Natasha’s story of overcoming loss and welcoming new life

In the quiet corridors of King Edward Memorial Hospital, Natasha Frost started her tumultuous journey into motherhood, one that would test her strength, break her heart, but ultimately lead her to the joy of holding a healthy, full-term baby in her arms.

In September 2022, at just 19 weeks pregnant, Frost felt the first pangs of cramps. What started as a seemingly normal pregnancy turned into a daunting ordeal as her cervix began to shorten.

“At 18 weeks, everything very much resembled a textbook pregnancy. Shortly thereafter, the length of my cervix began to shorten which I was told was a strong indicator for preterm birth,” Frost said.

When Frost’s condition worsened, she moved from Midland Hospital to the Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit at King Edward Memorial Hospital — one of seven Western Australia Hospitals currently involved in the Every Week Counts National Preterm Birth Prevention Collaborative — where the journey with preterm birth prevention truly began. The medical team, led by the dedicated professionals of the Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic, worked tirelessly to navigate the delicate balance between hope and uncertainty.

At 20 weeks, Frost gave birth to her daughter, Cordelia. In just five minutes, Cordelia passed away in her father, Niklas’, arms, leaving the two absolutely shattered.

“Everything just happened so quickly. It felt like I was on an out-of-control rollercoaster that couldn’t be stopped. I recall lying there and thinking that there was no way this could be happening to me. But it was,” she recalled.

“Knowing that I was about to meet my daughter, but also having to say goodbye was extremely hard. It was like a nightmare that I could not wake up from. The doctors and nurses told me that she was too little to survive if she was to be born. When I saw my water had broken, I couldn’t help but scream.”

Amidst the grief, the Frosts found the strength to try again, leaning on the support of family and friends. Six weeks later, Natasha found herself pregnant once more, this time under the vigilant care of the Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic at King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Natasha’s second pregnancy would again prove to be far from being straightforward. Her cervical stitch needed to be removed early due to signs of pre-eclampsia and possible early labour, however, she gave birth to her daughter Aurelia a week later at 37 weeks and 1 day, weighing a very healthy 2.8kg.

“To see her and hold her and hear her crying, is something so very special. To be able to walk out of the hospital almost a year later with her and not a memory box was the most amazing feeling, but so surreal and reliving. I kept thinking it was a dream and any second I was going to wake up,” Frost said.

Today, Aurelia, a happy and healthy 3-month-old, thrives, achieving every developmental milestone. Natasha and Niklas continue to honour Cordelia’s memory, ensuring she is never forgotten. As Natasha eloquently puts it, “Preterm birth is something that can affect anyone. Raising awareness is critical because, at the end of the day, all we ever want is a happy and healthy family.”

Natasha’s story is more than a personal story of resilience but a testament to the impactful work of the Every Week Counts National Preterm Birth Prevention Collaborative. Through the collaborative efforts of hospitals like King Edward Memorial Hospital, Australia is pioneering a national program to reduce preterm birth rates, offering hope to the 26,000 families who face this challenge every year. Natasha’s journey, intertwined with resilience, loss, and hope, stands as a powerful reminder of the importance of awareness, support, and ongoing commitment to preventing preterm births.

Natasha’s Frost’s story is one of many. Through the involvement of the Commonwealth-funded national program Every Week Counts — a joint collaborative between the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance, Women’s Healthcare Australasia, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Safer Care Victoria, and the Women and Infants Research Foundation — they aim to safely reduce rates of preterm and early term birth across Australia by 20 per cent. For more information, visit the website.