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‘It’s confronting’: Asher Keddie felt proud covering the sensitive topic of stillbirth on Offspring

AUSTRALIAN drama Offspring has been praised for it’s inclusion of a controversial stillbirth storyline in last night’s episode. Keddie revealed reading the script was “confronting”.

Osher Gunsberg makes an appearance on Offspring

AUSTRALIAN drama Offspring has been praised for it’s inclusion of a controversial stillbirth storyline in last night’s episode.

The Channel 10 show followed a tragic plot in which Asher Keddie’s Nina Proudman had to help first-time mother Shanti, played by Caroline Brazier, ­deliver a stillborn daughter. Only to discover that she herself was pregnant.

Keddie told Confidential reading the script was “confronting” but she felt proud to be covering the topic in a sensitive way because “it’s life”.

Asher Keddie says last night’s episode was one of her favourites. Picture: Channel 10
Asher Keddie says last night’s episode was one of her favourites. Picture: Channel 10

Former Big Brother star now TV producer Bree Amer Wilkes, 34, and husband Evan lost their son Archie at 36 weeks.

With six babies dying every day in their mother’s womb, she’s glad the show “had the guts” to deal with the taboo subject.

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“I know it’s not a palatable subject. It’s confronting. I’m surprised they covered it because it’s normally something shows shy away from,” she said.

“However, it’s something we need to talk about. The stillborn rate is higher than the road toll rate, yet there are no national campaigns about the issue.”

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Former Big Brother star Bree Amer-Wilkes with her healthy 5-month old son, Hunter. She was surprised they included the “confronting” topic. Picture: Chris Pavlich
Former Big Brother star Bree Amer-Wilkes with her healthy 5-month old son, Hunter. She was surprised they included the “confronting” topic. Picture: Chris Pavlich
Proudman discovered she is pregnant. Picture: Channel 10
Proudman discovered she is pregnant. Picture: Channel 10

Amer Wilkes, who has since given birth to son Hunter, 6 months, said if she was aware of the warning signs, such as limited movement, she would have demanded her baby be delivered early.

“The only way to prevent it happening to other women is talking about it,” said Amer Wilkes, who works alongside The Stillborn Foundation to try to raise awareness, as well as funds for research. Keddie said the episode became one of her “favourites” because of the emotional issues it dealt with and ending with another pregnancy.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/its-confronting-asher-keddie-felt-proud-covering-the-sensitive-topic-of-stillbirth-on-offspring/news-story/2b694ab4552db272905dbf0fefa88449