Episode 25 | Emma

In this episode, Emma shares her experiences of becoming a mum to two premature babies and navigating postpartum largely within the walls of NICU, special care and hospital.

Emma’s son was born unexpectedly at 32 weeks after she developed severe preeclampsia. Following an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic, she waited 19 hours to meet him before beginning a five-week journey through NICU and special care during COVID. Emma reflects on the isolation of that experience, establishing breastfeeding through pumping and tube feeding, and the emotional rollercoaster of watching her baby progress and experience setbacks.

Between her two children, Emma experienced two pregnancy losses, including losing her daughter Madison at 12 weeks. She shares the grief that followed and the significant anxiety she experienced when she eventually became pregnant again.

Her daughter arrived at 34 weeks and five days after Emma developed preeclampsia again, beginning another stay in special care. But shortly after finally bringing both children home, Emma’s son experienced anaphylaxis and her newborn daughter became critically unwell with meningitis, requiring admission to PICU and then special care.

We talk about trying to recover from birth while caring for sick children, the impact on feeding and sleep, the financial and emotional pressures that can accompany prolonged hospital stays, and the importance of support from family, friends, healthcare teams and other NICU parents.

Emma also reflects on how sharing her story has helped her process everything she has experienced, and why she continues to speak openly in the hope that another parent going through NICU or special care might feel a little less alone.

You can find Emma on Instagram at @by.emmamae.

This weeks sponsor is Rest in the Postpartum Season - guided yoga nidra practices created for mothers. 

If you’re looking for a simple way to slow down, rest and take a little time for yourself, you can find practices ranging from five to fifteen minutes at www.thepostpartumseason.com.