474 | Chantal endometriosis, IVF, anxiety, private obstetrician, HG, amniocentesis, spontaneous labour, vaginal birth

Australian Birth Stories

The gender pain gap has been in the news cycle recently with the Victorian government announcing an inquiry into women’s pain. Chantal’s story mirrors the experience of thousands of Australian women; a history of painful periods that had been dismissed. She was diagnosed with stage three endometriosis when she had trouble conceiving naturally. After a laparoscopy and no success with natural conception, she started the IVF journey and talks at length about the emotional and mental challenges she faced during four failed embryo transfers. She conceived on the fifth cycle and was bedridden for the first trimester with HG which was dismissed by her obstetrician. After a week-long hospital stay for fluids she chose a new obstetrician and despite his support throughout pregnancy, in the third trimester suggestions of a planned caesarean or induction to prevent stillbirth prompted Chantal to avoid her appointments. She went into spontaneous labour at 41+1 and after a quick and intense labour she birthed her baby girl without intervention.

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