Brittany
Loss, IVF, NICU
Gidget Foundation Australia and my incredible Gidget Clinician became my village. I felt heard and safe, and began the steps towards a long journey of healing.
I carry my story wearing many hats: pride, sorrow, anger, awareness, loneliness. After two years of infertility, endometriosis, PCOS and IVF, we finally fell pregnant only for our son to be born prematurely at 21 weeks and 4 days and heartbreakingly born too premature to survive and passed away after his birth as he laid on my chest.
Our hearts broke and our innocence vanished. Falling pregnant again was far from enjoyable: panic attacks, debilitating anxiety and nightmares consumed me. Our second baby, a daughter, was born at 26 weeks via emergency caesarean, spending four and a half months in NICU fighting for her life.
My battles with postnatal anxiety and depression felt like a full-blown war. It was then I was referred to Gidget Foundation Australia and my Gidget Clinician became my village. I felt heard and safe, and began the long journey of healing.
Our third baby, a son, was born at 37 weeks but unexpected complications, emergency surgery and another NICU stay meant the postpartum experience I had longed for was again out of reach. PNDA came for me a third time. But with the continued support of Gidget Foundation Australia and the tools I've built over the years, PNDA no longer suffocated me. The support I've received has given me the strength to fight for the life I have with my family - a gift I will be forever grateful for.