Episode 11: One Twin, with Louise Busto

KEY TOPICS: 3 births, miscarriage, twins, premature, baby loss, caesarean, VBAC, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

In this emotional episode, we meet Louise Busto and her partner: parents to twin boys born in 2010, and a third son born in 2014. As a trigger warning, please note that this episode is a very difficult listen as it involves discussion of baby loss.

Louise describes a generally good healthy pregnancy, before complications set in at 23 weeks requiring her transfer to Spain for specialist monitoring and facilities at 25 weeks pregnant. Poignantly, she describes her trust in the medical professionals, and how the gravity of her situation did not immediately seem apparent. The time spent delaying labour makes for tense listening, before the boys were born by caesarean section at 27 weeks. It’s hard to hear how helpless Louise and her husband felt in the following weeks, as the boys’ health took twists and turns... and when medical complications eventually led to the unbearable loss of one twin: Owen.

Louise had the support of family, but describes the difficult return to the Rock and the impact on her mental health. She channelled her grief into a positive force and with the help of other brave mothers, established the charity BabySTEPPs in 2012 to support other parents in their journeys through early parenthood and pregnancy. After two miscarriages, Louise became pregnant again with their third son Theo. She describes how it felt to carry to full-term this time (actually past the due date!), and what it was like to have a contrasting 'textbook' experience. There’s an interesting conversation about how the family keep Owen’s memory alive to their sons, particularly with surviving twin, Leon.

Louise speaks so eloquently about an experience that is every parent’s worst nightmare. Tragically baby loss does impact families, and Louise hopes that sharing her story provides some support for others to know: you are not alone. She also shares advice on what to say, and what *not* to say to grieving parents. I’m so grateful for this powerful addition to the podcast and want to thank Louise for her bravery and strength in sharing. Please visit BABYSTEPPS on Facebook for support, or UK charity SANDS.

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