Sophie Pearce – HG across three pregnancies, PUPPs, doctor to podcaster, positive birth experiences

Sophie’s journey to motherhood began shortly after marriage at 25, but her path wasn’t straightforward. After conceiving quickly in their first month of trying, she experienced an early miscarriage that opened her eyes to how little pregnancy loss is discussed openly.

“I remember from my medical knowledge I knew that one in three to one in four pregnancies ended in a miscarriage. I knew that as a statistic. But it wasn’t until I was going through it that I was like, but who are these people? Because I never hear anyone talk about it.”

Six months later, Sophie conceived Poppy, and immediately knew this pregnancy would be different. “I remember the day my period was due I felt sick and I peed on the stick and I was pregnant and I didn’t not feel sick until she came out at the other end.”

Working as a doctor in a paediatric ward during her first pregnancy, Sophie had to disclose her pregnancy at just five weeks because of the severity of her hyperemesis symptoms. “I literally told my bosses when I was five weeks pregnant because I was like if I don’t tell them this they’re going to think that I don’t know, like I’ve got a drug problem or I’m an alcoholic.”

The psychological impact was profound, with Sophie questioning whether her inability to enjoy pregnancy indicated she wasn’t meant to be a mother. Her message to other women experiencing HG is powerful: “Please know that your ability to enjoy pregnancy has nothing to do with you as a mother because I would like to say that I’m a really good mum… just because I hated all three pregnancies doesn’t mean that I have to hate motherhood.”

The Challenge of PUPPs

At 35-36 weeks with Poppy, Sophie developed PUPPs (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy). “I thought nausea and vomiting was enough to send me out of my mind but then I got this itch and I can hand on heart say I would rather the nausea and vomiting than the itch.”

This intensely itchy rash spreading from her belly button outwards pushed Sophie to request an induction at 38 weeks, creating internal conflict with her birth education. “I knew so badly I wanted and needed an induction but then I was so scared because the cascade of infant prevention had really been drummed into me.”

Three Positive Birth Experiences

Despite challenging pregnancies, Sophie had three positive induction experiences:

Poppy’s birth progressed rapidly once established. After being told she was five centimetres dilated and requesting an epidural, she transitioned to fully dilated within minutes. “I was literally five centimeters to fully dilated in less than 10 minutes. Like it was wild and I actually loved the pushing stage.”

Her husband Nick’s calm birth training proved invaluable when he correctly identified her transition: “Nick turned to me and he said maybe you’re just wanting the epidural because you’re transitioning and I said did you just hear her she checked me and I’m five centimeters I’m clearly not fucking transitioning… he was right.”

Goldie’s birth was even more rapid: “I did two pushes and she was out. She was born in an hour and a half from the time the drip started to her being born.”

For Pearl’s birth, Sophie was determined to experience spontaneous labour but ultimately chose induction at 41 weeks due to reduced foetal movements and her mental health needs. “I was so gripped and attached to this experience of spontaneous labor” but recognised “I’m over this baby being my sole responsibility.”

Sophie’s third pregnancy brought significant mental health challenges alongside HG. “I was so sick I was so depressed it was the first time in my life that I’ve gone like maybe I’m just too exhausted to go on.”

She describes the isolation: “One of the hardest things that I experienced during it was actually listening to my life go on without me around it… you just feel so sidelined like you’re just a spectator in this life that you used to be able to experience too.”

Sophie’s medical background provided both advantages and challenges. Having an obstetrician father meant access to evidence-based information, but she was careful not to let medical knowledge overshadow her patient experience.

“I really didn’t want to be medical in my own pregnancy and birth. I didn’t want on top of that him to just rely on the fact that I was medical as well.”

Her decision not to return to medicine was influenced by the timing of her second pregnancy and the success of Beyond the Bump podcast, which launched during her second pregnancy.

Now travelling around Australia with her family, Sophie reflects: “I actually am sad that I will never give birth again because it’s been really… If I could bottle up that feeling for me of the sweet relief of that just having given birth, I no longer feel sick.”

Sophie’s journey demonstrates how our most challenging experiences can become our greatest sources of strength, providing validation for women experiencing difficult pregnancies and inspiration for advocating for your own needs during pregnancy and birth.