Our Founder on Australian Birth Stories Podcast

Featuring our Founder Bryley (topics: Postpartum – hydrops fetalis, amniocentesis, thoracentesis)

**Trigger warning: Post and podcast talks about NICU, prematurity, medical procedures.

EPISODE 424:

Listen to the podcast on the  internet here or on Apple Podcasts here

Almost 1 in 5 babies spend time in the Special Care Nursery (SCN) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Australia. For the mothers of these babies, postpartum is very different to what they planned or hoped for and there’s often a distinct grief that accompanies the stress of having an unwell or premature baby. We can encourage new mothers to organise meal trains and lie down at every opportunity but we also need to make space for those who are sitting for hours on end in hard hospital chairs, heart aching for their baby and juggling hospital and family life.

Bringing a new life into the world is a transformative experience, one filled with dreams, hopes, and expectations. But sometimes, life takes unexpected turns, and the journey through pregnancy and postpartum becomes a daunting challenge.

In today’s episode Bryley shares her challenging pregnancy experience and five-month NICU journey with baby Mason who was diagnosed with hydrops at 20 weeks. For the remainder of her pregnancy Bryley required frequent ultrasounds and procedures on her baby while in utero while navigating the challenge of many unknowns. Mason spent 148 days in the NICU and towards the end, Bryley had to advocate for his discharge because her family was at breaking point.

Bryley talks about the reason behind why she founded Azure Belle and how Mason's birth changed her perspective on life. 

If you'd like to hear Bryley's full story and gain more insights into her pregnancy postpartum challenges, we invite you to listen to Episode 424 of the Australian Birth Stories Podcast on the internet here or on Apple Podcasts here. It's a story of courage, determination, and the enduring love of a mother for her child, a story that will resonate with anyone who has faced adversity on their own postpartum journey.

Listen to the Australian Birth Stories podcast on the internet here or on Apple Podcasts here