Joanne Reid: Mum who lost baby during pregnancy launches new baby classes
A MUM who suffered the loss of her child during pregnancy has launched new baby classes to support parents.
Joanne Reid, 29, from Tranent, was faced with the devastating news that one of the twin boys she was carrying – Oran – would not survive.
Her other unborn son, Parker, was progressing well.
But at 35 weeks’ pregnant and grieving the loss of the son she was still carrying, she suffered a major haemorrhage and was taken to hospital.
Her husband John was told to prepare for the worst as surgeons performed an emergency caesarean, with both Joanne and Parker’s lives hanging in the balance.
But mother and baby defied the odds and, after a long and complicated recovery period, Joanne, a clinical support worker at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, wanted to tell her story.
Joanne Reid, husband John and children Mila and Parker
She said: “I’m keen to share my story because pregnancy isn’t always straightforward or without risk.
“Going through the loss of Oran and then such a traumatic birth was the worst thing that has ever happened to me, but I was determined to fight through it.
“I’ve worked in the medical field for the last decade – at the same hospital that I gave birth in – as a clinical support worker, which I love, but it’s very demanding and the hours are long.
“Bringing Parker into the world made me question the direction my life is heading in.
“I want to spend more time with my husband, my little girl Mila and now Parker.”
Joanne, a former Ross High School pupil, now plans to honour Oran through her Bloom Baby Classes, using her experiences to deliver care and support to parents across East Lothian.
'I want to honour Oran'
She added: “I also want to honour Oran in any way I can – Bloom Baby Classes gives me an outlet to do just that, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Joanne’s classes run at The Fraser Centre in Tranent and at Port Seton Centre, with her Caterpillar Club and Busy Bees courses starting next week – for timings, see bloombabyclasses.com/eastlothain
Victoria Jennings, the founder of Bloom Baby Classes, was excited to welcome her on board.
She said: “Joanne is such an inspiration. To witness the confidence and resilience she demonstrates makes her the perfect fit for Bloom Baby Classes.
“Her dedication to ensuring all parents, no matter their birth experience or parenting outlook, feel supported and valued is something we really look for in a franchisee.
“I know she is going to get so much from being a part of our network, and I can’t wait to see how far she takes her business.”
East Lothian Council 2022.