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

Latest Episodes:

Ep164 - HELLP Syndrome and Preeclampsia with Trashaun Powell Aug 26, 2020

Show notes

Have you heard of HELLP Syndrome?

HELLP Syndrome is a life-threatening pregnancy complication usually considered to be a variant of preeclampsia. Both conditions usually occur during the later stages of pregnancy, or sometimes after childbirth.

Today's guest was diagnosed HELLP syndrome at just 23 weeks pregnant. Trashaun Powell was immediately taken to the intensive care unit and was shocked to find out that their baby girl, Mia Jane, would have to be delivered to save her life. Mia was 1 lb and 1 oz at delivery and passed away the next day. Trashaun spent another 2 weeks in the hospital after losing Mia fighting for her own life.

In this episode Traushaun takes us back to the moment of finding out she had HELLP syndrome and could die if she didn't deliver immediately. She shares how this traumatic birth and loss has empowered her to advocate for preeclampsia and fighting racial disparities for BIPOC.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced Preeclampsia or HELLP Syndrome and have lost a micropreemie in the NICU.

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Ep163 - Male factor Infertility with TJ Peyten Aug 19, 2020

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Have you heard of male factor infertility? Male factor infertility is due to low sperm production, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm. Illnesses, injuries, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices and other factors can play a role in causing male infertility. Of all infertility cases, approximately 40–50% is due to "male factor" infertility and as many as 2% of all men will exhibit suboptimal sperm parameters.

Today's guest shares her journey as a wife through male infertility. TJ Peyten discovered 5 years into marriage and trying to conceive that her husband had male factor infertility. Male infertility was already a taboo subject and even more not talked about amongst black couples. Frustrated at the lack of support and resources available for those struggling with male infertility, TJ used her journal as an outlet to deal with the pain. After several years of coping with their infertility through her journal, TJ finally got the courage to share her story with the world through her book Semen Secrets: Truths and Confessions of a Wife's Journey Through Male Infertility.

In today's episode, TJ takes us back on her journey trying to conceive, journaling her thoughts on male infertility, how it effects relationships, and how she conceived and had her rainbow baby in 2019. This episode is for you to listen to if your partner has suffered from male factor infertility, and how to hold onto hope through infertility.

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Ep162 - Birth and Loss on the Same Day with Shana Anderson Aug 12, 2020

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Imagine birthing your rainbow baby and losing your first born on the same day!?

Today's episode is one that hits close to home as her story is very similar to my own. I would be lying to you if I didn't say I cried throughout this entire interview and hours afterward. This episode is a trigger, so please grab some tissue, and brace yourself as you embark on this woman's journey to motherhood.

Shana Anderson experienced a placenta abruption with her first born son Bryce, and he was later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and chronic lung disease. She then went onto having a stillbirth at 34 weeks with baby girl Aleeya. After experiencing what seemed like a year full of hospitalizations with Bryce she planned a Make a Wish trip to Disney World and found out she was expecting her third baby. In June 2020, Shana gave birth to her rainbow baby boy Brayden, and later that evening her son Bryce passed away.

In this episode, 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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Ep161 - 3 Years of Podcasting and Staying Consistent! Aug 05, 2020

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It's my Anniversary!

Yes, August 2020 makes 3 Years of the @SistersinLoss podcast! 3 Years, 161 Episodes, Over 150 Guests, and 5000+ hours of black sisters and brothers in loss sharing stories of loss, infertility challenges, rainbow babies, IVF successes, Surrogacy, Abortion, Adoption, Grief, Healing, and so much more!

Today's episode is a solo episode where I get candid about some changes in my personal life like moving from Virginia to Maryland (Hey DMV, Hey Baltimore). I also share 3 ways I have been consistent in podcasting for these three years. From my voice to God's ears I share what I hope to see in the next year of podcasting and for you to join our newsletter to learn more about our upcoming Sisters in Loss Digital Summit!

This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever dropped the ball, picked it back up, took the shot, missed, and finally made it KOBE style! I share how to stay consistent even when you feel like giving up.

Ep160 - A PCOS diagnosis, Stillbirth and Rainbow Baby after the Storm with Whitney Vaughn Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest was diagnosed in her early 20s with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome where her doctor told her she had zero eggs and almost no lining in her uterus making it not viable to carry a baby to term. Whitney Vaughn then made the proper diet changes and in September 2018 found out she was pregnant. At 28 weeks along she did not detect a heartbeat on her home doppler and went to the hospital to be faced with the same news her baby passed away in utero. In this episode Whitney takes us back to those moments of delivering her stillbirth baby, her first Mother's day after loss, finding out she was pregnant with her rainbow baby, and delivering and mothering her rainbow baby.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever been counted out by doctors for your diagnosis and are holding onto hope for your rainbow baby.

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Ep159 - IVF cycle Cancelled due to COVID-19 with Crystal Simpson Jul 22, 2020

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Imagine having your next round of IVF cancelled due to COVID-19.

Today's guest was diagnosed with unexplained infertility after many years trying. She experienced 3 unsuccessful IUIs and 1 cancelled IUI, and 1 IVF cycle that resulted in a miscarriage. Crystal Simpson, a military wife went off birth control about 6 months after getting married. She knew something was wrong and went to her OB/GYN for testing, but the testing showed no issues and she was recommended to a Reproductive Endocrinologist for an Intrauterine Insemination or IUI. After 3 IUIs and 1 cancelled IUI none of them resulted in a positive pregnancy test. Crystal was determined to become a mother and decided to undergo IVF all while moving and travelling back and forth from Kansas to Maryland. After having a fresh transfer with her last viable embryo she went in for her 8 week ultrasound only to find out her baby boy was measuring at 5 weeks and she was miscarrying. In this episode Crystal takes us back on her journey through IUI and IVF all while moving as a military wife, how her family and friends supported her, and how God's timing is perfect even in this pandemic.

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Ep158 - Endometriosis, Recurrent Miscarriage, and Faith to Overcome Secondary Infertility with Maria Pyanov Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

After not having difficulty conceiving her first two children, today's guest began experiencing heavy bleeding, severe pelvic pain and physical therapy and was diagnosed with endometriosis. When Maria Pyanov was ready to try again she miscarried. She miscarried another 5 times and experienced the loss of a foster son. In today's episode Maria takes us back on her journey through being diagnosed with endometriosis, her recurrent miscarriage and IVF journey, her loss of boy she fostered, and her faith and determination to overcome secondary infertility. This episode is for you to listen to if you suffer from endometriosis, have had recurrent miscarriages, or have experienced the loss of a foster or adoptive child.

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Ep157 - A Delay is not a Denial Ectopic Pregnancy to Rainbow Baby with Abi Ade Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

A Delay is not a Denial!

Today's guest believes that her faith is what helped her through her ectopic pregnancies, fallopian tube loss, miscarriage, and rainbow baby pregnancy.

Abi Ade is our @SistersinLoss from across the pond residing in London. In this episode she shares her journey to motherhood which began in 2015 after her wedding she found out she was pregnant. That pregnancy resulted in a ruptured fallopian tube due to an ectopic pregnancy and she had to have it removed to save her life. Abi went on to experience another ectopic pregnancy in which the doctors were able to save her remaining tube. Abi shares in this episode how she dealt another pregnancy ending with a miscarriage, how she was about to give up, and her perseverance to become a mum and pregnancy and delivery of her rainbow baby.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever felt like giving up on this journey to parenthood, and know that a delay is not denial and your promise is coming!

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Ep156 - Never Giving up Hope after Miscarriages with Joanna Pendergrass Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

Imagine healing from miscarriages only to be faced with your IVF treatment being postponed due to COVID-19. Today's guest shares her painful journey of experiencing two miscarriages and deciding to undergo fertility treatment.

Joanna Pendergrass shares in this episode how she grieved her unborn children. Her failed IVF treatment, her second round of treatment and not being able to undergo embryo transfer due to COVID-19, and how she is not giving up hope on this journey to parenthood. This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced miscarriages, have gone through a failed IVF experienced, and have felt like giving up hope on your journey to parenthood.

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Ep155 - Twin Loss to Triumph and Don't Struggle in Silence with Ashley Pittman Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

Imagine experiencing loss of twins at 7 months and then 5 other miscarriages to have your rainbow baby? Today's guest is the connector of a new book collaboration with Angel Moms called "Don't Struggle in Silence - I am a Victor" out now. In this episode Ashley Pittman shares her story and journey of twin loss and miscarriage and how it empowered her to be an advocate for angel moms, families, and relationships. She connected 5 other ladies as collaborators for her new book where they each share their story of not struggling in silence. Ashley shares her vision behind this new book project and how each of the collaborators stories play a pivotal role in showing they are victorious after loss. You will also here in this episode stories from Dadriaunna Hayes, Dartesha Davis, and Janell Jones.

This episode is for your to listen to if you felt like you have struggled in silence on your journey and for you to be inspired from these ladies stories and book collaboration.

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