Cressy mum Jade Manson describes losing her baby daughter
Cressy mum Jade Manson has described losing her baby daughter Kai, who was born at 20 weeks, as “the worst thing imaginable”. In June she gave birth to her second daughter, Pippa.
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Jade Manson says losing her baby daughter Kai in 2019 was “the worst thing imaginable”.
Ms Manson thought she was pretty well versed at going through grief after the death of her then-fiance in 2011, but said losing her daughter was a terrible experience that affected every facet of her life.
The Cressy woman gave birth to Kai at 20 weeks, after going into spontaneous labour due to having a weak cervix. Kai died shortly after birth.
Ms Manson had not experienced any issues during her pregnancy and was not deemed at risk of a pre-term birth.
After losing Kai, Ms Manson was diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD.
She then suffered from secondary infertility and spent three years trying to fall pregnant again.
When she was pregnant with her second daughter, Pippa, Ms Manson felt nervous and scared.
“Obviously when you’ve gone through a loss, you’re really scared to go through another one,” Ms Manson said.
Because her pregnancy with Pippa was considered high risk, Ms Manson was referred to Barwon Health’s Pre-Term Birth Clinic.
The clinic oversees pregnancies that need to be more closely monitored to diagnose or manage a condition that may lead to pre-term labour.
More than 125 women have received specialist pregnancy care from the clinic since it opened in July last year.
Before the clinic was opened, many women were forced to travel to Melbourne for monitoring.
Barwon Health clinic midwife specialist Edwina McLean said the team’s aim was to extend pregnancies to 39 week and prevent pre-term labour.
“Even if we can see a woman give birth at 35 weeks compared to their previous pregnancy
at 26 weeks, there’s a much better outcome that wouldn’t be possible without the close
monitoring, medications and procedures we’re able to provide.”
Ms Manson said attending the clinic fortnightly throughout her pregnancy with Pippa “made the biggest difference to my mental health”.
She said, as someone who experienced pregnancy both with and without the clinic, she understood how beneficial the clinic was.
“Continuity of care through the preterm birth clinic aided in a much smoother and supportive pregnancy experience” she said.
“They made the process so much better and to have those friendly faces every time you walked in was fantastic.”
Ms Manson said she couldn’t thank the midwives and doctors at the clinic enough.
She said they told her there were no silly questions and listened to and validated any concerns she had.
Ms Manson said she now loved being a mum.
“Being a mum to Pippa, it’s just been the best thing,” Ms Manson said.
“Obviously sometimes you still have those anxious moments and things like that, but I’m just so grateful that I have her and that she’s here.”
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Originally published as Cressy mum Jade Manson describes losing her baby daughter
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