‘I felt like I didn’t do my job properly’: Sports reporter Sam Squiers reveals she felt ‘guilty’ after learning both her unborn daughters were suffering from health struggles mid-pregnancy
Sports reporter Sam Squiers has opened up about her past pregnancy struggles in a candid new interview.
Sam, who shares Imogen, three, and eight-month-old Elle with husband Ben, recalled the devastating moment she learned both of her children had encountered health problems in the womb – and how she felt ‘guilt’ because of it.
The 37-year-old told Stellar: ‘You feel, as a woman, it’s your job to grow your baby; I felt like I didn’t do my job properly with Immi, then I felt like I didn’t do my job properly in growing Elle.’
Opening up: Sam, who shares Imogen, three, and eight-month-old Elle with husband Ben, recalled the devastating moment she learned both of her children had encountered health problems in the womb – and how she felt ‘guilt’ because of it. Pictured: Sam and her family
The Sydney-based TV host welcomed her first child in 2017 – but at just 24 weeks, she learned her unborn baby had stopped growing properly, due to her placenta not forming properly.
Just weeks later, she woke in the middle of the night with a searing pain in her stomach – with doctors telling her she had suffered from severe pre-eclampsia and a placental abruption.
‘I was bleeding from inside my uterus, which was distressing Immi. They had to get her out,’ she added.
Imogen was born weighing just 1.3kg – but thankfully grew into a bubbly, healthy little girl.
Heartache: The Sydney-based TV host welcomed her first child in 2017 – but at just 24 weeks, she learned her little one had stopped growing due to her placenta not forming properly. The little one was born weighing just 1.3kg – but thankfully grew into a bubbly, healthy little girl
But after falling pregnant again with Elle last year, Sam was left heartbroken once again when a photo of her unborn baby revealed a cleft palate.
‘We just wanted to have a pregnancy that was a smooth run and didn’t involve specialists and doctors and surgeons and hospitals all the time,’ she continued.
Elle – who was born in March – will need four surgeries to correct the cleft, one of which took place in July at four months old.
At the time, Sam took to Instagram to share a sweet update with fans on her tot’s condition.
Recovering well! At the time, Sam took to Instagram to share a sweet update with fans on her tot’s condition
Career gal: Sam has previously worked for Channel Nine, Sky News, the Seven Network, Southern Cross Austereo and Germany’s Deutsche Welle
‘Baby Elle. 6 days post op. She has a little stent in her nose to help the nostril form, which will stay in for 2-4 weeks.’
She sweetly added: ‘I’ve spoken before about Immi never pointing, saying, mentioning or asking anything about Elle’s cleft. Not once. Yet when she first saw Elle post op she was quite concerned ‘what’s happened to Baby Elle?’.
‘She’s now chief protector telling anyone who goes near her (with finger pointed) ‘don’t touch Baby Elle’s nose!’.
‘They’re so lucky to have each other!’
‘They’re so lucky to have each other!’ Sam wrote of her two daughters earlier in the year