6 minute read
Courageous Kate Collins
Article by Gayatri Nair | Photos by Appleseed Photography
IN A FRANK CONVERSATION WITH SA-BABY, KATE COLLINS, THE MUCH-LOVED LOCAL JOURNALIST, TALKS ABOUT HER DIFFICULT AND EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTIVE PREGNANCY, HER COHESIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND THE ARDENT DESIRE TO PROTECT HER SONS FROM ALL EVILS IN THE WORLD.
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As Kate Collins sits down to speak about her journey into motherhood, she is interrupted by a sudden outburst of gurgling; her four-monthold son, Eddie, is noisily trying to put his tiny fist into his mouth. With Eddie’s antics, Kate’s beautiful smile gets deeper, and the glow of motherhood couldn’t get any brighter. Watching Kate, the charismatic news reader from Channel 9 effortlessly manoeuvre the undulating twists and turns of motherhood is a pleasure. And considering the struggle the 34-year-old had to go through before delivering Eddie, moments like these seem somehow sweeter.
Eddie, who will turn six months in July, was born six weeks premature because of a condition called Grade 4 Placenta Previa that Kate was diagnosed with late in her pregnancy. Due to the complication, the birth was somewhat complex and resulted in frequent visits to the Special Care Unit where the baby was consequently housed. Thankfully, the ordeal had a happy ending.
A TOUGH BABY “We wanted to have a three-year gap between our two kids, to make parenting a bit more manageable,” says Kate who gave birth to her firstborn, Harvey, in 2015. “Last year I found out we were pregnant again and I was overjoyed!” But joy soon gave way to trepidation and anxiety when Kate's doctors foresaw complications in her pregnancy. “During a routine scan in my 20th week, the doctors noticed that I had a low-lying placenta. The placenta usually gets out of the way, but in my case, that did not happen. Following the scan, my pregnancy was closely monitored, and I was diagnosed with a condition called Grade 4 Placenta Previa - a problem that leads to the blockage of the cervix and one that can have serious ramifications. Due to the condition, it was going to be impossible for me to give birth naturally," explains Kate. Initially shocked by the turn of events, Kate's characteristic pragmatism soon kicked in. "I knew I couldn't dwell over the news for too long and had to be strong for both my baby and myself. I came to terms with my condition quite quickly. And frankly, then, I didn't care how my baby came out, as long as he was safe and sound," she adds. Post diagnosis, Kate experienced a couple of episodes of bleeding, and the doctors told her that it wasn't safe to continue with the pregnancy. “I was admitted to hospital and wanted to postpone the birth for as long as I could to ensure that Eddie was able to develop as much as possible inside the womb. But after the second episode, I had to undergo an emergency C Section and my baby was born six weeks early” she recalls.
Eddie arrived early but safe on Sunday January 7th, weighing 2.5kgs & 43cm long
BEING A PREEMIE MOTHER For Kate, the premature delivery set in motion one of the most difficult and trying phases of her life. “Since Eddie was six weeks early but doing well, he wasn’t taken to NICU but the Special Care Unit. Despite that, he was covered in wires that monitored his heart rate, breathing, and helped in feeding. To have my Eddie - so tiny then- being taken away from me, was probably one of the most agonising moments of my life. But I knew I had to keep it together and tried to follow the prescribed precautions to help him get stronger and healthier,” she says. The following couple of weeks saw Kate rush to the hospital three times a day to visit little Eddie and to feed him. "I was discharged a week after my delivery, but Eddie was still in the Special Care Unit. I would visit him through the day and feed him expressed milk as he was too weak to have milk directlyIt was such a different experience to that of my first son Harvey, not being able to hold Eddie all the time, and being conscious that he needed a lot of rest," she explains. “I won't lie, it took a lot of strength to overcome those days, Kate adds after a pause. "That first bonding exercise you have with your baby – that skin to skin contact and looking up at you with innocent eyes if you’re lucky enough to breast feed - - I didn't get to enjoy that with Eddie, and that was really hard. But he amazed us all, and was stronger than we expected, and that’s all that matters," she says. Soon Eddie started reacting positively to all the care and treatment he was getting. “He gained weight and started meeting all the medical criteria put forth by the doctors. And, after two weeks, my baby was ready to come home," she says.
"He was covered in wires that monitored his heart rate, breathing and helped in feeding.
A FINE MEDICAL SYSTEM The Adelaidean is extremely grateful to the medical system that helped her get through the harrowing time. “Eddie was only six weeks early, but there are many babies born even more premature. My trauma wasn't much compared to the mothers of those babies," says Kate. She adds, "Today, thanks to the advanced medical facilities in Adelaide and South Australia, premature babies have better chances of survival. Though Eddie was born earlier than expected, he, like my elder son Harvey has every shot at a healthy and a happy life thanks to the tremendous efforts of our doctors and nurses.”
BEING A MOTHER Before Kate became pregnant with Eddie, her life revolved around her firstborn Harvey. “I distinctly remember the moment I learnt I was going to be a mother for the first time. I was standing in the kitchen with the pregnancy stick in my hand, looking at it repeatedly, with both joy and disbelief. It was only while making a call to my husband informing him of the wonderful news, that the gravity of the situation struck me," remembers Kate. She adds that her first pregnancy compared to her more difficult second one was an absolute walk in the park. “I didn’t have any morning sickness and didn’t have to deal with vomiting, nausea and other uncomfortable aspects of being pregnant. On the other hand, my friend who was also pregnant at the same didn't have it so easy; and that made me feel a bit guilty," she says with a chuckle. Life for Kate has become exponentially hectic after giving birth to Eddie. “Before being a mother, I used to think I didn't have enough time. Now, juggling a demanding job and being a mother, I wonder what I did with all the time I had earlier?" she says. The mother of two also adds, “Being pregnant is not glamorous! Your body, life, everything undergoes a massive transformation. Sometimes it is easy to handle the changes, and sometimes it can be overwhelming.” And when the going gets tough for this new mum, she unwinds by taking a quick walk in the park or slogging it out in the gym. "Taking care of a newborn can be exhausting and emotionally overwhelming. Sometimes, they cry so much that it can cause a lot of distress to the mother. I go for long walks to calm and rejuvenate myself, as it helps me breathe better and reset my mind," says Kate.
GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT Kate tips her hat to all the mothers who seamlessly manage their professional and personal commitments. “I try to juggle my career and motherhood and am extremely grateful to have an amazing support system comprising my mother, mother-in-law, and other family members that allows me to do so. My work schedule is also quite flexible. I don’t have to report to work till early afternoon, enabling me to spend the mornings with my sons," she explains. The travel addict adds that when it comes to parenting both she and her husband, Leigh Rebbeck are on the same page. “I think it is extremely important to be consistent in the parenting behaviour displayed by both the partners. It helps in a stronger communication of parental messages to the kids," she says. But, Kate admits, in some situations, she is the good cop. “Leigh is a tough cookie, while I am the softer one. I think it stems from my childhood habit of running to my mother when I was in trouble or needed something!" she adds.
BEING SCARED It is a scary world out there, and the young mother says she is always worried about her sons' safety. "Through my role as a newsreader, I am intensely aware of the tragedy that exists in the world. I want to protect my sons from it all! Children are quite literally pieces of your heart walking outside of your body. How can you not be scared for them? All I want from life is to see them grow up to be healthy and happy human beings," she says, a tad emotional. Kate has a piece of advice for mothers-to-be. "Trust your maternal instincts! You will get a lot of advice during this time; take what is relevant to you. But don't forget to listen to your instincts, only then you will do your best as a mother!” she says.
