Episode 8: Cervical Cerclages, with Hetty Gibbard

KEY TOPICS: 3 births, early miscarriages, stillbirth, incompetent cervix, assisted delivery, blood transfusion, retained placenta, postnatal depression, Christmas baby, expat

In today’s episode, Hetty describes her experience of starting a family with her ex-husband in the late 2000’s. As a trigger warning, please be aware that Hetty suffered miscarriages and tragically lost her daughter before viability at 22 weeks pregnant, due to her cervix shortening and spontaneous labour. There are some very upsetting and poignant descriptions about the events surrounding her little girls’ stillbirth, and listener discretion is advised for the first third of this episode. She speaks beautifully about the local support that she received, with physical mementos that she values to this day.

Hetty and her ex-partner went on to have two further children – boys this time – and she describes the fear and anxiety during those pregnancies of another loss. She was closely monitored, with a cervical cerclage procedure both times – a stitch to temporarily sew the cervix closed until the start of labour. She talks about unexpected postnatal depression after her first son, linked to breastfeeding struggles and unresolved trauma from her daughter’s arrival. Both births required assisted deliveries involving ventouse and episiotomy… yet somehow Hetty infuses very relatable and dry humour in her descriptions of invasive medical checks procedures! She also explains what it’s like to give birth - on Christmas Day! Find more on our Facebook and Instagram pages: born_on_the_rock

I’m so grateful to Hetty for speaking so candidly about her incredible journey, and in such an engaging way. You’ll be in tears one moment, yet smiling the next in this emotional rollercoaster episode (recorded November 2024). For support, Hetty references local baby loss charity: BABYSTEPPS, who can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BABYSTEPPSGIB/ and UK baby loss charity SANDS: https://www.sands.org.uk/

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