48,806 Speaker 2: I think that was because I was spending half the 295 00:16:48,886 --> 00:16:53,126 Speaker 2: time doing this, you know, ridiculous deep breaths, a hold 296 00:16:53,486 --> 00:16:58,406 Speaker 2: and release. But they were asking about my son and 297 00:16:58,486 --> 00:17:02,886 Speaker 2: my day and talking about how, you know, the traffic 298 00:17:03,046 --> 00:17:07,006 Speaker 2: was really good and it's light and sirens and the 299 00:17:07,086 --> 00:17:09,166 Speaker 2: cars are all moving out the way. And I was 300 00:17:09,206 --> 00:17:12,205 Speaker 2: holding onto the pole next to me, laying down, strapped in, 301 00:17:12,286 --> 00:17:14,806 Speaker 2: and there's a little window in the ambulance and I 302 00:17:14,806 --> 00:17:18,606 Speaker 2: can see all of the prominent Melbourne buildings that were 303 00:17:18,606 --> 00:17:21,006 Speaker 2: passing as we go through the city. And I was 304 00:17:21,046 --> 00:17:24,086 Speaker 2: aware that we were moving quite quickly and that felt 305 00:17:24,126 --> 00:17:27,926 Speaker 2: really good, but I was also aware that nothing was 306 00:17:27,966 --> 00:17:31,046 Speaker 2: happening in the way that they had put a canula 307 00:17:31,206 --> 00:17:34,526 Speaker 2: into my arm in case that would be needed. Once 308 00:17:34,566 --> 00:17:38,406 Speaker 2: we arrived, they were monitoring my heart rate. But really 309 00:17:38,566 --> 00:17:41,686 Speaker 2: it was more just I think, staying in the moment 310 00:17:41,926 --> 00:17:45,566 Speaker 2: and just conversing until we arrived at a point where 311 00:17:45,566 --> 00:17:46,606 Speaker 2: something could be done. 312 00:17:46,846 --> 00:17:50,246 Speaker 1: What happens after you get to the emergency room, Well, 313 00:17:50,326 --> 00:17:52,526 Speaker 1: just before we got to the emergency room, I did 314 00:17:52,566 --> 00:17:55,886 Speaker 1: get reassurance in the way that my baby's back had 315 00:17:55,926 --> 00:17:58,406 Speaker 1: moved from one side of my body to the other. 316 00:17:58,846 --> 00:18:03,126 Speaker 2: So that was a big there's movement within there. Once 317 00:18:03,166 --> 00:18:08,526 Speaker 2: we arrived at the hospital, I was trolleyed into emergency 318 00:18:08,566 --> 00:18:11,366 Speaker 2: and my housband was there, and that is when I 319 00:18:11,486 --> 00:18:15,966 Speaker 2: had that absolute, just flood of emotions and I started 320 00:18:16,606 --> 00:18:19,006 Speaker 2: balling my eyes out, and I remember holding onto him 321 00:18:19,046 --> 00:18:22,846 Speaker 2: and saying like I'm completely I'm okay, I'm okay. I'm 322 00:18:22,886 --> 00:18:26,006 Speaker 2: just so happy that you're here, like you're my person 323 00:18:26,286 --> 00:18:26,966 Speaker 2: and we're together. 324 00:18:27,446 --> 00:18:30,006 Speaker 1: I have tears in my eyes too, because I can 325 00:18:30,726 --> 00:18:34,046 Speaker 1: imagine that, and that's almost like a safety point. It's 326 00:18:34,166 --> 00:18:37,046 Speaker 1: like I'm holding it together. I'm holding it together. I'm 327 00:18:37,086 --> 00:18:39,966 Speaker 1: holding it together. I can let go now because I 328 00:18:40,006 --> 00:18:43,366 Speaker 1: have some support and someone else can hold it together 329 00:18:43,686 --> 00:18:44,006 Speaker 1: for me. 330 00:18:44,166 --> 00:18:47,166 Speaker 2: Now you can do that, and I can process when 331 00:18:47,166 --> 00:18:50,406 Speaker 2: I need to, So it moves really quickly from there. 332 00:18:50,526 --> 00:18:54,086 Speaker 2: Once we were together, the paramedics took us up to 333 00:18:54,446 --> 00:18:57,606 Speaker 2: the birth and suite and the head midwife of the 334 00:18:57,646 --> 00:19:00,926 Speaker 2: floor was there to greet us. I was moved on 335 00:19:01,086 --> 00:19:05,006 Speaker 2: to the bed and they started hooking me up to 336 00:19:05,526 --> 00:19:08,966 Speaker 2: monitoring the baby's heart rate and to monitoring my heart rate, 337 00:19:09,326 --> 00:19:12,326 Speaker 2: and I was told that an obstetrician would be coming 338 00:19:12,446 --> 00:19:15,246 Speaker 2: to assess me and make a decision about how we 339 00:19:15,246 --> 00:19:19,726 Speaker 2: were going to proceed. The obstetrician arrived, they did an 340 00:19:19,766 --> 00:19:24,486 Speaker 2: internal examination at that point, and I was told that 341 00:19:24,526 --> 00:19:28,606 Speaker 2: I was not in labor, even though things in the 342 00:19:28,646 --> 00:19:32,846 Speaker 2: ambulance had ramped up to the point where I was 343 00:19:33,206 --> 00:19:39,766 Speaker 2: breathing through what I thought were really progressed contractions. So 344 00:19:39,806 --> 00:19:42,606 Speaker 2: I arrived at the hospital thinking that I was in 345 00:19:42,726 --> 00:19:46,126 Speaker 2: quite established labor at that point, because every couple of 346 00:19:46,166 --> 00:19:50,526 Speaker 2: minutes I'm holding onto something, I'm breathing, I'm getting through 347 00:19:50,526 --> 00:19:53,486 Speaker 2: it and then it would subside. But I was told 348 00:19:53,646 --> 00:19:56,286 Speaker 2: that I was not in labor, and that I was 349 00:19:56,366 --> 00:19:59,246 Speaker 2: dilated one or two centimeters, that I would typically be 350 00:19:59,686 --> 00:20:02,926 Speaker 2: at that point in prior to active labor beginning. Anyway, 351 00:20:03,886 --> 00:20:08,646 Speaker 2: whilst the obstetrician was conducting my internal the midwives had 352 00:20:08,686 --> 00:20:13,166 Speaker 2: removed my adult nappy and had taken the second adult 353 00:20:13,246 --> 00:20:17,886 Speaker 2: nappy of the paramedics, and they weighed those, and when 354 00:20:17,926 --> 00:20:23,686 Speaker 2: they communicated the weight of those to the obstetrician, everything changed, 355 00:20:24,286 --> 00:20:29,166 Speaker 2: so it flicks therein Okay, this is emergency mode. Yes, 356 00:20:29,446 --> 00:20:34,806 Speaker 2: So they flip switch quite quickly. The obstetrician looks at 357 00:20:34,846 --> 00:20:39,646 Speaker 2: me and is very direct, very straight with me, and says, 358 00:20:39,886 --> 00:20:42,766 Speaker 2: you're losing too much blood. We need to get this 359 00:20:42,846 --> 00:20:47,446 Speaker 2: baby out immediately. We are taking you into surgery. We 360 00:20:47,526 --> 00:20:49,846 Speaker 2: will get the baby out. We will try to stop 361 00:20:49,886 --> 00:20:53,686 Speaker 2: the bleeding. If we can't stop the bleeding, then we 362 00:20:53,766 --> 00:20:56,926 Speaker 2: will try to inflate your uterus. I believe they said 363 00:20:56,926 --> 00:21:00,366 Speaker 2: with a balloon. I'm not familiar with that process. And 364 00:21:00,406 --> 00:21:03,526 Speaker 2: then they said, if not, we will perform a hysterectomy, 365 00:21:03,886 --> 00:21:07,886 Speaker 2: to which my husband said, what's a hysterectomy? And all 366 00:21:07,926 --> 00:21:09,846 Speaker 2: the women in the room looked at him and had 367 00:21:09,846 --> 00:21:13,486 Speaker 2: a little giggle, and I had to say, Babe, I'll 368 00:21:13,526 --> 00:21:14,406 Speaker 2: take my uterus. 369 00:21:16,406 --> 00:21:19,206 Speaker 1: Sorry, it's not funny, but it is funny. 370 00:21:19,886 --> 00:21:23,926 Speaker 2: It's a comedic moment to lighten the mood in our 371 00:21:24,046 --> 00:21:24,766 Speaker 2: dark moments. 372 00:21:24,886 --> 00:21:27,886 Speaker 1: Sometimes we need a little giggle, and usually we can 373 00:21:27,966 --> 00:21:31,046 Speaker 1: rely on men to provide. 374 00:21:31,846 --> 00:21:34,486 Speaker 2: They do. They provide absolute gold in those, don't they? 375 00:21:35,126 --> 00:21:37,006 Speaker 1: In your head? You're like, okay, so they might be 376 00:21:37,046 --> 00:21:39,286 Speaker 1: having a hysterectomy. When do they tell you that you're 377 00:21:39,326 --> 00:21:41,566 Speaker 1: going under because they're not doing a spinal tap, they're 378 00:21:41,566 --> 00:21:42,926 Speaker 1: putting it under general aesthetic. 379 00:21:43,326 --> 00:21:46,766 Speaker 2: Yes, that's right. The head midwife of the floor at 380 00:21:46,766 --> 00:21:51,806 Speaker 2: that point, she was amazing this whole time. I had 381 00:21:51,886 --> 00:21:56,646 Speaker 2: women holding my arms, rubbing up and down my arms, 382 00:21:56,646 --> 00:22:00,766 Speaker 2: squeezing my hands. I'm a very physical person, and I 383 00:22:00,846 --> 00:22:04,446 Speaker 2: remember everyone being really physical with me and like helping 384 00:22:04,526 --> 00:22:08,646 Speaker 2: reassure me. And she said to me, hold my hand. 385 00:22:08,886 --> 00:22:10,526 Speaker 2: There's going to be a lot of lights, there's going 386 00:22:10,566 --> 00:22:13,286 Speaker 2: to be a lot of people. Squeeze my hand. Close 387 00:22:13,326 --> 00:22:16,686 Speaker 2: your eyes, you don't have to see this, And so 388 00:22:16,806 --> 00:22:19,606 Speaker 2: I had my eyes closed from when we left the 389 00:22:19,606 --> 00:22:23,806 Speaker 2: birthing suite to arriving in theater, and then I do 390 00:22:23,966 --> 00:22:27,926 Speaker 2: remember looking up at the ceiling and seeing people everywhere 391 00:22:28,486 --> 00:22:32,806 Speaker 2: and hearing so many voices and I'm hard of hearing. 392 00:22:32,886 --> 00:22:36,006 Speaker 2: I we're hearing aids twenty four to seven. I did 393 00:22:36,046 --> 00:22:38,526 Speaker 2: not have them in because I was at home watching 394 00:22:38,526 --> 00:22:42,886 Speaker 2: a movie, and so that in itself was quite overwhelming. 395 00:22:43,686 --> 00:22:48,286 Speaker 2: But as soon as the anaesthesiologist said Sabrina and spoke 396 00:22:48,366 --> 00:22:50,926 Speaker 2: directly to me, I knew this is the voice to 397 00:22:50,966 --> 00:22:53,806 Speaker 2: hang on to. And then it was a matter of 398 00:22:54,046 --> 00:22:57,526 Speaker 2: talking me through the moment. So they said, we're putting 399 00:22:57,566 --> 00:23:01,086 Speaker 2: another canula in your other arm. You can feel us. 400 00:23:01,126 --> 00:23:04,726 Speaker 2: Now we're washing your stomach. We're drawing a line where 401 00:23:04,726 --> 00:23:08,526 Speaker 2: we will cut. Don't worry. Nothing will happen until you're 402 00:23:08,646 --> 00:23:12,686 Speaker 2: under the sheet goes up. I had no idea at 403 00:23:12,686 --> 00:23:15,806 Speaker 2: this point where my husband was. From the moment I 404 00:23:15,846 --> 00:23:20,006 Speaker 2: closed my eyes, I just succumbed to the process and 405 00:23:20,206 --> 00:23:25,646 Speaker 2: just again back to breathing. And then I remember, I 406 00:23:25,766 --> 00:23:26,886 Speaker 2: guess I fell asleep. 407 00:23:27,246 --> 00:23:31,006 Speaker 1: That is very, very harrowing. What we know now is 408 00:23:31,046 --> 00:23:33,886 Speaker 1: that you had a placental abruption. 409 00:23:34,366 --> 00:23:35,766 Speaker 2: Yes, that's right. 410 00:23:36,086 --> 00:23:40,926 Speaker 1: So they took Siena out and fortunately she is beautiful 411 00:23:40,966 --> 00:23:45,526 Speaker 1: and healthy, perfect, and they were able to stop the bleeding. Now, 412 00:23:45,566 --> 00:23:49,086 Speaker 1: you did mention something about them saying that she came 413 00:23:49,126 --> 00:23:52,206 Speaker 1: out all in one with the placenta detached already. 414 00:23:52,646 --> 00:23:57,886 Speaker 2: Yeah, So they opened me up and I was full 415 00:23:57,926 --> 00:24:02,766 Speaker 2: of blood. They lifted her out and the umbilical cord 416 00:24:02,766 --> 00:24:06,326 Speaker 2: obviously came and the placenta came with it. So from 417 00:24:06,326 --> 00:24:10,086 Speaker 2: what I understand, in those last moments, the placenta had 418 00:24:10,166 --> 00:24:14,686 Speaker 2: almost completely detached from my uterus. That was the cause 419 00:24:14,726 --> 00:24:17,246 Speaker 2: of the bleeding. So usually the bleeding that you have 420 00:24:17,486 --> 00:24:20,246 Speaker 2: post birth is from that big placental wound in the 421 00:24:20,326 --> 00:24:24,326 Speaker 2: uterus that was happening to me prior to giving birth. 422 00:24:24,406 --> 00:24:27,486 Speaker 2: And the issue with that is, obviously the placenta provides 423 00:24:27,606 --> 00:24:30,806 Speaker 2: all of the nutrients and most importantly the oxygen to 424 00:24:31,446 --> 00:24:34,886 Speaker 2: the baby. So we were extremely lucky in the way 425 00:24:34,966 --> 00:24:39,566 Speaker 2: that Sienna wasn't deprived of oxygen, and the timing must 426 00:24:39,566 --> 00:24:43,646 Speaker 2: have just been perfect that she came out and was breathing, 427 00:24:43,806 --> 00:24:47,566 Speaker 2: usually just as a placenta, as I said before, came 428 00:24:47,606 --> 00:24:48,166 Speaker 2: out with her. 429 00:24:48,766 --> 00:24:51,566 Speaker 1: Fortunately they were able to stop the blood loss and 430 00:24:52,406 --> 00:24:55,406 Speaker 1: you wake up? What was that like waking up? 431 00:24:55,806 --> 00:24:59,286 Speaker 2: I woke up in recovery I believe about two two 432 00:24:59,366 --> 00:25:03,366 Speaker 2: and a half hours after her birth, and I was 433 00:25:03,446 --> 00:25:05,886 Speaker 2: in a recovery ward and there was a nurse with me. 434 00:25:06,686 --> 00:25:09,966 Speaker 2: My husband and Sienna weren't in the room. I was 435 00:25:10,086 --> 00:25:15,046 Speaker 2: never fearful of her not being okay, so I didn't 436 00:25:15,086 --> 00:25:18,446 Speaker 2: wake up with the scare of where's my baby and 437 00:25:18,486 --> 00:25:22,526 Speaker 2: did my baby make it? I had this reassurance of 438 00:25:22,726 --> 00:25:27,046 Speaker 2: just in my soul that everything was okay. And within 439 00:25:27,206 --> 00:25:30,366 Speaker 2: minutes they had gone and found my husband and Sienna, 440 00:25:30,406 --> 00:25:33,846 Speaker 2: and they were there extremely quickly, so it wasn't as 441 00:25:33,846 --> 00:25:38,246 Speaker 2: if I was lacking time with them, and it was beautiful. 442 00:25:38,486 --> 00:25:42,086 Speaker 2: It was a lot, I remember shaking a lot they 443 00:25:42,126 --> 00:25:46,806 Speaker 2: did the transfusion, but once I had Sienna, I was 444 00:25:46,846 --> 00:25:51,086 Speaker 2: able to have that beautiful, golden post birth moment. She 445 00:25:51,206 --> 00:25:54,246 Speaker 2: did a wonderful feed. We did all of our skin 446 00:25:54,366 --> 00:25:58,526 Speaker 2: to skin. They hadn't given her anything in the time 447 00:25:58,646 --> 00:26:01,206 Speaker 2: that I had been asleep, and she just did skin 448 00:26:01,286 --> 00:26:04,246 Speaker 2: to skin with my husband for those two hours. So 449 00:26:04,326 --> 00:26:09,126 Speaker 2: they had this beautiful moment. And from there it was 450 00:26:11,086 --> 00:26:15,446 Speaker 2: just becoming more alert to my surroundings and just really 451 00:26:15,486 --> 00:26:18,926 Speaker 2: taking in that amazement of I have this new baby, 452 00:26:18,966 --> 00:26:22,126 Speaker 2: and this baby is mine and I didn't birth it 453 00:26:22,166 --> 00:26:24,166 Speaker 2: through my vagina, so where did it come from? 454 00:26:25,646 --> 00:26:28,926 Speaker 1: Did your husband tell you his thoughts during the process 455 00:26:29,006 --> 00:26:31,446 Speaker 1: of when you were asleep and Sienna had come out. 456 00:26:31,806 --> 00:26:35,206 Speaker 2: So Emmanuel wasn't allowed in the theater because I was 457 00:26:35,246 --> 00:26:38,406 Speaker 2: going under the general esthetic, so he was in a 458 00:26:38,486 --> 00:26:44,086 Speaker 2: room outside of the theater. And my sister, actually, from 459 00:26:44,086 --> 00:26:46,686 Speaker 2: the moment that I had texted her telling this had happened, 460 00:26:46,966 --> 00:26:49,366 Speaker 2: had stormed out of work and jumped in a car 461 00:26:49,646 --> 00:26:52,606 Speaker 2: and come to the hospital, And so I believe she 462 00:26:52,766 --> 00:26:55,486 Speaker 2: was in the car when I went under and had 463 00:26:55,486 --> 00:27:01,086 Speaker 2: called Emmanuel and said she's had multiple cesareans, and she 464 00:27:01,526 --> 00:27:05,846 Speaker 2: was walking him through what they would be doing. So 465 00:27:06,006 --> 00:27:09,326 Speaker 2: she was walking him through how they prepare for the 466 00:27:09,366 --> 00:27:13,966 Speaker 2: cesarean and reassuring him that once they make the cuts 467 00:27:14,006 --> 00:27:18,526 Speaker 2: that the baby comes straight like very very quickly, almost instantaneous. 468 00:27:18,566 --> 00:27:22,606 Speaker 2: So from what I understand, that was a really beautiful 469 00:27:22,646 --> 00:27:25,886 Speaker 2: bonding moment between my husband and my sister, and that 470 00:27:26,006 --> 00:27:28,926 Speaker 2: he had a person, even though it wasn't physically there, 471 00:27:28,966 --> 00:27:33,126 Speaker 2: he had someone to rely on. But obviously he was 472 00:27:33,366 --> 00:27:37,966 Speaker 2: ridiculously scared for myself and obviously having this big, long 473 00:27:38,046 --> 00:27:41,246 Speaker 2: term relationship with me and the connection he has with me, 474 00:27:42,046 --> 00:27:44,966 Speaker 2: and then he's scared for this little baby that he's 475 00:27:45,006 --> 00:27:48,806 Speaker 2: never met before that he doesn't yet have this relationship with. 476 00:27:48,966 --> 00:27:51,926 Speaker 2: But it's you know, the person he will live his 477 00:27:52,006 --> 00:27:52,406 Speaker 2: life with. 478 00:27:52,726 --> 00:27:57,446 Speaker 1: Yeah, people, he loves people, he loves Yeah. So they 479 00:27:57,486 --> 00:27:59,846 Speaker 1: take Sianna out and did she need to spend any 480 00:27:59,926 --> 00:28:01,286 Speaker 1: time in a nicu? 481 00:28:01,846 --> 00:28:05,686 Speaker 2: She was perfect. She came out screaming, and because of 482 00:28:05,726 --> 00:28:08,006 Speaker 2: the nature of the birth, the room was filled with 483 00:28:08,086 --> 00:28:12,006 Speaker 2: pediatricians and everyone has told me there was just a huge, 484 00:28:12,166 --> 00:28:16,526 Speaker 2: like a relief from everybody in the room. I have 485 00:28:16,646 --> 00:28:19,566 Speaker 2: a lot of photos of her coming out. She was 486 00:28:19,686 --> 00:28:22,446 Speaker 2: obviously covered in blood, but they cleaned her up and 487 00:28:22,486 --> 00:28:25,646 Speaker 2: she's crying, And I've got all these photos of my 488 00:28:25,766 --> 00:28:30,046 Speaker 2: husband and her immediately after she was taken out, so 489 00:28:30,126 --> 00:28:32,606 Speaker 2: he had all of those first moments with her. And 490 00:28:33,046 --> 00:28:36,406 Speaker 2: I can even click on the live photos and listen 491 00:28:36,486 --> 00:28:39,086 Speaker 2: to him talking to her whilst I was in surgery. 492 00:28:39,086 --> 00:28:39,806 Speaker 2: It's beautiful. 493 00:28:40,126 --> 00:28:41,046 Speaker 1: What was he saying. 494 00:28:41,526 --> 00:28:44,806 Speaker 2: He was saying things like, Mummy's going to be okay. 495 00:28:45,006 --> 00:28:47,526 Speaker 2: They're working on mummy, Like she's going to be okay, 496 00:28:47,566 --> 00:28:50,206 Speaker 2: Like I'm here, things of that nature. If I ever 497 00:28:50,806 --> 00:28:53,126 Speaker 2: have a fight with my husband, and I doubt the 498 00:28:53,166 --> 00:28:56,486 Speaker 2: way he feels about me, I can go back to 499 00:28:56,526 --> 00:28:59,446 Speaker 2: those photos and brush the short he loves me. 500 00:29:02,566 --> 00:29:06,206 Speaker 1: I think the reason your story is so pertinent at 501 00:29:06,286 --> 00:29:09,326 Speaker 1: the moment is because of the story that's come out recently, 502 00:29:09,406 --> 00:29:14,246 Speaker 1: the baby that passed away due to a placental abruption. Yeah, recently, 503 00:29:15,046 --> 00:29:18,886 Speaker 1: and I think that's affected a lot of people. And 504 00:29:19,446 --> 00:29:24,286 Speaker 1: I am so happy that you and bub are okay, 505 00:29:25,126 --> 00:29:28,846 Speaker 1: because a placental abruption is incredibly serious. I spoke to 506 00:29:29,806 --> 00:29:32,806 Speaker 1: an obstric before speaking with you today, and it is 507 00:29:32,886 --> 00:29:35,246 Speaker 1: really one of the most dangerous things that can happen 508 00:29:35,966 --> 00:29:39,166 Speaker 1: during a pregnancy. And I had no idea, and you 509 00:29:39,246 --> 00:29:41,566 Speaker 1: had no idea, and I did ask, and I'm sure 510 00:29:41,606 --> 00:29:45,486 Speaker 1: you've asked as well. They don't really know why it happens. 511 00:29:45,486 --> 00:29:48,206 Speaker 1: There's a couple of risk factors. But did they give 512 00:29:48,246 --> 00:29:51,406 Speaker 1: you any indication as to why this happened or. 513 00:29:51,806 --> 00:29:56,206 Speaker 2: I have had care post birth. They have tested my 514 00:29:56,286 --> 00:29:59,686 Speaker 2: plac center and there's nothing unusual. They said it was 515 00:29:59,686 --> 00:30:02,446 Speaker 2: odd that it happened with my second pregnancy, because if 516 00:30:02,446 --> 00:30:05,246 Speaker 2: this was something that I was predisposed to, that it 517 00:30:05,406 --> 00:30:09,526 Speaker 2: was likely shelf in my first pregnancy. I meet none 518 00:30:09,566 --> 00:30:11,726 Speaker 2: of the risk factors and it's not as if I 519 00:30:11,766 --> 00:30:14,886 Speaker 2: had a fall or anything like that which has happened 520 00:30:15,046 --> 00:30:18,006 Speaker 2: since to one of my friends. They told me at 521 00:30:18,006 --> 00:30:21,206 Speaker 2: the hospital, and I was at the Royal Women's Hospital 522 00:30:21,206 --> 00:30:24,566 Speaker 2: in Melbourne, which is our biggest hospital, which is where 523 00:30:24,606 --> 00:30:26,886 Speaker 2: you get sent if there is an emergency like this. 524 00:30:27,606 --> 00:30:30,086 Speaker 2: They said, they see I think they said one in 525 00:30:30,126 --> 00:30:33,446 Speaker 2: one hundred in a year is a placental abruption, and 526 00:30:33,526 --> 00:30:37,206 Speaker 2: to my case would be one in like two thousand. 527 00:30:38,286 --> 00:30:42,486 Speaker 2: So they said placental abruption not particularly rare, but to 528 00:30:42,726 --> 00:30:45,486 Speaker 2: the extreme level that I had at at quite rare 529 00:30:45,646 --> 00:30:47,206 Speaker 2: and as you said, very serious. 530 00:30:47,726 --> 00:30:49,806 Speaker 1: And I think the lesson in all of this is, 531 00:30:50,086 --> 00:30:52,206 Speaker 1: obviously there was a lot of luck involved, but you 532 00:30:52,846 --> 00:30:56,206 Speaker 1: picking up that phone and calling Triple Zeros straight away 533 00:30:57,366 --> 00:31:01,406 Speaker 1: is the absolute best thing that you could have done. 534 00:31:01,926 --> 00:31:05,886 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And that was told to me continuously by everyone 535 00:31:05,886 --> 00:31:09,646 Speaker 2: I spoke to in the days after, because I had 536 00:31:09,886 --> 00:31:13,206 Speaker 2: woken up from this experience and I guess I didn't 537 00:31:13,246 --> 00:31:17,006 Speaker 2: really understand and it took me days to work out 538 00:31:17,486 --> 00:31:21,166 Speaker 2: just how serious it had been, because you're not aware, 539 00:31:21,286 --> 00:31:24,286 Speaker 2: as a typical person how much blood you have in 540 00:31:24,326 --> 00:31:27,206 Speaker 2: your body or what normal blood loss is, or when 541 00:31:27,246 --> 00:31:29,566 Speaker 2: it does get to a point where it becomes critical. 542 00:31:30,446 --> 00:31:35,406 Speaker 2: So in speaking to the obstetrician that did the surgery 543 00:31:35,646 --> 00:31:39,006 Speaker 2: in you know how tight. Some of the hugs I 544 00:31:39,046 --> 00:31:42,486 Speaker 2: got from the midwives were like, those things are telling 545 00:31:43,486 --> 00:31:46,406 Speaker 2: that people would come in, nurses and midwives would come 546 00:31:46,446 --> 00:31:49,606 Speaker 2: in and they would know who I was on the floor. 547 00:31:49,806 --> 00:31:52,606 Speaker 2: They had heard of what had happened. So there was 548 00:31:52,686 --> 00:31:55,966 Speaker 2: quite a few things like that that made me think, oh, 549 00:31:56,006 --> 00:31:59,606 Speaker 2: this is more than I thought it was initially. 550 00:31:59,886 --> 00:32:03,726 Speaker 1: It's probably a good thing in retrospect for you personally, 551 00:32:03,846 --> 00:32:06,886 Speaker 1: you know, like being just that kind of speed of it. 552 00:32:06,966 --> 00:32:11,726 Speaker 1: But I am so so happy that Siena came out beautifully. 553 00:32:11,726 --> 00:32:16,246 Speaker 1: I'm so happy that you recovered well. And how long 554 00:32:16,326 --> 00:32:19,286 Speaker 1: were you in hospital? After Sienna's birth. 555 00:32:19,686 --> 00:32:23,046 Speaker 2: They were actually pretty happy to discharge me on day two, 556 00:32:23,646 --> 00:32:27,006 Speaker 2: but she had just dropped a little bit more of 557 00:32:27,046 --> 00:32:29,846 Speaker 2: her birthway than they were happy with, and so really 558 00:32:29,886 --> 00:32:33,806 Speaker 2: I stayed in hospital for I believe five days to 559 00:32:33,886 --> 00:32:34,886 Speaker 2: monitor her growth. 560 00:32:35,366 --> 00:32:38,086 Speaker 1: So you did have a transfusion, not an iron infusion. 561 00:32:38,406 --> 00:32:41,726 Speaker 2: I had a blood transfusion when I was in recovery 562 00:32:41,766 --> 00:32:45,806 Speaker 2: if straight after I'd woken up, then they ran my 563 00:32:45,846 --> 00:32:49,726 Speaker 2: blood work that day, and every day that I was 564 00:32:49,726 --> 00:32:52,926 Speaker 2: in the hospital they ran my blood work. And I 565 00:32:53,126 --> 00:32:58,326 Speaker 2: was completely fine. The bloods showed no sign at all 566 00:32:58,486 --> 00:33:01,086 Speaker 2: of me losing the amount that a blood that I did, 567 00:33:01,406 --> 00:33:03,326 Speaker 2: to the point when I went to my six week 568 00:33:03,406 --> 00:33:08,766 Speaker 2: check up with my GP seriously questioned what had happened 569 00:33:09,006 --> 00:33:11,286 Speaker 2: because he goes it, It doesn't make sense to me. 570 00:33:12,206 --> 00:33:14,726 Speaker 2: And I asked all of those questions to the hospital 571 00:33:14,766 --> 00:33:17,326 Speaker 2: when I went back and had post care with them, 572 00:33:17,366 --> 00:33:20,886 Speaker 2: and they really attributed the amount of iron that I 573 00:33:21,006 --> 00:33:25,806 Speaker 2: was taking during pregnancy was significant, and my stores were 574 00:33:25,846 --> 00:33:29,086 Speaker 2: apparently just so good that I was able to bounce 575 00:33:29,126 --> 00:33:29,926 Speaker 2: the way that I did. 576 00:33:30,446 --> 00:33:33,406 Speaker 1: Do you know from the reports how much blood you 577 00:33:33,486 --> 00:33:34,686 Speaker 1: lost in total? 578 00:33:35,126 --> 00:33:39,406 Speaker 2: In total the hospital from what they could gather in 579 00:33:39,486 --> 00:33:42,726 Speaker 2: their ambulance and at the hospital and obviously in theater 580 00:33:43,046 --> 00:33:46,486 Speaker 2: they had edit two and a half leads, so that 581 00:33:46,526 --> 00:33:49,326 Speaker 2: would be not including the amount that I had lost 582 00:33:50,006 --> 00:33:53,526 Speaker 2: initially at home. Wow, to which when I first was 583 00:33:53,606 --> 00:33:56,606 Speaker 2: told that, again I had no real understanding of what 584 00:33:56,646 --> 00:33:59,726 Speaker 2: that meant. How much blood does the body even hold? 585 00:33:59,806 --> 00:34:00,406 Speaker 2: I didn't know. 586 00:34:00,966 --> 00:34:01,646 Speaker 1: Do you know now? 587 00:34:03,726 --> 00:34:05,846 Speaker 2: I think my GP told me for some one of 588 00:34:05,886 --> 00:34:08,685 Speaker 2: my side. I'm one hundred and sixty three centimeters. I'm 589 00:34:08,686 --> 00:34:11,926 Speaker 2: not a tall woman. I would probably have about five 590 00:34:11,966 --> 00:34:12,566 Speaker 2: and a half. 591 00:34:12,886 --> 00:34:14,885 Speaker 1: You lost a lot of blood. You lost a lot 592 00:34:14,886 --> 00:34:18,166 Speaker 1: of blood. Yes, I guess the way that I would 593 00:34:18,205 --> 00:34:21,165 Speaker 1: love to finish this is is there a message that 594 00:34:21,246 --> 00:34:25,286 Speaker 1: you would like to share regarding your placental abruption. 595 00:34:25,886 --> 00:34:29,165 Speaker 2: I would just love people to know that it exists. 596 00:34:29,685 --> 00:34:33,686 Speaker 2: I am in no way wanting to scare pregnant women, 597 00:34:33,966 --> 00:34:38,286 Speaker 2: especially first time mothers, but there is absolutely nothing wrong 598 00:34:38,326 --> 00:34:41,085 Speaker 2: with learning about the different things that can happen in 599 00:34:41,125 --> 00:34:45,285 Speaker 2: birth and the different pathways that it can take. Absolutely 600 00:34:45,366 --> 00:34:49,845 Speaker 2: trusting your instinct that if something is wrong, act. There 601 00:34:49,926 --> 00:34:53,486 Speaker 2: is no shame in acting where it is not needed. 602 00:34:53,565 --> 00:34:56,685 Speaker 2: And if you have to backtrack, that's completely fine. But 603 00:34:56,966 --> 00:35:00,245 Speaker 2: if you act immediately and it's needed, then you can 604 00:35:00,286 --> 00:35:03,565 Speaker 2: save your life. You can save your baby's life. And 605 00:35:03,605 --> 00:35:07,245 Speaker 2: I did all of this training for hypno birthing for 606 00:35:07,326 --> 00:35:10,366 Speaker 2: my first berth, and never did I think that it 607 00:35:10,406 --> 00:35:15,166 Speaker 2: would have such an impact on my second emergency birth, 608 00:35:15,806 --> 00:35:19,006 Speaker 2: where it kept me grounded and kept me calm was 609 00:35:19,205 --> 00:35:20,645 Speaker 2: just as useful. 610 00:35:21,046 --> 00:35:23,285 Speaker 1: We talk a lot about that. There's the fight flight 611 00:35:23,366 --> 00:35:27,125 Speaker 1: or phrase, yes you're calm, you're in fight mode, and 612 00:35:27,205 --> 00:35:29,925 Speaker 1: you were this is what I need to do and 613 00:35:30,165 --> 00:35:32,966 Speaker 1: you can hear that in the call. I was blown 614 00:35:33,006 --> 00:35:36,685 Speaker 1: away by your calm and ability to get through that. 615 00:35:37,406 --> 00:35:42,246 Speaker 1: I'm so happy that everything is okay and how this Ciena. 616 00:35:42,326 --> 00:35:47,806 Speaker 2: Now, Sienna is just over one and she's thriving. She's walking, 617 00:35:48,046 --> 00:35:53,006 Speaker 2: and she's talking and eating and interacting and socializing and 618 00:35:53,165 --> 00:35:56,085 Speaker 2: she is an absolute delight of a baby. 619 00:35:56,565 --> 00:35:59,966 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Sabrina for sharing your story. I'm 620 00:35:59,966 --> 00:36:02,965 Speaker 1: going to need a few tissues after this, but thank 621 00:36:02,966 --> 00:36:06,486 Speaker 1: you very much. And yeah, very happy that everyone is okay. 622 00:36:06,685 --> 00:36:08,046 Speaker 2: Thank you for allowing me to share. 623 00:36:14,446 --> 00:36:18,366 Speaker 1: Given today's episode has been pretty traumatic, I wanted to 624 00:36:18,366 --> 00:36:22,486 Speaker 1: get some information from our resident obstetrician and gynecologist, doctor 625 00:36:22,526 --> 00:36:26,725 Speaker 1: Bronwen Devine about what exactly a placental abruption is. 626 00:36:27,246 --> 00:36:31,765 Speaker 5: So a placental abruption is a really very serious complication 627 00:36:32,205 --> 00:36:35,885 Speaker 5: of the second half of pregnancy, and it occurs when 628 00:36:35,926 --> 00:36:40,165 Speaker 5: the placenta, either in part or in full, shears off 629 00:36:40,205 --> 00:36:42,925 Speaker 5: the wall of the uterus, so it comes away from 630 00:36:42,926 --> 00:36:46,765 Speaker 5: the wall of the uterus, and the placenta is connected 631 00:36:46,766 --> 00:36:50,526 Speaker 5: to the uterus to provide oxygen and nutrients for the baby, 632 00:36:50,846 --> 00:36:54,486 Speaker 5: so if it comes away, the baby can't get oxygen 633 00:36:54,486 --> 00:36:57,406 Speaker 5: and nutrients. And oxygens the really important one. I mean, 634 00:36:57,446 --> 00:36:59,285 Speaker 5: they can go for a little bit of time without 635 00:36:59,366 --> 00:37:03,845 Speaker 5: getting nutrients coming across, but oxygen's imperative. Fetuses don't breathe 636 00:37:03,926 --> 00:37:06,486 Speaker 5: via their lungs, so they need to get oxygen via 637 00:37:06,526 --> 00:37:08,926 Speaker 5: the placenta. And if the placenta comes off the uterrine 638 00:37:08,966 --> 00:37:12,006 Speaker 5: wall and it comes off a huge chunk of it 639 00:37:12,046 --> 00:37:14,685 Speaker 5: comes off, then that will leave the baby without an 640 00:37:14,725 --> 00:37:18,966 Speaker 5: oxygen supply, and that can be extremely dangerous. Now, sometimes 641 00:37:18,966 --> 00:37:21,406 Speaker 5: there's an abruption where the placenta comes away a little 642 00:37:21,406 --> 00:37:23,486 Speaker 5: bit and there can be a lot of bleeding. Because 643 00:37:23,526 --> 00:37:25,725 Speaker 5: the placenta comes away, then there's bleeding from behind that, 644 00:37:25,806 --> 00:37:28,926 Speaker 5: and that can trickle down and be obvious bleeding, and 645 00:37:28,966 --> 00:37:32,526 Speaker 5: then the baby can be okay. But if we diagnose 646 00:37:32,565 --> 00:37:37,406 Speaker 5: a placental abruption, that's in almost all instances and indication 647 00:37:37,565 --> 00:37:41,245 Speaker 5: to get the baby born quickly. It's not just the 648 00:37:41,286 --> 00:37:43,966 Speaker 5: bub who's at risk from a placental abruption. Mums can 649 00:37:44,006 --> 00:37:47,006 Speaker 5: be at really serious risk as well. In response to 650 00:37:47,046 --> 00:37:50,446 Speaker 5: a placental abruption, they can develop what we call a coagulopathy, 651 00:37:50,526 --> 00:37:53,926 Speaker 5: so their blood can stop clotting and they can then 652 00:37:54,006 --> 00:37:56,165 Speaker 5: bleed and bleed very very heavily. 653 00:37:56,366 --> 00:37:58,286 Speaker 1: And what about the risk factors? 654 00:37:58,886 --> 00:38:01,846 Speaker 5: So it can happen without any known risk factors, but 655 00:38:01,926 --> 00:38:06,646 Speaker 5: we do know of several risk factors for the condition. 656 00:38:07,446 --> 00:38:10,085 Speaker 5: So if you've had a placental abruption before, you are 657 00:38:10,125 --> 00:38:13,606 Speaker 5: an increased risk in a subsequent pregnancy. Having high blood 658 00:38:13,605 --> 00:38:17,165 Speaker 5: pressure in pregnancy is an increased risk. And there are 659 00:38:17,205 --> 00:38:20,926 Speaker 5: certain autoimmune conditions that are more likely to be associated 660 00:38:20,966 --> 00:38:25,366 Speaker 5: with a placental abruption, and usually we're aware of those 661 00:38:25,486 --> 00:38:28,406 Speaker 5: beforehand because there are other things that can happen as well, 662 00:38:28,725 --> 00:38:32,326 Speaker 5: so we've usually got an idea one of those conditions 663 00:38:32,446 --> 00:38:35,886 Speaker 5: might be present. There are steps we can take, for example, 664 00:38:36,006 --> 00:38:39,446 Speaker 5: watching the baby's growth very carefully and having people on 665 00:38:39,565 --> 00:38:42,765 Speaker 5: blood thinners and things like that that can help with 666 00:38:42,886 --> 00:38:47,326 Speaker 5: reducing the risk. Controlling blood pressure, keeping an eye on 667 00:38:47,406 --> 00:38:51,125 Speaker 5: a fetus's growth, keeping an eye with ultrasounds and things 668 00:38:51,165 --> 00:38:55,645 Speaker 5: like that can help us predict some of the features 669 00:38:55,685 --> 00:38:59,526 Speaker 5: that can be present before an abruption occurs. But sometimes 670 00:38:59,565 --> 00:39:02,406 Speaker 5: it just occurs out of the blue without any warning 671 00:39:02,486 --> 00:39:05,365 Speaker 5: signs and it can be very very serious for Mum 672 00:39:05,526 --> 00:39:05,965 Speaker 5: and bub. 673 00:39:09,246 --> 00:39:12,006 Speaker 1: Diary of a Birth was hosted by me Kissenya Lukitch 674 00:39:12,125 --> 00:39:15,886 Speaker 1: with expert input from doctor Bronwyn Devine and while we 675 00:39:15,966 --> 00:39:18,685 Speaker 1: have you here, we're on the hunt to share powerful, 676 00:39:18,926 --> 00:39:23,885 Speaker 1: underrepresented stories from people of all cultures, backgrounds, and abilities. 677 00:39:24,366 --> 00:39:27,725 Speaker 1: If you've been affected by today's episode, we've attached additional 678 00:39:27,766 --> 00:39:31,685 Speaker 1: resources in the show notes. This episode was produced by 679 00:39:31,806 --> 00:39:36,205 Speaker 1: Tina Mattalov and myself Kissenya Lukitch, with audio production by 680 00:39:36,406 --> 00:39:48,446 Speaker 1: Leah Porges. Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land. 681 00:39:48,565 --> 00:39:51,926 Speaker 1: We have recorded this podcast on the Gadigul people of 682 00:39:51,966 --> 00:39:55,486 Speaker 1: the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their elders 683 00:39:55,526 --> 00:39:59,406 Speaker 1: past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal 684 00:39:59,446 --> 00:40:01,125 Speaker 1: and Torres Raight Islander cultures.