Frankie: Two Births: First Birth Obstetric Cholestasis, Emergency Ventouse, Second birth: Twin Pregnancy, Planned C-Section at 34 Weeks, NICU, Bonding Difficulties, Postnatal Depression

 Frankie had a really tough first pregnancy. She had already been through obstetric cholestasis, a long induction, and an emergency ventouse delivery with her first. Second time around she was carrying twins. She knew she could not go through that again. Frankie is a mum of three boys from Sheffield who shares two very different birth stories shaped by PCOS, endometriosis, multiple miscarriages, and a fertility journey that took years. Her first son Dawson was conceived on Clomid after nearly two years of trying. Her twins Blake and Holden were conceived within two cycles of medication. Nobody was more surprised than her. With her twin pregnancy came obstetric cholestasis again, severe pelvic girdle pain so bad she could not walk, and a decision to deliver at 34 weeks. Her planned C-section went smoothly. What came after did not. Both boys went to NICU for a month. One came home on oxygen with chronic lung disease. Frankie found herself learning to administer tube feeds, check pH levels, and manage medical equipment while recovering from major surgery and trying to parent a five year old. Bonding with her youngest twin Holden took nine months. She hated herself for it every single day. And nobody really came to help. In this episode we talk about:What obstetric cholestasis is and how it affected both of Frankie's pregnanciesThe decision to deliver twins at 34 weeks and what that meant for her boysWhat NICU is really like as a parent and why nobody prepares you for itWhy bonding after a NICU stay is so much harder than anyone tells youPostnatal depression, sleep deprivation, and what finally helped This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like they were failing when actually they were just surviving something enormous. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care.British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery.These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTubeWant to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.