While the Baby Slept: Endometriosis, IVF, Baby Loss & Hysterectomy at 36 (Jess’s Story)
The Space Between Two LinesShow Notes
In this profoundly moving, raw, and inspiring episode of The Space Between Two Lines, Alex sits down with Jess R, a Gold Coast mother of four, author, and women's health advocate. Jess shares her extraordinary journey across more than two decades—from battling severe, undiagnosed teenage endometriosis to navigating devastating pregnancy losses, complex IVF protocols, and ultimately reclaiming her life through a total hysterectomy.
When Jess was just 27, her first IUI cycle led to a joyous pregnancy, only for a routine 12-week scan to reveal a severe structural heart defect caused by a rare chromosomal deletion (IQ44 deletion). Faced with a heartbreaking prognosis of "incompatible with life," Jess endured a Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR) at 18 weeks, delivering her daughter, Jean.
Jess candidly unpacks the profound grief of walking out of the hospital without a baby, the anxiety of pregnancy after loss, enduring natural miscarriages and D&Cs while climbing the corporate ladder, and spending $60,000 on repeated failed IVF cycles. Her story takes an empowering turn when she sought a second opinion on the Gold Coast with renowned fertility specialist Dr. Kee Ong, who discovered a blocked fallopian tube and initiated an innovative protocol that brought her son, Kingsley, into the world—followed later by a surprise natural conception, Rocky.
Special Announcement: Book Launch & Event Details Book Launch Event: Renowned fertility specialist Dr. Kee Ong will be joining Jess in conversation live at her upcoming book launch event for While the Baby Slept (launching November 24, 2026). Keep an ear out for event details and ticketing closer to the date! Website & Press: For full details, press releases, media articles relating to Jason Rigby’s case, and updates on Jess's memoir, visit: https://www.jessicarigby.com Follow the Campaign & Story: Connect with Jess and follow the movement for justice on Instagram & Facebook: @justiceforjasonrigby
Listen & Follow the Podcast: Jess's journey is a powerful reminder that while loss and fertility struggles burn deeply into your soul, self-advocacy and finding the right care team can change everything.
If you found this episode empowering, please take a moment to listen to the full episode, subscribe, rate, and follow The Space Between Two Lines on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
Share Your Story: If you would like to register to share your own journey on the podcast, please visit our website: https://www.twolines.space/register
More from The Space Between Two Lines
In this honest, empathetic, and highly informative episode of The Space Between Two Lines, Alex sits down with a 32-year-old Melbourne resident who candidly shares her two-year journey navigating infertility, the emotional turmoil of ovulation tracking, repeated treatment failures, a Stage 3 endometriosis diagnosis, and an early chemical pregnancy loss.
In this candid and emotional episode of The Space Between Two Lines, Alex sits down with Alison, a 29-year-old living in Heathcote, Victoria. Alison opens up about her four-year journey trying to conceive with her partner, Nick—a path that shifted dramatically when they discovered that Nick's childhood leukemia chemotherapy treatments had resulted in severe male factor infertility (low sperm count and low motility).
In this deeply moving, resilient, and educational episode of The Space Between Two Lines, Alex speaks with Kel, a 37-year-old educator living in South Australia's Clare Valley. Kel shares her four-year journey from trying to conceive naturally to facing unexpected miscarriages, an emergency rare cancer diagnosis, a 16-hour radical surgery, and the heartbreak of navigating frozen embryo transfers without ovaries.
In this deeply insightful and empowering episode of The Space Between Two Lines, host Alex Saunders sits down with Adelle, a 34-year-old chiropractor from Adelaide, South Australia, who shares her 6-to-7-year fertility journey. Despite living a health-conscious, "pill-free" lifestyle and having regular cycles, Adelle and her husband, Cam, faced years of unexplained delay, complex genetic screening, and heartbreaking failed embryo transfers.
In this incredibly raw, moving, and educational episode of The Space Between Two Lines, Alex sits down with Brittany, a 33-year-old Melbourne resident who shares her remarkable 15-year journey from a shocking premature menopause diagnosis to a successful pregnancy using an altruistic egg donor.