82 {Steph Wanless} The emotional repercussions of two premature births

Trigger warning: This episode discusses premature birth, postpartum depression and anxietyFor those who haven’t experienced it, premature birth may seem like a simple concept. The baby is born early.But for those who have gone through it, it can be a traumatic, all consuming event that can have long lasting effects on their mental health and the very way they function as a parent.In this episode we speak to my friend Steph Wanless, an incredible woman who has co-founded and directs the publication FOUND Regional, all while juggling the life of a mother of two children who were both born premature.. She enjoys good grammar, good gin and good times. A self-confessed perfectionist with a penchant for Saturday night lounge room discos, when she's not writing a story, interviewing someone for a story or editing a story, she's usually staring into space planning her next 10 stories.In this episode Steph shares:- Her early career before becoming a mother and the life she built- The process of reconciling she had to give up some things to be a mum- The pivotal moment in their relationship when their child was born prematurely- Her experience in the neonatal ward- How she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety as a parent- The anxiety she feels about her children even now- The process of having a second premature birth- Parenting challenges and experiences- What it was like balancing work and childcare- Shift in focus from finance and tech to storytelling- The growth and challenges of the magazine Key Quotes “The first time I actually saw ted (my baby) was in a photo.” “I couldn’t be with him and I had to trust other people to keep him alive and that was really confronting.” “I was so used to physically seeing on a screen that they were breathing. So when I brought them home and I didn’t have the assurance of that machine, I panicked.” More about Steph WanlessYou can check out FOUND Regional via their website: https://www.foundregional.com.au/Or follow them on socials.Insta: https://www.instagram.com/found_regionalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/FOUNDRegionalYou can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeus If you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.auFor her other business you can find it through the websites:www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.auOr you can follow them on Instagram:@Altitudefitnessarmidale@trialtitudeperformance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.