Isabel tells her birth story in her own words…

CW: This story includes references to a premature birth and NICU.

I unexpectedly fell pregnant with Alina and from day one it was quite the adventure, through rough morning sickness to what felt like endless blood work and scans. I reached about 27 weeks and started to feel that something was just not right. I would become dizzy, extremely tired, and eventually my body begun to swell everywhere.

I spent the next 2 weeks in and out of the hospital for check-ups with each coming back clear. One morning I become worried when I could no longer feel any kicks or movement from bub, immediately I went back in to be assessed. Upon doing the initial tests the team immediately became concerned about my blood pressure, after running through a few more tests I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia. I was rushed into an ultrasound where they determined bub was too small and was not receiving enough nutrients or blood flow through the umbilical cord – bub was diagnosed with IUGR (inter-uterine-growth-restriction)

Following the ultrasound, I was brought into a tiny room where I was told that the baby and my body were not ok, and that we need to prepare for her birth as soon as possible. I held myself together in front of the medical team however when they stepped out of the room my heart shattered. I was hysterical crying and couldn’t understand how my body had failed my baby so much that she needed to be delivered so early. 

I continued discussing with the medical team and we immediately commenced medication to control my blood pressure and started steroids to prepare bubs lungs for birth. Following an overnight stay, I was transferred to TCH so we could be ready for bub to head straight into the NICU.

For the next week I remained in hospital managing my symptoms with medications and daily tests, scans, and meetings with doctors to prepare for the birth and met with the NICU team to discuss possible complications. Originally, we had planned for a day pass for me to visit my family at home for Christmas but unfortunately my body was struggling to keep my blood pressure down and we had to remain at hospital. This was all during covid times which meant no visitors making it a very isolating experience.

On boxing day, we continued our daily tests and scans and my medical team advised that we would be preparing for a C section delivery in the coming days.

Unfortunately, immediately following this news I went into my CTG of bub. My little girl was very small and notorious for wriggling away so we couldn’t read her heart. I called over a nurse as I couldn’t get her into position for a good read. When the nurse approached, she tried to find the heartbeat but couldn’t, she leant over and said that she needed to call for some help and immediately pressed the emergency bottom – my heat shattered and I knew exactly what was happening …

A huge medical team rushed into the room and immediately laid me back and started working to find a heartbeat, in a panic I asked what was happening and all they could say was we can’t find any heartbeat and we are going to theatre now. The nurses started prepping to put me under sedation to get bub out faster. Within seconds I had nurses on top of me on the bed and we were running to the theatre. 

Amongst all the tears, screaming and panic we had a moment of peace. While waiting for the elevator the team went quiet and all you could hear was a tiny heartbeat picking back up. We all sighed with relief and moved quickly into a side medical room. The team started placing cannulas and commenced magnesium to aid in preventing brain damage during delivery.

Amongst the chaos my amazing nurses had called my mum and gotten her to the hospital and up by my side just in time for bubs arrival. The entire delivery was so calm and so fast, in the theatre I could not fault the team around me supporting me through the entire experience.

Within minutes Alina was born at 1000g at 30 weeks – the doctor quickly held her up for me to see and she was immediately taken to commence assistance with her breathing and was admitted to the NICU at 2 minutes old. I sent my mum to the NICU with Alina while I finished in theatre. I spent what felt like hours in recovery with my mum looking at photos and videos of my new bub. After what felt like a lifetime, I was finally stable enough to visit her 9 hours after her birth – with her early birth I was unable to hold her as the team were still working on her breathing and running tests.

The next morning, I was pushed up to the NICU and able to hold Alina for the first time with a 10-minute limit on our cuddle time. We spent the next 61 days fighting hard in the NICU and I was finally able to bring my sweet baby home.

What do you wish you knew before birth?

I wish I knew that all births aren’t the same – all births are valid, your feelings about your birth are valid.

Birthing a child might not always be the picture-perfect moment you planned and that’s ok. Your allowed to mourn your birth and feel the emotions that come from birth trauma!

If you could, would you do anything differently?

I wouldn’t sweat the small things – birthing is truly amazing and you should just be present in the moment – trust your body.

What did your partner do that really helped during labour/birth?

My mum was an incredible support person throughout the entire experience – she helped me to laugh and relax throughout the entire process.

What advice/honest truth would give a mama-to-be about birth?

Take a moment to feel and be present in the moment – all your feelings are valid weather your excited, nervous, anxious about your birth. Don’t suppress those emotions, feel and communicate with your support people.