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Trigger warning: this article discusses pregnancy loss & stillbirth.
Judy’s journey to motherhood has been marked by both heartbreak and hope.
Her first pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 11 weeks. During her second pregnancy, everything appeared textbook and low risk, but tragically, her daughter Méabh was stillborn at full term.
Just three months after losing Méabh, Judy discovered she was pregnant again.
“My husband, Scott, and I were extremely happy but terrified,” she said.
“The entire pregnancy was an emotional rollercoaster. I just took it day by day and stayed hopeful that this time we could bring our baby home.”
At her 12-week scan at Gold Coast University Hospital, clinicians identified some abnormalities that would require close monitoring throughout the pregnancy. While subsequent non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) returned a low-risk result, providing much-needed reassurance, Judy remained under the close care of the Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) team.
Throughout her pregnancy, she attended frequent appointments and underwent several cardiotocography (CTG) assessments to monitor the baby’s heart rate and movements.
To help ease anxiety surrounding the birth, a caesarean section was scheduled. After delivering Méabh vaginally, Judy felt more comfortable knowing when and how her baby would be born.
At 36 weeks and five days, Judy entered the delivery room.
“The team let me create a playlist and the lead doctor, Dr Luke, even brought his own portable speaker so we could play music,” she said.
“I also brought a few items that belonged to Méabh so she could be with us as we welcomed her little sibling into the world.”
Just 20 minutes later, Mila was born, weighing 2.73 kilograms and measuring 49 centimetres long.
“Scott and I were overjoyed hearing Mila’s cry and knowing she was okay,” Judy said.
Now, as Mila approaches her first birthday, Judy reflects on the journey with immense gratitude for the care she received.
“This was a high-risk pregnancy that wouldn't have been possible without the MFM team, the Maternity Assessment Centre (MAC) and the maternity team,” she said.
“They cared for us so well. Mila was born healthy, breathing on her own and didn’t need any help with feeding.”
Mila’s first year has already been full of memorable milestones. During a recent trip to Europe to meet her father’s side of the family, she even made an unexpected friend in the Vatican.
“Pope Leo XIV met her and gave her a blessing,” Judy beamed.
“It was so hot that day, so we dressed her in a singlet like a true Queenslander!”
It was a moment her family will never forget, capping off a very special first year for Mila and a journey that once seemed impossible.
