Will I ever stop grieving? A story of late term stillbirth & CMV awareness - with Stephanie Briggs, Mother & Founder of The Hope Initiative for CMV

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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