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

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Ep193 - Molar Pregnancy, PCOS, to IVF Success with Brittney Cain Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

Have you heard of a Molar Pregnancy?A molar pregnancy occurs when the placenta doesn't develop normally. Instead, a tumor forms in the uterus and causes the placenta to become a mass of fluid-filled sacs, also called cysts. About 1 in every 1,000 pregnancies (0.1 percent) is a molar pregnancy.

Today's guest was diagnosed with PCOS and experienced a chemical pregnancy and untimely loss. After she switched providers they determined IVF would be the best option to grow her family. Brittney Cain went through mental health challenges due to the ups and downs of the IVF process especially after getting pregnant during her first round of IVF and it resulting in a molar pregnancy.

In this episode, Brittney shares her experience with IVF and switching fertility specialists that she felt safe with, undergoing a frozen embryo transfer and uncomplicated pregnancy with her rainbow baby, and pregnancy after loss with induction and C-section.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a molar or chemical pregnancy or IVF. This episode is for you to listen to if you want to know when is the right time to switch providers for the best outcome for you and your baby.

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Ep192 - Twin Loss and Pain After Loss with Marie Carmel Bien-Aime Mar 10, 2021

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Was it difficult for you to see other pregnancies after your loss?

Dealing with Pregnancy envy is a normal emotion especially after your miscarriage, infant or child loss, or infertility journey. You're not a bad person, friend, or relative for feeling pangs of jealousy.

Understanding the underlying thoughts that feed into jealous feelings may help you understand yourself better and even reduce these uncomfortable feelings.

Today's guest did exactly that after experiencing the loss of twins at 20 weeks. Marie Carmel Bien-Aime has a 18 year old and 7 year old who were both born prematurely. In 2016 she conceived twins naturally and at the 5 month ultrasound to confirm the genders the ultrasound technician stopped talking. This is when Marie knew something was wrong. The doctor comes in and says that she is already dilated and offered her a cerclage to prolong the pregnancy.

In this episode she takes us back to the time leading up to her untimely losses, how she had to make a decision to deliver her babies with no fluid, and waking up empty to no babies due to hemorrhaging when delivering the placenta.

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Ep191 - Miscarriage due to Fibroids and IVF Journey with Shashawn Dublin Mar 03, 2021

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Women with fibroids are much more likely to miscarry during early pregnancy than women without them (14% vs. 7.6%). And if you have multiple or very large fibroids, your chances go up even more.

Today's guest experienced a miscarriage due to fibroids. With this history and due to her age of 42 she went on to seek a fertility specialist. Shashawn Dublin was recommended to complete IVF and during her first try she became pregnant with twins a boy and a girl. She then experienced excessive bleeding and was rushed to the Emergency Room where they determined she was in labor and began dilation. She lost her twins at 23 weeks and was devastated.

In this episode, Shashawn takes us back on her journey to motherhood, how she is moving forward with her journey to motherhood, and turning her pain into purpose by starting an organization around donor eggs and options to grow families.

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Ep190 - Questioning your faith in God for Child Loss with Mashira Taylor Feb 24, 2021

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Can you imagine losing your toddler in front of your other older children?

Today's guest experienced the trauma and pain of losing her 3 year old son to a massive heart attack while her other children were in the room. Mashira Taylor's son Max had heart issues when he was born that eventually had open heart surgery to correct these issues. Her children were outside playing and her son was indoors because his stomach ached. He told her he felt like he was going to throw up before he passed away from a massive heart attack which looked like a seizure.

In this episode and Surviving Loss series she shares how she questioned God throughout the entire process of losing her son. How she had to explain that her son passed away to her other children, and how she is surviving after loss by starting a non-profit foundation for those going through the grieving process.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever questioned your faith in God on your loss journey. This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a child loss.

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Ep189 - Ambiguous Loss & Grief after Child Loss with Alshante Squire Feb 17, 2021

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Have you heard of the term Ambiguous Loss?Ambiguous loss is a loss that occurs without closure or clear understanding. This kind of loss leaves a person searching for answers, and thus complicates and delays the process of grieving, and often results in unresolved grief.Today's guest experienced an elective termination in her twenties after healing and working through childhood trauma she convinced herself she didn't want children. Alshante Squire then found love in a same sex relationship where her partner went through treatment and found out she was pregnant. She was excited until her partner broke up unexpectedly and wanted to raise their child without her. Alshante found herself faced with ambiguous grief and loss of a child, a rainbow baby, she wanted but could not be a part of their life due to legalities of parenthood. She went on to become a single mom by choice by undergoing removal of polyps to get pregnant. Alshante did get pregnant and lost that baby at around 6 weeks gestation. In this episode she takes us back on her journey to parenthood and her hopes to have her rainbow baby as a single mom by choice.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced any form of ambiguous loss. This episode is for you to listen to if you are still waiting for your rainbow baby.

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Ep188 - Donor Eggs for Fertility Journey with Fairfax EggBank and Teri Y. Reaves Feb 10, 2021

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Have you considered donor eggs for your fertility journey? This podcast is in partnership with Fairfax Eggbank.

Many couples have to turn to using donor eggs after spending years going through fertility treatments and many use Fairfax Eggbank to continue on their journey to parenthood.

Fairfax EggBank is a leader in advanced techniques for frozen donor eggs. Their premier donor database showcases our diverse selection of highly screened and vetted egg donors, with detailed profiles on all of the donors, so intended parents can really get to know their perspective donors.

Fairfax EggBank's vitrification (freezing) and warming techniques were developed by our experts, who have been leaders in gamete freezing for more than 30 years. We work closely with over 300 clinics in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and the Caribbean on the proper technique for warming our frozen oocytes, to provide the best outcomes for our intended parents.

Today's guest is Teri Y. Reaves, the Director of Client Relations for Fairfax Eggbank. In this role, she is responsible for the oversight, strategy and development of the Client Relations team which works directly with intended parents and the company's 300+ IVF clinic partners.

In this episode we discuss:

What are the benefits of choosing frozen donor eggs over fresh donor eggs?
African American and People of Color using donor eggs and "cost" being a factor.
How much does it cost to buy frozen donor eggs?
Information around preserving fertility.
How to choose the right clinic for you?
Can you use insurance to buy frozen donor eggs?
Single motherhood and using donor eggs or sperm to complete family

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Ep187 - Surviving Miscarriage and Infant Loss with Siedah Fagan Feb 03, 2021

Show notes

Have you experienced a miscarriage after your rainbow baby?

Today's guest experienced a miscarriage in 2015, gave birth to her son in 2016 and he passed away 11 days after his birth due to lack of oxygen and severe brain damage. Siedah Fagan went onto survive pregnancy loss by trying to conceive her rainbow baby and gave birth in 2017 only to be faced with another untimely loss by miscarriage in 2019. In this episode and Surviving Pregnancy Loss series Siedah shares her journey of surviving pregnancy loss and losing an infant, the courage to try again and have her rainbow baby, and experiencing another loss after her rainbow baby.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a miscarriage after your rainbow baby. This episode is for you to listen to on how to survive miscarriage and infant loss.

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Ep186 - Navigating the Waters of Loss with Xaviera Bell Jan 27, 2021

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How many of us have heard the words "There is nothing we can do?" How do you navigate this journey post loss? Is this journey linear or does it take twists and turns?

Today's guest shares her journey with losing her son due to cervical insufficiency and how she is surviving loss. Xaviera "Zay" Bell shares in our Surviving Pregnancy Loss series her miscarriages, and loss of son Xander at 21 weeks, and how her journey of survival after loss has been intentional and strategic. In this episode she shares how she is navigating this journey after loss by intentionally growing in her purpose, starting her foundation Zeal of Xander in honor of her son, and advocating and supporting other women through this journey.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have heard those words "there is nothing we can do." This episode is for you to listen if you experienced a miscarriage, or 2nd trimester loss, and to how to navigate the waters of loss.

Today's episode is sponsored by Earth Mama Organics. Earth Mama makes clean, safe and effective herbal solutions for the entire journey of motherhood, from pregnancy and breastfeeding to baby care, and even the loss of a baby. Earth Mama's certified organic formulations help mamas and their babies across the globe, by marrying generations of women's wisdom and traditional herbal medicine with modern, evidence-based research. Listeners can save now on their purchase at EarthMama.com with Code SISTERSINLOSS.

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Ep185 - Placental Abruption and Baby Born Sleeping with Chassis Hawkins-Younger Jan 20, 2021

Show notes

Do you know what a placental abruption is?

A placental abruption is a serious pregnancy complication in which the placenta detaches from the womb (uterus). Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the inner wall of the womb before delivery. The condition can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients.

Today's guest experienced an unexpected placental abruption in her first pregnancy that was otherwise normal and uncomplicated. The abruption led to her baby boy to be born sleeping at 37 weeks and 6 days gestation. Chassis Hawkins-Younger shares in our Surviving Pregnancy Loss series how she survived her stillbirth due to placenta abruption, her rainbow and golden baby pregnancies, and how she honors her son Anthony all year long.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a stillbirth, placenta abruption, or have had a pregnancy after loss. This episode is for you to listen to gain ideas on how to honor you angel all year long.

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