This episode will begin and end with Jaime’s story about the stillbirths of her sons, James and Zachary. It’s the first time Jaime has told this story on the podcast, and it’s a conversation about love, loss, and the long, often quiet journey Jaime took to find her voice. In between Jaime’s story we will hear from Dr. Astrid Christofferson-Deb, an obstetrician-gynecologist at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, who shares how care providers can support families through stillbirth by offering care, courage and strength. Together, Jaime and Dr. Astrid reflect on what it means to honour every child—no matter how long they were here.

Episode Notes:

[2:06] “She was born at 33 weeks, she was a NICU baby”

• Babies born at 33 weeks are premature and may require specialized care to help them transition to life outside the womb.
• a NICU - or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - is a specialized hospital unit that provides care for premature or critically ill newborn infants. A NICU is equipped with advanced technology and staffed by a multidisciplinary team of experts to address various medical conditions that may arise in a premature infant. BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre NICU

[3:01] “...we had signs that there were difficulties in our pregnancy from the 12-week ultrasound and then the 18-week ultrasound and the next five weeks of MFM visits”

• Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists are expert physicians that support high-risk pregnancies. MFM appointments are typically for pregnant people who have pre-existing medical conditions, develop complications during pregnancy, or whose babies have health issues. MFM specialists care may include diagnostic tests and treatment to support the well-being of both the birthing person and the baby. BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre MFM

[5:21] “...there appeared to be less amniotic fluid than was normal”.

• Amniotic fluid is the protective liquid that surrounds a developing baby in the uterus throughout the pregnancy. This fluid acts as a cushion, protecting the baby from injury and temperature changes while allowing for movement and the baby's growth and development. Amniotic fluid contains important nutrients and antibodies. Normal levels of amniotic fluid, measured by the Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI), typically range from 5-25cms. AFI measurements outside this range may indicate a problem. A low level of amniotic fluid means there is less than the expected amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby in the uterus. A low level of amniotic fluid can affect the baby's development and potentially lead to complications during labour and delivery.

[7:20] “I think it’s called the antenatal unit"

• An antenatal unit is a specialized hospital area that provides care for pregnant people experiencing complications that require hospitalization before delivery. These units focus on monitoring and managing pregnancies to support the health of the birthing person and the baby.

[9:38] “...I was followed by a high risk OBGYN”.

• A high-risk OBGYN, also known as a maternal-fetal medicine specialist (MFM) or perinatologist, is an obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) who specializes in managing pregnancies that carry an increased risk for the birthing person, baby or both. These physicians have advanced training and expertise in addressing the unique challenges and potential complications associated with pregnancy.

[19:15] “I also work at South Community Birth Program”

• The South Community Birth Program (SCBP) is a health clinic based in Vancouver, Canada, open to all pregnant people. The SCBP is staffed by a group of physicians, registered midwives, nurses and doulas. SCBP provides care during pregnancy, labour and birth, and six weeks postpartum.

[19:31] “Recent research has shown that in high income countries, when they look at people who’ve had a first stillbirth, they actually are more likely in their next pregnancy to either have another stillbirth or to have a complication in pregnancy".