IVF, trauma, and maternal poor health and hearing loss with Jen

In this episode Jen takes us through her story of endometriosis, IVF, trauma and poor health.  Jen suffered debilitating period pain and often ended op in the emergency department and led to a laparoscopy.

After trying for a year, she needed IVF quickly as her egg reserves had dropped significantly.  Her first embryo transfer didn’t work and she experienced a very traumatic end to that cycle with a lot of bleeding and pain, and a hospital stay.  Following this her mental health declined and so they waited until she was strong enough again to try for another embryo transfer.

Their second embryo transfer was successful and they welcomed their son Ezra into the world.

In the days following Ezra’s birth he wasn’t well with trouble feeding, dry lips, lethargy and weight loss, and at the same time Jen was unwell with increasing c-section pain.  After going home Jen’s c-section scar burst and bled.  She had a big infection, which hadn’t been picked up so she ended up back in hospital.  

Once Jen was back home, still taking lots of antibiotics and pain killers, she was suffering with intense back pain and nausea and following an appointment to her osteopath, she was sent straight to hospital and was then diagnosed with pancreatitis which involved a long and difficult recovery.  As a result of all of this Jen spent a lot of time in the early days separated from Ezra. 

After two years of being unwell, things were recently resolved when it was discovered her gall bladder was in very poor condition and it was removed and for the first time in a long time, Jen is beginning to feel well.

Jen has recently done some work with Karla Sargent, a birth trauma specialist, to help her come to terms with the trauma she has been through.

It was picked up in the newborn hearing screening that Ezra has hearing loss and so Jen also shares that with us.

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Carla Sargent - birth trauma support and education

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