A Sydney YouTuber with almost 3 million followers has shared the devastating moment she was told to end her unborn son’s life because of a health condition, and why she’s ignoring his advice.
Australian vlogger Sarah Stevenson has revealed the shocking way a doctor told her to end her pregnancy because of a health condition, and why she’s decided to keep her baby.
The YouTube mum-of-one, who goes by the name of Sarah’s Day online, is currently expecting her second child with photographer boyfriend Kurt Tilse.
A month ago the 28-year-old disclosed to her 1.2 million Instagram followers that she was going through a “tough time” with some personal issues and withdrew from social media.
Now the Sydney fitness influencer has shared a YouTube video explaining that the coupe had been dealing with a shock diagnosis for their unborn son.
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Sarah and Kurt – with son Fox – are expecting their second child. Source: Instagram.
“It’s just sometimes the luck of the draw”
Three weeks ago the couple – who are parents to two-year-old Fox – announced they were expecting another baby.
Just days ago they uploaded a video to their nearly 3 million followers across Instagram and YouTube revealing that they had been told to terminate their second son, and had struggled with that decision.
When Sarah was 10 weeks pregnant she went for the NIPT test, which is non-invasive prenatal test that can tell if a pregnancy is at low or high risk for chromosome disorders such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), trisomy 18, trisomy 13.
“I got a call from the ultrasound clinic,” she says in the 17 minute video.
“As soon as I picked up I could tell from her voice, it wasn’t the normal call.
“She disclosed that our baby has a health issue you really wouldn’t expect your baby to have, it has nothing to do with Kurt and I, it’s just sometimes the luck of the draw.”
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Kurt and Sarah explain their recent personal issues in a YouTube video. Source: YouTube.
Waiting for test “consumed” Sarah
They were told the baby had a “99 per cent chance” of having the abnormality – which they have chosen not to reveal – but Sarah had a Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test to better investigate.
She had to wait over two weeks for that test and it was during this time she withdrew from social media.
“I’m spending every day researching this health condition, finding people on social media who have it, finding other mums who have children with this condition, it consumed me,” she says.
Following the test she had to sit down with a doctor, without Kurt because of lockdown restrictions, who told her bluntly that she shouldn’t continue the pregnancy.
“The hardest part, I was going in so positive, regardless of the outcome I was like, we’re going to love this baby this is our son and this is how it’s going to be,” she says.
“He said, ‘my recommendation to you is, stop and start again’.
When Sarah asked what he meant, he replied, “for your own wellbeing and the wellbeing of your child, I think you should terminate.”
RELATED: ‘I refused to terminate my son against my doctor’s advice’
Sarah with her son Fox, 2. Source: Instagram.
Sarah and Kurt struggled over termination decision
The doctor’s words “got in her head” and she spent days torn up over the decision.
“I would have full days thinking well he’s a doctor he specialises in this, if he’s telling me to terminate, maybe I should,” she says.
“When I read (online) those people who don’t have a great sense of wellbeing, and resent their bodies and health concerns I kept thinking should I terminate… am I going to bring a baby into this world who’s going to hate their circumstances?”
A teary Sarah says it’s the most pressure she has ever felt in her life.
“You know when you’re crying so hard and you can’t even speak, I would call my older sister and my mum and just cry and say ‘can you make the decision for me, I don’t want to make it’.”
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Kurt and Sarah get emotional in YouTube video. Source: YouTube.
Baby boy could only have “mild” disorder
After an “upbeat” Zoom conversation with counsellors and doctors, Sarah felt empowered to continue with her pregnancy.
“I feel like with proper support and early intervention he can have the opportunity to live a really beautiful, happy, healthy life,” she says.
“With most health conditions it’s a spectrum, where you may show all of the symptoms of a certain condition or you may just be mild.”
The Instagram star admits she feels nervous sharing their story, and also withholding specifics, but she doesn’t want her son’s condition to define him.
Kurt and Sarah have opened up about their journey so followers can respect if the expectant mum is “extra anxious” and to be “compassionate” towards their son as he grows.
“When he is born if there is moments where I’m extra grateful or in disbelief of reaching milestones, you’ll maybe understand better,” she says.
She said they are both now “peaceful” with the road ahead.
“In my own life, I have noticed everything little happens for a reason, why would I start questioning it now, everything has led me to here, the happiest I’ve ever been, so I’ll just keeping riding the wave,” she says.
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