IUI to get pregnant, In Utero Heart Condition, C-Section & Immediate Open Heart Surgery - Paulette Kamenecka S7 E35

Becoming Parents - Birth Stories and Birthwork Wisdom

* had a hard time getting pregnant, and despite going through the "infertility gauntlet", the "problem" was never identified

* did get pregnant with an IUI and assumed whatever had been the obstacle was now resolved (who in retrospect is bonkers optimistic)

* 25 weeks into the pregnancy my doctors find a too slow fetal heartrate

*drs find life threatening heart condition for the fetus, created by an autoimmune problem I didn't know I had

*12 weeks in limbo, with drs saying fetus would not survive pregnancy or birth

*scheduled C section at 37 weeks...after she is born alive; next day has open heart surgery to implant a pacemaker

*after surgery drs say whether she lives or dies "is up to her"

*creating a strong sense that this life is "hers"

*that baby just graduated college

*learn about the very hard limits of my control over my child (whose life was "in her own hands", and my body

ABOUT

I am a writer. I write essays about women's health focused on pregnancy and autoimmunity and have a manuscript about pregnancy, family history and the history of autoimmunity research and I run the What you Didn't Expect in Fertility Pregnancy & Birth Podcast, and am about to launch a new pod on the future of pregnancy (focused on research)

FIND HER HERE:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-you-didnt-expect-in-fertility-pregnancy-birth/id1546909059

https://www.whatyoudidntexpectpod.com/

https://paulettekamenecka.com/