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

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Ep212 - 10 Years After Infertility and PCOS having Miracle Babies with Lianne Totty Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

After battling infertility for 10 years with Poly cystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS, today's guest delivered her baby at 27 weeks, spent 6 months in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and lost her baby. Lianne Totty, went on to have another baby at 25 weeks who also spent time in the NICU and is now thriving. Her experience led her to writing her children's book "Baby went to Heaven" to help explain infant loss to children when her god daughter asked her where the baby was and she didn't know what to tell her. In this episode she takes us back to being diagnosed with PCOS, getting weight loss surgery, NICU experience, and PTSD from birth experiences. We discuss about feeling like your body has failed you and that you are being punished by not being able to bring a baby home.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a long road to parenthood and want to hear hope and resilience on this journey.

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Ep211 - Preeclampsia and Miscarriage and helping Melinated Moms with Jaye Wilson Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

Have you heard of preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys.

There may be no symptoms. High blood pressure and protein in the urine are key features. There may also be swelling in the legs and water retention, but this can be hard to distinguish from normal pregnancy.

Pre-eclampsia can often be managed with oral or IV medications until the baby is sufficiently mature to be delivered. This often requires weighing the risks of early delivery versus the risks of continued preeclampsia symptoms.

Today's guest is a survivor of preeclampsia, losing 2 babies prior to the birth of her daughter. Her first loss was due to misinformation about preeclampsia and her second was due to severe placental abruption that almost cost her life. Jaye Wilson thought motherhood was not really for her and doubted her worthiness in self and in her relationship. After birthing her two babies she went through divorce and rediscovered herself in a new form as a single mother. This inspired her to create her organization Melanited Moms to inspire others to find their voices in their own motherhood journey.

In this episode we discuss preeclampsia, signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, how she found her voice in her subsequent pregnancies and after divorce, and how she is helping Melanited Moms around the world.

Listen to this episode here: sistersinloss.com/ep211

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What is next for Sisters in Loss? Birthday and 4 Year Anniversary Celebration Jul 14, 2021

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It's My Birthday and 4 Year Podcast Episode! Today's episode is a solo episode where I catch you up on all the things happening with Sisters in Loss and celebrating my birthday on July 17th and 4 years of podcasting on August 2.

In this episode we discuss:

-Taking a solo vacation for my birthday

-Recapping this year so far for Sisters in Loss

-What is next for Sisters in Loss? Our 2021 Summit and Retreat in 2022!

This episode is for you to listen to celebrate my birthday and 4 years of podcasting. Stay tuned until the end of the episode for a special message.

For my birthday I would love for you to leave us a fresh review on your podcast medium.

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Ep209 - Miscarrying on Vacation with Barakah Sahaiel Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest became a mother at 19, and used her experiences to become a doula and fertility awareness method educator, and nutritionist. Barakah Sahaiel became pregnant and she and her partner went on vacation to celebrate this new journey. It was then she knew something was wrong and she began to miscarry. In this episode Barakah takes us on the journey of finding a hospital in another country, the language barrier, and how she honored her baby by taking them back home with her.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a miscarriage.

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Ep208 - Miscarrying at Home with Abena Hill Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

Imagine going to your first prenatal appointment to find out your body was beginning to miscarry.

Today's guest found out she was pregnant and then began spotting before her first prenatal appointment. She explained to the doctors about the spotting and they performed an ultrasound. The ultrasound tech went to get the doctor to break the news that the pregnancy would not be viable. Abena Hill kept telling herself to be strong and brushed away her tears while in the doctor's office, but broke down crying in her car. In today's episode she takes us back to that moment of hearing those words. There is no heartbeat and this pregnancy is no longer viable, she makes the decision to birth at home instead of a D&C, and discusses the obstacles she has overcome as a result of her grief.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever miscarried at home or not in a hospitalized setting. This episode is for you to listen to understand how grief shows up in our bodies after loss.

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Ep207 - The Baby I Prayed For, the Angel I Received with Christina Williams Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

How many of us have prayed that Hannah prayer for a baby?

Today's guest, experienced 4 miscarriages and one stillbirth and is on a mission to inform others of pregnancy and infant loss and help parents who have lost their precious babies. Christina Williams is a PAIL advocate and CEO of C.H.L.O.E. her non profit organization around pregnancy and infant loss. After experiencing her stillbirth Christina had a partial hysterectomy as a result, and in this episode she shares her experiences with her miscarriages, and her book "The Baby I Prayed For, the Angel I Received."

This episode is for you to listen to if you have prayed for a baby and received an angel.

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Ep206 - When the Heartbeat Stops with JaRonda Dockett Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

What happens when the heartbeat stops? What happens when doctors say "there is nothing we can do?"

Today's guest experienced two miscarriages outside of the hospital one at a rental car facility and the other at home. JaRonda Dockett has Sickle Cell Anemia and was considered high risk because of the blood disease, being diagnosed with gestational diabetes and bacterial vaginosis when she became pregnant. She went to take her rental car back to the facility and miscarried in their restroom. JaRonda shares in this episode how she had to process her grief and learn her loss was a birth, finding out she was pregnant again and overcoming the trauma of her first loss, and miscarrying her second baby at home. She turns her pain into purpose by sharing her experiences in her book When the Heartbeat Stops.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have Sickle Cell Anemia, have been considered high risk, and want to know what do you do When the Heartbeat stops?

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Ep205 - Life After Loss with Theresa Mitchell Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

When you suffer the loss of a baby there is no formula or checklist to grieve and heal. Grief is such a unique journey that presents itself differently in each individual. Life After Loss can be a roller coaster of emotions filled with anxiety, anger, sadness, and love frustrated.

Today's guest is using her loss experience to bring light and truth to the struggles faced by black and brown women as they quietly struggle through miscarriage, infant loss, and infertility. Theresa Mitchell is using her story to create a documentary on Life After Loss and in this episode she shares how she suffered three miscarriages, had her rainbow baby, and discusses the struggles, complications, and inadequate care black and brown birthing people face in hospitals and wellness centers all over America and the world.

Today's episode if you want to know how to navigate Life After Loss. Be sure to check out the show notes for a Free Downloadable Life After Loss guide HERE!

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Ep204 - Endometriosis, Education, and Advocacy with Samantha Sanders Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

Endometriosis or Endo, as some of us like to call it, is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, often resulting in chronic pain and other symptoms. It's not very widely understood, so seeing other people who understand it is like finding gold.

In today's episode we are discussing advocacy around endometriosis. Today's guest was diagnosed with endometriosis At the age of 24, Samantha Sanders @_samanthadenae_ was diagnosed with Endometriosis and has since began her mission to educate young ladies and women around the world. We discuss how Black people are less likely to get our endometriosis diagnosed, how doctors are less likely to believe us about our pain, and how Endometriosis can overlap with other conditions that Black people are more likely to have.

This episode is for you to listen to learn more about Endometriosis and how you can be an advocate for yourself and others.

Become a Sisters in Loss Birth and Bereavement Doula Here Living Water Doula Services Book Recommendations and Links Below

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