Welcome to ProVA Solutions blog

Let me introduce myself, my name is Kath and I am a seasoned 52-year-old virtual medical assistant with a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by women during the journey of a women's health, particularly in the realms of IVF, prenatal, pregnancy, postnatal, and mental health.

How do I know anything about this?

Well I am a mother of 7 beautiful children, aged from 31 to 13 years old. My husband and I have been married for 33 years in September and we faced the challenges of infertility and miscarriages and postnatal depression.

My dream was to have 10 children and have less than 2 years age difference between each child and to easily breastfeed them all.

Well I soon learnt that not everything goes the way we dream. My husband and I had unexplained infertility, I had PCOS and endometritis (but it was not severe).

After the birth of our first child (a girl) I had trouble breastfeeding, not so much breastfeeding but my daughter had a rattle noise in her throat and my GP told me she was allergic to my breastmilk and to stop breastfeeding, which I did. Eventually, when the community baby nurse heard she told me if I wanted to breastfeed to do so as my daughter was not allergic to my milk. So then I was on a journey to relactating with a tube next to my nipple with formula in it so my milk would come in again.

Six months after the birth of baby 1, I fell pregnant with our 2nd child (a boy). After the birth of my son I was doing OK until he was six months old. I became very depressed and did not want anything to do with my baby. I had to write post it notes to remind myself to change his nappy etc, I did not want to breastfeed, it was definitely not what I thought it would be like.

I would go to the drs every 2 weeks saying something was wrong but this was 30 years ago and Post natal depression was not spoken about. I gained 60 kg in 7 months and still no one could tell me why I felt like I did.

Why didn't I feel attached to my baby, when all I ever wanted was to be a mother?

Fast forward 4 years, and after 2 miscarriages and 3 years of trying to fall pregnant I finally was able to fall pregnant and keep this pregnancy, (3rd child boy). After his birth I was elated. I finally had another baby. I had taught myself all about breastfeeding and was so pleased with the result, then I hit 6 months postnatal and I was feeling depressed again. This time was so much worse.

This time I was suicidal, eventually after putting plans in place to commit suicide I was finally diagnosed with Postnatal depression. I was put on medication and my coping mechanism was eating so add more weight gain.

More miscarriages happened and 4 years later (after trying for baby number 4 for all those years) I finally fell pregnant with baby number 4 (a girl).

Six months after birth,like clockwork I was suicidal, this time my husband and I were aware and seeked help.

It took another 5 years of trying to fall pregnant after a number of miscarriages I fell pregnant with baby number 5 (a girl) and yep, 6 months later suicide thoughts entered my head and my husband took me to get help.

Baby number 6 was not as difficult it was 2 years between him (a boy) and our last baby but the suicidal thoughts at 6 months after birth was so much worse.

It seemed with each baby I delivered the PND got worse.

Hubby and I decided to try again for one more baby. She was born 2 years after baby number 6. Still with each baby there was infertility issues, some harder than others.

PND reared its ugly head again this time was the worst but I was able to once again receive help, we knew the signs and symptoms. By this stage my weight gain was massive and 3 years later I was 200kg and bedbound.

Certainly, not the dream I had. Certainly not the life my husband and I dreamt of, but if nothing else it has taught me how to have compassion for people going through all different stages of a woman's journey.

This is why I am so passionate about about sharing my expertise to support people in the prenatal, pregnancy care and postnatal services.