Episode 5: Emily Judd - When the World Stopped: Emily's Stillbirth Journey and What Helped Her Breathe Again
In this special episode (the first one Bianca recorded almost 18 months ago!) host Bianca Welsh introduces us to her dear friend Emily Judd. They delve into Emily's poignant journey through grief following the stillbirth of her son, Jack at full term, while she was on maternity leave from work.
Emily shares the harrowing experience of losing Jack, the process of healing, and her ongoing quest to navigate life after loss. They also explore the coping mechanisms, both adaptive and maladaptive, that Emily has employed and offers insights into what has and hasn’t worked in her healing journey.
ABOUT Emily:
Emily is from Launceston where she lives with her three children (two living, Lydia and Adeline) and her husband Nick (pictured). She is a senior criminal lawyer at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and in the small amount of spare time she has she enjoys spending time with her family at the beach and has devoted a huge amount of time to the creation of her baby loss resources - A Little Help From Jack, a booklet with all sorts of resources for a family experiencing a stillbirth from helplines, professional resources, to books for mum, dad and kids, podcasts, memory making ideas and so much more. The guide has expanded to A Little Help From Remy, specifically for TFMR and recently A Little Help From Lily, specifically for child loss and paediatric palliative care. Emily has become a well respected and valued voice in the Stillbirth community contributing to research, advocacy and awareness.
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In each episode Dr. Mai Frandsen joins Bianca to discuss the key takeaways from each person’s experience and help all of us understand from a therapists perspective how and why things work.
She's a psychologist, health behavior change, consultant and researcher based in Tasmania. She earned her PhD in psychology in 2012 and is internationally recognized for her work in promoting health behavior change using incentives. Dr. Fransden is the owner of Trig Psychology, a private practice located in Tasmania, where she focuses on health behavior change, working with first responders, adolescents, and adults, navigating significant life transitions.Her approach is characterized by authenticity and pragmaticism drawing from her varied life experiences.
She uses a range of psychological treatment paradigms to get the best outcome for her clients. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Fransden serves as a psychologist in schools and is an associate researcher at the University of Tasmania. Her research primarily focuses on smoking cessation, particularly among pregnant women, and has led Tasmania wide clinical trials exploring the efficacy of novel incentive based interventions.
Having stepped away from active research, Mai's passion project is science communication and can often be heard on ABC radio sharing mental health hacks. Originally from Denmark. She has called Tasmania Home since 1994. Beyond her professional pursuits, she enjoys engaging in outdoor adventures, endurance sports, and traveling both locally and abroad with her sons.
RESOURCES
Beyond Blue or ph: 1300 224 636
Lifeline or ph: 13 11 14
Griefline or ph: 1300 845 745
Relationships Australia Tasmanian branch - Grief Counsellors or ph: 1300 364 277
Bears Of Hope Ph: 1300 11 4673
Red Nose Ph: 1300 308 307
Gidget Foundation Ph: 1300 851 758
Resource Companions: A Little Help From Jack, A Little Help From Remy, A Little Help From Lily
Music Credit: “Denali” by Bryant Lowry. Written by Bryant Richard Lowry (BMI). Published by Boss Soundstripe Productions (BMI). Licensed via Soundstripe Inc.
Cover Image: Eden Wilday
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to the Grief Collection Podcast
00:55 Why a Grief Podcast?
01:25 Acknowledging Grief and Loss
02:14 Trigger Warning and Acknowledgements
03:11 Introducing Emily Judd
03:38 Emily's Story: Pregnancy and Loss
06:31 The Birth and Loss of Jack
12:18 Navigating Grief and Healing
23:30 The Importance of Acknowledgement
29:57 Support and Resources for Grieving Parents
38:18 Returning to Work After Loss
39:27 Setting Boundaries for Mental Health
40:48 Advice to My Past Self
42:18 Honoring Jack's Memory
43:14 Creating Resources for Bereaved Families
48:23 Introducing Dr. Mai Fransden
49:54 Understanding Dissociation and Coping Mechanisms
53:47 Navigating Avoidance and Adaptive Coping
58:32 The Power of Talking and Journaling
01:00:19 Addressing Uncomfortable Conversations
01:07:31 Coping with Panic Attacks and Grounding Techniques
01:11:41 Final Thoughts and Acknowledgements