Will I ever stop grieving? A story of late term stillbirth & CMV awareness - with Stephanie Briggs, Mother & Founder of The Hope Initiative for CMV
7/13/20261 hr 17 min
Have you heard of congenital CMV? Many haven’t, including Stephanie Briggs, who learned of it for the first time while simultaneously experiencing the most devastating moment of her family’s life. Steph lost her second daughter, Charlotte Hope - or Charlie - as a result of CMV at 35 weeks gestation. Now the founder of The Hope Initiative for CMV, a charity created to raise awareness of this common but unknown virus, Steph shares her motherhood journey and the legacy of Charlie. In this raw yet eye-opening conversation, we discuss…
- Steph’s trouble with ovulation and journey to conceiving her first daughter
- Her second pregnancy juggling appendicitis, placenta previa, constant flu and nausea
- Getting the medical news no parent wants to hear and the limbo that follows
- How do you cope with hearing your unborn baby won’t survive?
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - what is it?
- Giving birth (and grieving) when you know your baby has passed away
- The unexpected logistics of a stillborn baby
- Explaining to their toddler that her sister wouldn’t come home
- Grief and how little society understands it
- How to be vigilant of CMV when pregnant
- Conceiving after loss and following CMV infection
- Health anxiety during pregnancy
- Living Charlie’s legacy
This episode is proudly sponsored by First Five Years for the Good Choices campaign at firstfiveyears.org.au.
Beyond the Bump is hosted by Jayde Couldwell (@londonxboston) and Sophie Pearce (@svpearce)
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJayde Couldwell· Host0:00
This episode is proudly sponsored by First 5 Years for the Good Choices campaign at first5years.org.au.
Sophie Pearce· Host0:08
We would like to acknowledge the Bundjalung people, traditional custodians of this land where we record this podcast, and we pay our respects to elders past and present. Just a quick note to let you know we talk about stillbirth and infant loss in this episode, so please consider if you've got capacity to listen to this one today. [upbeat music] Hello, beautiful bumpies.
Jayde Couldwell· Host0:32
Welcome to Beyond the Bump, a podcast brought to you by Jade Cudwell and Sophie Peers.
Sophie Pearce· Host0:37
This podcast is targeted at moms, moms-to-be, and women in general. And gents, feel free to have a listen, too. It's a place to have real discussions and ask real questions, no matter how hard, with honest and authentic conversations that leave you feeling lighter, more supported, and more understood after every listen.
Jayde Couldwell· Host0:55
We began as your go-to baby podcast, and we're still right there with you in the thick of it. But now, we're growing with you and your kids, too.
Sophie Pearce· Host1:02
From newborn chaos to raising tweens and teens, from identity shifts to perimenopause, and everything in between, we're here to support the full ride of womanhood. And as always, we can't promise that it will always be kept PG, so please be mindful around little ears. Here we go. Here we go. Hello, Steph, and welcome to Beyond the Bump podcast. Before we get started, can you please tell our beautiful bumpies who you are and who's in your family?
Stephanie Briggs· Guest1:27
Hi, I'm Steph. I live in Sydney with my