Monica’s first pregnancy came as a welcome surprise, conceiving quickly despite her PCOS diagnosis. During COVID times, she initially planned for a home birth, though securing a midwife proved challenging. “It’s really hard to get into home birthing because they can only take four clients per month,” she explains. She carefully selected a midwife with emergency medical experience who “knew how to do stitching, if you needed fluids, she could do that.”

Her professional background as a nurse added unique challenges to her pregnancy journey. She experienced severe eczema flare-ups that significantly impacted her work: “One day I came into work and I’m like, ‘I can’t do any more dialysis patients please.’ It was so painful.” The development of carpal tunnel syndrome further complicated her nursing duties, with sensation not returning to her hands until a week after giving birth.

Despite planning for a home birth with her first son Beau, Monica’s birth plans changed when she passed a significant blood clot during labour. After being transferred to the hospital, it was confirmed she was experiencing a placental abruption. Though not the home birth she’d envisioned, she describes it as “a really beautiful birth” with her supportive team present, emphasising that “the main thing was that everyone was safe.”

For her second pregnancy with Kai, Monica chose a hospital birth at Nepean Hospital’s new birth unit. Her second labour began while her household was dealing with a gastro outbreak – her son Bo, husband Tom, and mother all succumbed to the illness. “I was so lucky I didn’t cop it,” she says. With her husband unable to attend the birth due to illness, her mother-in-law stepped in as a support person alongside her doula.

Monica describes a peaceful water birth: “Giving birth in the water is a lot more comfortable and it’s so nice. It’s that natural pain relief, takes the pressure off your back.” Her second son arrived at 53 minutes past midnight, caught by Monica herself in the birthing pool. Her mother-in-law captured the precious moment on video for her husband, and Monica recalls seeing “tears in her eyes” during the birth – “this is priceless. That’s one of the best things you’ll ever see.”

Both boys have presented different challenges with feeding, with both experiencing cow’s milk protein intolerance. Monica has had to navigate elimination diets and various formulas to support their needs. “This time around Keanu was a lot worse than what Beau was with it. I’ve had to go on an elimination diet for this little one, and I’ve been doing that for a good three months now.”

Monica’s diverse heritage (Fijian Indian, Hungarian, and German Jewish) combined with her husband’s Scottish-Irish background has created two uniquely beautiful boys. Beau takes after Monica with darker features, while Kai has surprised everyone with his blue eyes.

Throughout her story, Monica demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability, handling each unexpected turn with grace. From managing severe eczema during pregnancy to navigating a change in birth plans with her first, and then birthing her second son without her husband present, she maintained a positive mindset. Her experience shows that while birth rarely goes exactly to plan, it can still be beautiful and empowering in unexpected ways.