Sisters in Loss Podcast: Miscarriage, Pregnancy Loss, &amp; Infertility Stories

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232 - How to move forward after Miscarriage? Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

All month long we will feature some of our favorite episodes around different topics. Today's topic is all about how to move forward after miscarriage.

Rana Campbell host of Dreams in Drive Podcast who shares her miscarriage story and the cost of miscarriage from her feature in Elle. After her miscarriage in 2016 Rana found the hospital bills quickly adding up to the thousands of dollars even with insurance. In this episode Rana takes us back to how she started Dreams in Drive while grieving the loss of her baby, and how her feature helped her shed light on the financial burden of losing a child. Rana has since given birth to her rainbow baby. Congratulations Rana and thank you for sharing your story.

Crystal Justice found out she was pregnant on Aug 9, 2018. On Sept 7, 2018 she was told that the pregnancy was no longer viable. Despite my HCG levels and Progesterone levels being normal her D&C was scheduled on Sept 11, 2018 which is was her partner's birthday. In this episode Crystal takes us back to that day and how her faith has helped her heal from miscarriage.

Sherita Thompson experienced a miscarriage while on a trip helping friends babysit and was devastated. She returned from her trip and realized she hadn't prayed about it because she was angry and frustrated at herself. In this episode Sherita takes us on her grief journey towards healing, how her faith and prayer helped her conceive her rainbow baby a month after her miscarriage, and encouragement for those moms who are overwhelmed.

Listen to this episode here: sistersinloss.com/ep232

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231 - How to Survive after Stillbirth? Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

For the rest of December long we will feature and throwback to some of our favorite Sisters in Loss podcast episodes.

Today's topic is all about how to survive after stillbirth.

We are featuring two of my favorite episodes of the podcast, Episode 5 with Diana Sims who shares her stillbirth story of son King, born at 36 weeks gestation, and her journey to rainbow baby Anthony.

In episode 162 of the podcast Shana Anderson takes us on the journey of birthing her rainbow baby and losing her son on the same day all while grieving her stillborn daughter. Shana is raw as it is weeks after laying her son Bryce to rest. She takes us back to the day of great joy and deep sorrow of birthing a son and losing a son. Shana is taking it one day at a time and literally spoke life over herself, her womb, and baby Brayden as he was growing in her belly while taking care of a medically fragile toddler.

This episode is for you to listen to if you want to know what God's grace and mercy looks like on earth in the form of strength and resilience.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a placenta abruption, stillbirth, or pregnancy after loss.

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230 - Twin Loss in the Military with Theresa Alexis Dec 01, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest motherhood journey did not start out as planned. She conceived two months after getting married with twins. Her and her husband were both enlisted in the Marine Corps and he was stationed in California while she stayed in North Carolina. Theresa Alexis woke up bleeding at 20 weeks pregnant and was rushed on base to the Naval hospital where they took their time to get her back and was told her twins had no heartbeat and hopefully, she wasn't as far along as they'd thought. In this episode, Theresa takes us back to the emotions she felt in that moment, how her husband flew back to her, and the military treatment received post loss with fear, anxiety, and depression. This episode is for you to listen to if you are a veteran and are currently enlisted in the military or have experienced a twin loss. Become a Sisters in Loss Birth Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula Here Living Water Doula Services Book Recommendations and Links Below

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229 - Stillbirth, Incompetent Cervix and Transabdominal Cerclage with Amina Lively Nov 24, 2021

Show notes

Have you heard of the term transabdominal cerclage?

A transabdominal cerclage is a small, extremely strong, woven synthetic band stitched high on the cervix. This band supports the full length of the cervix and resists the pressure the growing fetus places on it. The band prevents the cervix from opening and losing the pregnancy.

Today's guest experienced several miscarriages before giving birth to a stillborn son at 21 weeks due to an incompetent cervix. She went on to experience a few more miscarriages and went to a fertility specialist who recommended a IUI and a transvaginal cerclage when she became pregnant. Amina Lively ended up getting pregnant naturally with twins, but shortly after becoming pregnant she lost Baby B. They went forward with the transvaginal cerclage, but at 18 weeks she went into labor and lost Baby A. In this episode, Amina shares with us the birth trauma she experienced, how she researched a transabdominal cerclage and scheduled the procedure, and how she is hopeful and resilient to bring home a baby.

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228 - My Body Betrayed Me: Overcoming Fibroids, Endometriosis, and Ovarian Cysts with Tamara Hunter Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest experienced her first loss of a blighted ovum that required surgery and then discovered she had fertility issues and began fertility treatments. She then experienced another miscarriage and had the baby at home.

Tamara Hunter learned from her fertility specialist/reproductive endocrinologist that she had thrombophilia, a blood abnormality, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and ovarian cyst. She decided to undergo surgery to strengthen her chances of conceiving with additional fertility treatments.

In this episode, Tamara shares how she perceived her body betraying her, the emotional and physical trauma she experienced, and how her infertility journey led her to become a Perinatal Mental Health therapist.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have fertility challenges and feel like your body betrayed you.

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227 - Surviving Infertility, Mental Illness, and Involuntary Hysterectomy with Vanessa Goodar Nov 10, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest had a daughter right after college then was married and struggled with infertility both female and male factor infertility. Vanessa Goodar experienced two failed IVF rounds, a failed insemination, and had an involuntary hysterectomy at age 37. These experiences caused severe psychological and emotional distress and she struggled with insomnia, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Her ex-husband placed her in a psychiatric facility for the homeless and uninsured due to systemic racism. Vanessa was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and treatment. In this episode, Vanessa takes us back to her journey through infertility and how it triggered childhood trauma that resulted in her mental illness, going back to school to study psychology, and the Strong Black Woman syndrome.This episode is for you to listen to if you have struggled with mental illness, have fertility challenges, and are thriving. Become a Sisters in Loss Birth Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula Here Living Water Doula Services Book Recommendations and Links Below

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226 – Endometriosis, IVF Journey, and She Experienced with Sherelle Gilbert Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

Have you heard of the term hydrosalpinx?

Hydrosalpinx is the blockage of a woman's fallopian tube caused by a fluid buildup and dilation of the tube at its end. Most often it occurs at the fimbrial end of the tube next to the ovary, but it can also occur at the other end of the tube that attaches to the uterus.

Today's guest was diagnosed with infertility after trying to conceive for a year. She underwent surgery for hydrosalpinx and possible endometriosis which resulted in removal of both her fallopian tubes due to damage caused by endometriosis. Sherelle Gilbert was faced with IVF being her only option for conceiving. She went through her first round of IVF that resulted in one normal PGS tested embryo. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancellations delayed the transfer of her embryo. Sherelle had a successful transfer and was excited, until she experienced a miscarriage at 7 weeks. In this episode, Sherelle takes us back on her journey through endometriosis, IVF and the costs, and her preparing for another round of IVF in hopes of bringing home her miracle.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, experienced IVF loss, or have had blocked fallopian tubes.

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225 - Cervical Insufficency and Second Trimester Miscarriage with Nae Watson Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

Have you heard of the term Cervical Insufficiency?

Cervical insufficiency (also called incompetent cervix) means your cervix opens (dilates) too early during pregnancy, usually without pain or contractions. Contractions are when the muscles of your uterus get tight and then relax. They help push your baby out of your uterus during labor and birth.

Today's guest experienced 3 second trimester losses due to cervical insufficiency or cervical incompetence. She experienced her first loss at 6 weeks, another at 18 weeks, then another one at 6 weeks. Nae Watson wasn't sure if she would ever get pregnant again and if she did she was hopeful she would bring a baby home. She was able to conceive again and was put on baby aspirin, progesterone, and had a preventative cerclage (cervical stitch) at 14 weeks. Nae's cerclage was taken out at 36 weeks and her baby boy was born the next day. In this episode, Nae shares how she coped with experiencing multiple miscarriages, how the cerclage saved her son's life, and how she is blogging about her journey to motherhood.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced miscarriage or cervical insuffiency and are interested in hearing more about cerclage.

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224 - Birth of Twins and Losing one Twin during Covid pandemic with Dominique Timmons Oct 20, 2021

Show notes

COVID-19 has brought about a loneliness in pregnancy that has yet to be measured. Going to doctors appointments alone, via Zoom, and not receiving the same care priorto COVID has made navigating pregnancy difficult.

Today's guest got pregnant with twins in Summer 2019 and had a healthy pregnancy until the 3rd trimester. They began telling her that Baby B was smaller than Baby A, but nothing to be concerned about as they were in two separate placentas and not sharing nutrition. Dominique Timmons had her 34th week appointment with the Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist and they suggested that she schedule her C-section for April 1, 2020. Then COVID happened and shut down everything where she had to go to doctors appointments alone. She went to her 35th week appointment and the doctor suggested steroid shots to strengthen the baby's lungs and to come back the next day for another round of shots. The doctor fell silent during the ultrasound and her husband was on facetime in the lobby knowing something was wrong. He asked the doctor if he could come back and the doctor said yes. The doctor broke the news that Baby B, their daughter Drew, heart stopped beating and she died. In this episode, Dominique takes us on the journey of extreme grief and extreme joy while she celebrates one baby and loses another on the same day.

This episode is for you to listen to if you want to know how it was being pregnant and losing a baby during COVID-19.

Listen to this episode here:

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