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About the Guest: 

Kristina Keneally is the former New South Wales Premier and Labour Senator. She was dedicated to public service, with a focus on tackling significant issues such as stillbirth, a cause she holds close following her personal experience. Keneally is the CEO of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation and has played an instrumental role in creating awareness and instigating change around the underrepresented issue of stillbirth in Australia. 

Episode Summary: 

In this episode of “She Wasn’t Born Yesterday,” former NSW Premier and Labour Senator Kristina Keneally joins hosts Amelia and Janet for a moving conversation about pregnancy loss, and how to move forward after such tragic experiences. The episode tackles the complexities of stillbirth, an issue Keneally has committed to addressing both personally and politically. 

Keneally shares her own story of pregnancy loss and the challenges in dealing with stillbirth publicly while serving in the public eye. The discussion covers aspects ranging from the emotional effects on families, to medical practices, cultural sensitivities, and legislative changes in Australia. Including the positive impact of a Senate inquiry into stillbirth, initiated by Keneally, and its resulting strides towards a national action plan to reduce stillbirth rates—an initiative the guest has passionately campaigned for. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Pregnancy loss, specifically stillbirth, is a significant but underrepresented issue in family life, with six babies a day stillborn in Australia. 
• Kristina Keneally’s personal experience with stillbirth has fueled her dedication to raising awareness and pushing for public health reforms. 
• Keneally’s advocacy led to a Senate inquiry into stillbirth, bringing the issue into the national discourse and resulting in a national action plan aiming to reduce stillbirth rates in Australia. 
• Cultural sensitivity and the varying responses to stillbirth across different communities highlight the complexity of addressing this issue. 
• Support for parents experiencing stillbirth, such as paid parental leave and bereavement counseling, is still inconsistent and requires more attention and standardisation. 

Notable Quotes: 

• “It’s like I joined a club I didn’t know existed, I don’t really want to be a member of, and I can’t get out of it.” 
• “If you can survive giving birth to your child who has died, and you can bury her…you’ve got an inner strength that all the other slings and arrows of life, you suddenly like, you know what? I’ve survived something far worse than this.” 
• “Christina Keneally wears same dress twice.”—Reflecting the often trivial public scrutiny faced by women in politics. 

• “My third child owes his life to the autopsy that was performed on his older sister.” 

Resources: 

• Stillbirth Foundation Australia website: Referenced for further information on stillbirth advocacy and resources. 

Be sure to listen to the full episode for an in-depth view into the heartrending topic of stillbirth and how incredible people like Kristina Keneally are working tirelessly to create change. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from “She Wasn’t Born Yesterday.” 

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