Hard To Bear

Hi, I'm Isy. I am a journalist and I am writing a book about early pregnancy loss. It's an investigation into why we handle it so badly in Australia, as a society, personally, medically and in pretty much every other conceivable way.  But most importantly: how can Australia do better?

I have two beautiful children, one is four and the other is almost ready to celebrate her first birthday. On the way to welcoming my kids, I had seven pregnancy losses at various gestations. Yes. Seven.

The road was long and incredibly hard. But I learned a lot, about me, about how we treat women in the health system and how we let them down so fundamentally when they experience early pregnancy loss and miscarriage. 

My extensive experience as a journalist led me to realise this is something that desperately needs a comprehensive investigation. But given the medical, sociological, anthropological and psychological factors at play, I realised pretty quickly, this topic isn't one article. Or even two. It's 20.

20 chapters of a book, to be precise.  A book tentatively titled Hard To Bear.

I have written five chapters of that book but I need your help to buy myself the time to write the rest and do this project justice. What I've uncovered already as part of my investigation has horrified me and spurred me on to work harder.

I realise this is a trying time for everyone with so many people out of work and struggling financially and psychologically.  But long after Covid-19 is a just a memory, women will still be losing pregnancies and struggling with the physical and emotional fallout within a system that simply doesn't meet their needs. 

I have already interviewed hundreds of women for this book and one message is resoundingly clear: we need this book and we need to know why the system isn't working to treat women and help them recover with understanding, empathy, compassion and expertise. 

This topic has never fully been examined in the Australian context. I believe this book has the opportunity to change the system and improve the situation for women across the country. This has become my life's work and I feel a significant responsibility to make it happen. 

Despite over 100,000 Australian families being affected by early pregnancy loss each year, there is little to no time and space given to this topic by either the medical or psychological fraternities. Women are expecting to be silent and the silence pervades far too many other areas of society and treatment. 

I will take an intersectional approach to the book, including experiences from across a range of cultures, genders, geographies and socio-economic groups as I am able.  

If or when I secure a publishing deal, the financial compensation is likely to be minimal. But this is a long-term project, with costs like the purchase of existing literature on the subject, travel for interviews (when I am able to travel again), computer and technology costs and the big cost... childcare. 

After almost 20 years working as a journalist for outlets including Dow Jones, Reuters, the Herald Sun and News Corp, I dedicated myself to working in the non-profit sector. I have worked for Australian Red Cross, St Kilda Mums and Council to Homeless Persons. I also still volunteer across the industry. I also work as a freelance journalist and you may have seen my work in The Guardian, ABC Life, Artshub, Beat and Women's Agenda.

I need to make ends meet and help put food on the table while I complete this book, which I consider to be a significant work of public interest journalism. 

I will be putting up regular updates both here and at Hard To Bear . 

Thank you for your time and support.

Much love,
Isy

This is a tattoo I have on my back. The handprints of my living rainbow children, with the seven colours behind them representing the seven babies I never got to meet.