Unveiling Laura's Heartbreak: Miscarriage Strikes Below Deck Down Under Cast Member During Filming
Below Deck Down Under's Laura Bileskalne endured the heartbreaking reality of concealing her pregnancy and enduring a miscarriage during the filming of season 2
Laura Bileskaine Bravo
Laura Bileskalne, from Below Deck Down Under, shared that she experienced a miscarriage while filming season 2. During an episode of the "Miss Understood" podcast on Monday, November 6, Bileskalne discussed her hesitations about discussing her pregnancy, stating, "I guess it is finally time to talk about it because I was not sure I wanted to talk about it. I found out I was pregnant on the second day of the show."
The reality star was completely caught off guard by the news, stating, "I was taken aback - it was my first pregnancy. Initially, I thought I had a UTI and tried taking antibiotics, but they didn't provide any relief. I confided in the show's nurse and she suggested I take a test."
Throughout season 2 of the Below Deck spinoff, Bileskalne frequently spent extended periods of time in the bathroom. Chief stew Aesha Scott raised concerns about Bileskalne's prolonged absences, assuming she was simply taking her time to get ready. However, Bileskalne was dissatisfied with the way the storyline portrayed her time away from the cameras, as she was undergoing a significant life change.
"When I discovered the news, I was in the midst of the show's filming," she recounted. "Although interacting with cast members off-camera was against the rules, I felt an urgent need to confide in Aesha. I needed a private conversation, away from the prying lenses."
Bileskalne further explained, "I confided in her because I believed she would offer me the greatest support. She understood the situation I was going through, and it was crucial for my own well-being that I prevented anyone else from finding out about it."
The second stew was taken aback by the fact that her breaks became a subject of conversation on the show.
"For this very reason, I shared this with [Aesha], but it took a different turn altogether. It was truly hurtful, actually. It hurt even more than the other things because they were aware of the situation. Even production knew since I had to go to the hospital twice," Bileskalne expressed. "I specifically requested them not to include it in the show because I didn't want to elaborate on what was happening, yet everyone knew I was hospitalized."
Bileskalne had made the decision to undergo an abortion, but unfortunately experienced a miscarriage prior to the scheduled procedure.
"We had scheduled an appointment to proceed with the abortion in between our charters. However, on Monday morning, I woke up with indescribable pain and heavy bleeding. The bathroom became my refuge," she recounted. "We went to the hospital, but the waiting time felt incredibly long."
Bileskalne chose to return to the boat instead of seeking medical attention. Afterwards, she consulted a doctor who confirmed that she had experienced a miscarriage.
According to Bileskalne, only Aesha and the producers were aware of her situation. She stated on the podcast that she had explicitly requested privacy, and they immediately agreed. They never insisted on including it in the show.
After receiving support during filming, Bileskalne expressed her dissatisfaction with how her screen time was portrayed afterward. "Even though they were aware of my state, they still portrayed it as if I simply spent a long time in the bathroom," she remarked. She further added, "People created memes suggesting that I came out of the bathroom unchanged, but in reality, I looked even more different because I had been crying. It was the only place where I felt safe."
Below Deck Down Under gained attention this summer when Luke Jones was fired by Captain Jason for entering Margot Sisson's bed naked while she was asleep. Bileskalne was also dismissed after expressing her disappointment publicly about Jones leaving. Her advances towards deckhand Adam Kodra, which he later confirmed were unwanted, also played a role in her departure.
In an attempt to address any misconceptions, Bileskalne appeared on Monday's podcast to clarify what was not shown on screen. She maintained that her interactions with Kodra were consensual but were misinterpreted due to the incident involving Jones and the issue of consent.
"I am often questioned about any regrets I may have had about appearing on the show, due to the numerous unfounded accusations. However, my response is a resounding NO!" Bileskalne conveyed on Instagram on October 24. "Through this experience, I gained valuable insights about both myself and humanity as a whole. Witnessing the rude demeanor of many individuals actually elevated my self-worth, as it became apparent that I am in no way comparable to them. I am content being authentically different from such people, without even making an effort to do so."
