Hidden toll of top-paying job on couples struggling to fall pregnant

Friday, 28 February 2025 05:11

Jemma James knew she wanted to start a family for years but the journey to parenthood was far from straightforward.

There were rounds of fertility treatments, several procedures and a heartbreaking miscarriage - but in the end, Jemma and Clayton James finally had their daughter Ella.

Along with the challenges of failed cycles and missed opportunities, the couple had to contend with an additional source of pressure which stemmed from Clayton's career.

The miner is among an estimated 60,000 workers in Western Australia on a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) roster, a schedule which can separate families for days and weeks at a time.

Clayton and Jemma James with their daughter Ella.

People in this line of work are a part of a growing cohort of residents in the state turning to fertility treatments to have children.

Despite the perks of the role, the pattern of work can result in missed appointments and challenging fertility windows for couples.

After two years of attempting to conceive naturally, Jemma and Clayton turned to fertility treatments to help them fulfil their dream of starting a family.

During the process, Jemma found she had endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, two conditions which can interfere with fertility, but the couple remained undeterred.

In the third year, the couple did two rounds of intrauterine insemination, which was ultimately unsuccessful, before they opted for the egg collection route.

It was during this process that the couple felt the distance.

"We had three transfers, the second one worked but we lost that baby at nine weeks," Jemma said.

"We found out that our baby at our second scan didn't have a heartbeat anymore and the day after he had to fly back to work.

"I spent that whole week grieving on my own.

"He was on his own as well at work, so it would've been hard for him too.

"That aspect of FIFO was pretty brutal."

On the third transfer, Jemma finally fell pregnant with Ella and had her daughter six months ago.

FIFO workers represent a large portion of residents turning to fertility specialists to help them start families.

Perth-based fertility specialist Dr Maha Ragunath witnesses the daily challenges facing FIFO couples on their journey to parenthood in her work at fertility clinic Adora.

"IVF is not easy - It requires monitoring, scans, egg collection procedures and embryo transfer procedures," Ragunath said.

"Very often for the egg collection procedure, the woman has to go through sedation.

"This means potentially someone has to bring her in and take her home.

"A lot of the time these FIFO couples have moved from the east coast, most of their families are on the east coast and they're here as a couple in WA.

"Apart from the partner the woman really has nobody else.

"Even to go through that process, they don't have the support."

Perth-based Adora fertility specialist Dr Maha Ragunath.

But for many couples, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

"It's the nicest thing for patients to say I couldn't have had my family without you," Ragunath said.

For Jemma and Clayton, the journey was worth the wait but required them to lean on their family and friends to withstand the challenges along the way.

After her experience, Jemma's advice to other FIFO couples is not to keep their struggles in the dark.

"I know a lot of people like to keep it very private but my biggest thing is to tell people around you," she said.

"You need that support system outside of each other.

"Being open about it can actually be a positive."

The Red Nose Grief and Loss Support Line is available 24/7 for anyone affected by the loss of a pregnancy, stillbirth or death of a baby or child on 1300 308 307.

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