MEDIA
RELEASE
Media and
Communications
Tel. +61 3 9925 2807
Fax +61 3 9662 2739
MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMAN’S BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
Planning to cope with a labour of love
At 26 weeks pregnant, Miranda was fit, healthy and playing sport. “But the sudden
appearance of bright red blood sounded alarm bells” and medical staff prepared
her for a very premature birth.
Thankfully, the bleeding stopped and Miranda was able to go home to bed rest –
and wait “until the magic 39-week date, when she was induced because of the fear
of haemorrhage”.
Miranda is one of dozens of women who tell the story of their difficult pregnancies
and births in a new book by two RMIT University staff members.
Handle with Care: Precious Pregnancies, Inspiring Journeys was written by
Caroline van de Pol and Evelyn Tsitas, both of whose stories of difficult
pregnancies are included in the book.
Ms van de Pol, a lecturer in Public Relations, said: “As mothers who have been on
the high-risk journey we wanted to share our stories with other women. Our aim
was to give a voice to the many who felt overlooked or even inadequate because
of their difficult journey to motherhood.”
High-risk pregnancy refers to where medical intervention is required to ensure the
health and wellbeing of mother and baby.
Ms Tsitas, who works in RMIT’s Alumni Relations unit and holds an MA in Creative
Writing from RMIT, said: “In the past, high-risk women have been neglected in
literature on pregnancy. We would argue that they have also been ignored when it
comes to recognising and delivering services that meet their unique psycho-social
needs.”
Handle with Care (Precious Families, $29.95) takes women and partners through a
four-step journey: preparing for pregnancy; managing pre-existing medical
conditions; dealing with sudden emergencies; and high-risk birth and beyond.
The book’s warnings of risk and tales of hardship are balanced by heart-warming
tales of women who have survived dangers to produce healthy children.
As one of the interviewees, Lee, put it: “I have no doubt that I would have
miscarried with Will if I hadn’t been in hospital on bed rest and being closely
monitored. It makes me realise just how much success depends on good medical
care.”
For more information: Caroline van de Pol, 0413 318 295 or Evelyn Tsitas,
0418 139 015.
For general media enquiries: RMIT Media and Communications, David Glanz,
(03) 9925 2807 or 0438 547 723.
9 December, 2008
NEWS 
