After marrying in late 2019, Josie experienced her first pregnancy loss at eight weeks, requiring a D&C. The experience was particularly challenging as she was working at a new teaching job when the miscarriage began. “I was having meetings about setting up my classroom, all new student information when I was miscarrying at work,” she recalls. Though difficult, she found support from her Christian school community, especially her female principal who had personal experience with fertility treatments.

Following this loss, Josie sought fertility assistance and conceived her daughter Sophie through Clomid treatment. Her pregnancy progressed well, though she faced the unique challenge of renovating a house and living in a camper trailer until 39 weeks pregnant. “We literally lived in the camper trailer from like 30 weeks pregnant until the week before I gave birth,” she shares, laughing about how tradies would be surprised when she emerged from the trailer each morning.

The journey to her second daughter was marked by two pregnancy losses before successfully conceiving through fertility treatment again. “I got the pregnancy test positive when we were at the beach, just the three of us, it was amazing. I just knew straight away. It was just weird. I just felt it,” Josie remembers. This pregnancy brought severe morning sickness that required significant support from family, with Josie spending days at her mother’s house while her husband worked away. The experience was complicated by thyroid issues, though these resolved as the pregnancy progressed.

For her second birth, Josie chose Victorian private midwifery care and was excited to learn that water birth was finally available at her hospital. “That water, it just calmed me down. I was still having like intense [contractions], but the pain just changed completely. It was so good and I just loved it,” she describes. Her labor with Lucy began the night before her due date, progressing quickly enough that they had to coordinate a midnight handover of her toddler to her mother.

The birth itself was powerful and intense, with Lucy arriving with her cord wrapped three times around her neck – a situation that Josie had educated herself about and remained calm through. “I wasn’t really worried. I just kind of knew that the cord was going to be present. I’d seen it in ultrasounds. I’d done a bit of Googling. It was like 20% of babies are born with a cord around their neck. So it didn’t even scare me.”

Throughout both pregnancies, Josie navigated the unique challenges of living in a border region. “They give you the baby book when you leave and it’s got like immunisation and that and it’s the second time they almost gave me the Victorian one. I’m like, hang on, hang on, I need the New South Wales one!” The Albury-Wodonga area presents interesting healthcare dynamics, with different state systems operating side by side – even down to different colored baby books for New South Wales versus Victorian residents.

Throughout both births, Josie emphasizes the valuable role of student midwives: “Highly recommend student midwives. They are so good… they just got your back because they know exactly what you want and they know who you are and you feel safe with them.” Now mother to two girls under two, Josie continues to embrace change and growth, while cherishing the special bond between her daughters – “They love each other so much. Sophie is obsessed. Like they just get along really well.”

Her story offers hope and connection for anyone navigating pregnancy after loss, while highlighting the importance of informed choice and support in creating positive birth experiences. Looking ahead, Josie remains open to growing her family further, approaching the future with the same mixture of preparation and trust that guided her through both previous births.