This is the incredible story of a young 21-year-old midwifery student, Lyn Bailey, who was tasked to wisk babies away right after they were born so the mothers wouldn't see the newborn... Lyn Bailey is a mother of 4, grandmother of 8 and was a Midwife for nearly 50 years. She studied Midwifery in 1969 in St Margarets Hospital in Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia.

St Margarets Hospital in those years was a teaching hospital of obstetrics and midwifery and it was also a place where unwed, pregnant, single young girls were sent from all over Australia to 'discreetly' give birth and be forced, coerced, or unlawfully forced into adopting their babies. In those days if you were a woman under the age of 21, parents or guardians could override the wishes of the woman to keep a baby and so the babies were forcibly adopted in most cases. This period of time between about 1969-1972 is known as the 'Forced Adoption Era' where nearly 10,000 babies were adopted.

Lyn shares the incredible story of her role in the hospital's birthing procedures, how she defied the rules to help the young women through their trauma and she discusses the scars this role left on her soul.

What absolutely blows my mind about this story, is Lyn was working in St Margarets Hospital when I (Janelle) was born. Lyn may have held me in her arms, it's a likelihood that I find deeply profound. I am mystified by this connection in my story. Thank you Lyn for being so brave and helping the chains of pain and hurt heal. I appreciate you and am so grateful to have shared your story.

You can find out more about Lyn's coaching business and connect with her here https://lyn-bailey.com/

Please share your story, speak up, and seek help should you find this upsetting in any way. Remember there is always someone to help.

With love and gratitude,

Janelle Manton