The Joyful Mourning - A Podcast for Women Who Have Experienced Pregnancy or Infant Loss (Ashlee Proffitt)
Explorez tous les épisodes de The Joyful Mourning - A Podcast for Women Who Have Experienced Pregnancy or Infant Loss
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
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| 28 Oct 2021 | 136. What We Wish You Knew & Understood About Baby Loss | 30 Women Answer That Question | 00:40:53 | |
A very special episode as we end Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. For us here at The Morning and on The Joyful Mourning Podcast, honoring your babies, telling your stories, raising awareness about the tragic reality of baby loss, and helping those who love a grieving mom better understand what she needs and how to best support her, is not something that ends when awareness month is over. This is why we are here, week after week, month after month, year after year -- to offer support and community, to remind you that you aren’t alone, to help you navigate the difficult and complex realities of life after baby loss. We wanted to commemorate the end of this special month by sharing your voices, your stories and your wisdom. Listen in to this very very special episode, made up of nearly 30 women with different stories of loss all sharing what they wish others understood about baby loss.
I am incredibly thankful to the women who so beautifully and courageously shared their stories and wisdom on this episode. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was my joy to listen and learn from you and it is my honor to walk alongside you in your grief.
FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle RESOURCE FOR HOW TO LOVE A GRIEVING MOM SHOW NOTES FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY | |||
| 10 Mar 2022 | 153. Navigating Life & Finding Hope After Ectopic Pregnancies, Health Scares & No Rainbow Baby with Kelsey Ludemann | 01:02:53 | |
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Kelsey Luddemann and giving her space to share motherhood journey – a journey that has been filled with incredible loss and significant medical and health scares and yet even amidst the heartache and loss you hear Kelsey’s joy; even when there are pieces of her story that still fill unfinished without resolution or even a chance for a rainbow. Kelsey shares in a way that is honest and open, tender and empathetic -- in a way that I am sure will speak to you and encourage you. Kelsey shares her story of infertility, a cancer diagnosis and two ectopic pregnancies that resulted in the loss of both of her fallopian tubes, as well as her chance to naturally conceive. Kelsey also shares about her experience with embryo loss as well as a failed adoption – like I said, her motherhood journey has been filled with devastation and loss and yet this interview and her story is not without hope and I love Kelsey’s honest answer about what joy in the mourning has looked like for her.
Keep listening to hear how Kelsey navigated life after loss, things like returning to work, marriage, faith and wrestling and asking hard questions, how she handles pregnancy announcements, what it looked like for her to close the chapter on growing her family without a rainbow baby and so much more. The wisdom shared here is incredibly helpful at navigating the new normal for a grieving mom – I know that it will not only help you practically but also remind you that you aren’t alone in experiencing the challenges of embracing this new identity – you are not alone in this.
Kelsey also shares invaluable wisdom about how to love a mom who has experienced pregnancy loss and the unique challenges a woman faces who has experienced an ectopic pregnancy – if you love a grieving a mom make sure to listen to the wisdom Kelsey shares there.
FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE SHOW NOTES RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS | |||
| 05 Feb 2021 | 107. Pregnancy After Loss Q&A with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:35:40 | |
Today I will be spending our time together answering your questions. But not just any questions, I will be answering your questions about the tender and difficult topic of pregnancy after loss. I have said it many times before and I will say it again. Apart from losing my son Aaden, being pregnant again after losing him was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. And I know I am not alone in feeling that way. So today, I will be sharing honestly and candidly about what I have learned from my experience of having been pregnant after pregnancy loss and infant loss. I do not have all the answers nor am I able to say that I perfectly navigated pregnancy after loss, that I did so without fear or wavering, that I was able to enjoy every moment of those pregnancies; no I could never say those things to you. In fact if you listen back to episode 53 you will hear one of the most tender and raw and honest episodes by me. I wrote and recorded that episode as I was nearing the end of my pregnancy with my daughter. Right in the middle of the fear that seemed like it would completely overwhelm me. Right in the middle of feeling completely alone because no one else seemed to understand why I wasn’t celebrating. I wrote these words for that episode: “The fear settled in as soon as I suspected I was pregnant. With my heart beating out of my chest I stared at two faint pink lines. And immediately, without warning or intention, my thoughts turned to the worst case scenarios. Fear gripped my heart. There were no naive celebrations of joy and expectancy and anticipation. That has been taken from me. Joy and expectancy and anticipation are all things I now have to intentionally and willfully fight for.” So I answer your questions about pregnancy after loss, not as an expert or someone who perfectly navigated those months, but as a real mom, with real fears, and strong propensities toward anxiety and panic, a real person who has experienced pregnancy after loss 4 times and can say quite honestly I see you. I understand. You are not alone.
If you are currently pregnant after loss this episode is for you. If you are considering trying to conceive again or are currently trying to conceive after having experienced loss, this episode is for you. And if you love a mom who has experienced loss, this episode is absolutely for you as well. Because she feels very, very alone and this will help you love her better should she decide to pursue pregnancy again in the future.
And one more thing, I didn’t want to leave you with just words today because while hearing my thoughts about these questions and sharing what I’ve learned from my experiences is helpful, something in your hand that you can reference when the fear is mounting and the uncertainty begins to overwhelm is better. So I wanted to give you something tangible to help you navigate a season of pregnancy after loss. And because I believe there is nothing better than God’s Word to bring hope and peace to an anxious heart we created a free download for you, 40 Verses for 40 Weeks. A verse to meditate, think on and study for every week of your pregnancy. To access that free download head to themorning.com/4040. Friend, I know how difficult this season is and while I cannot promise a healthy pregnancy or a living baby, a fearless next 9 months or a restoration of the innocence lost; I do hope that this episode and that free download will serve to restore your hope and give you a reason for joy even amidst uncertainty. | |||
| 05 May 2023 | 04. Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose Baby Died Today by Stephanie Bertran Williams | 00:06:29 | |
Listen in as I read Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose Baby Died Today by Stephanie Bertran Williams. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother. A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-whose-baby-died-today For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.
THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF JAMES EUBANKS. James was born on June 7, 2022. A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church. We love you, James! We are eagerly waiting with Jame’s family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember James with you.
If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.
FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLE
FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
FREE DEVOTIONAL
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| 18 Nov 2021 | 139. Practical & Helpful Advice from 6 Women About Facing the Holidays After Baby Loss | 00:28:07 | |
A very special episode as the holiday season is upon us. I asked a handful of previous guests on the episodes who have experienced different types of loss to share their best wisdom and advice for navigating the holidays. Listen into this very very special episode, made up of 6 women sharing incredible wisdom from their experience of walking through the holidays as grieving mothers.
If you are a grieving mom this episode will make you feel less alone this holiday season and equip you with tangible ways to face the holidays. If you love a grieving mom this episode will help you love and understand her better this holiday season.
I am incredibly thankful to the women who so beautifully shared their wisdom on this episode, Kristin Hernandez, Aimee Jones, Mary Margaret Powitz, Kelly Griffin, Sarah Sandel and Carolyn Keller . Thank you, thank you thank you. It was my joy to listen and learn from you and it is my honor to walk alongside you in your grief.
HOLIDAY RESOURCES Along with this podcast episode we have pulled together all of our best and most helpful resources for navigating the holidays, into our Holiday Workbook & Resource Bundle. This resource is going to include quick access to all of our holiday material, including links to our holiday interviews and posts like how to handle Christmas Cards as well as a workbook that gives you space to prepare your mind and heart for the holiday season -- you can find that free download at www.themorning.com/holidays Also, join us for a free live event: Hope for the Holidays, happening on November 21, where we will be sharing all of this wisdom about navigating the holidays live -- you can register for this live event in our free private community; if you aren’t a member of our community yet, now is a great time to join -- you can find more information about how to join over at www.themorning.com/community. | |||
| 07 Aug 2020 | 090 What is the Joyful Mourning + Your Favorite Episodes from Season 02 | 00:39:30 | |
This is a very special episode as it marks the 2 year birthday of this podcast. 2 years ago I launched this podcast out into the world. I am so grateful for the opportunity to weekly bring you tangible reminders that you are not alone in your grief and that you are loved deeply by a God who has not forgotten you or left you.
In this annual anniversary episode I want to spend a few minutes sharing why I started this podcast, the same why that kept me going when producing and publishing yet another episode felt nearly impossible, and a few clips from your favorite episodes over the past year.
I pray this episode does what each episode before it did, reminds you that you are not alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community UNDERSTANDING GRIEF (FREE GUIDE): www.themorning.com/griefguide
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| 14 May 2020 | 079 Returning to Work After Infant Loss with Ashley Daugherty | 00:34:31 | |
Back in March we had started the conversation about what it looked like to return to work after experiencing the loss of a baby. As our country begins to open up and people begin to head back to the workplace I thought it would be helpful to bring this conversation back. We know that amidst deep grief and such significant loss you are no longer the same but the work is the same and the expectations may be the same and the daily interactions are probably the same. So how do you do it? How do you prepare for this difficult moment? How do you face coworkers when you don’t want to talk about what has happened or when you do want to talk about what has happened? What do you do when you feel like your mental capacity is significantly less than before? What do you do when you feel incapable of performing at the level you previously performed at? In this series of episodes we are discussing all these types of questions. Addressing the challenges of going back to work, how to prepare mentally and emotionally, and even the benefits of going back to work.
In today’s episode I am talking with Ashley Daugherty about her experience returning to full time work just 6 weeks after losing her son Boston as a result of premature labor. She shares honestly about what was especially hard in the transition back and what she would do differently in the hopes of helping to prepare those of you listening who are getting ready to go back to work. She talks about the value of seeking out counseling and how she wishes she had done that sooner than she did. She talks about the value of talking with your leaders and having them help you game plan your transition back. She talks about the benefits she experienced as a result of going back to work and of course we talk about how to a grieving mom in the workplace. And my favorite part of the episode is when she says: “This is going to be so hard. But you are strong. Even though you don’t feel strong. You can do this.”
Ashley is gentle and honest and gives such helpful and hope-filled wisdom in this episode; I am certain that this interview will remind all grieving mamas that they are not alone in this grief journey.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode078 | |||
| 13 May 2021 | 121. What is Motherhood: An Honest Conversation For the Mom Who Has Experienced Pregnancy or Infant Loss | Part 2 | 00:28:43 | |
This is part 2 of a special 4 part series called: What is Motherhood. A special series about what motherhood means to the mom who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Listen in to our first ever round table conversation with six women, each with different types of loss from 6 months to 35 years ago, as they share honestly about their journey of loss, grief and finding hope. No matter what type of loss you have experienced and how long ago you experienced that loss, I hope this conversation would make you feel known and understood and less alone in this journey.
Their answers to those questions are incredibly insightful and challenging and hope-filled and honest. If you missed part 1 of this series, make sure to listen to that episode first so you can get to know each of these women and their unique motherhood stories, that’s episode 120. For more details about each of our guests and to get connected with them, visit themorning.com/motherhoodseries. FREE WORKBOOK SHOW NOTES | |||
| 15 Oct 2021 | Bonus. Conversations with a Grieving Mom: What She's Thinking About | 00:14:46 | |
Throughout October I am highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of 4 short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give grieving moms a voice, to acknowledge your loss and at the same time to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. In this third episode of the series I am sharing a non-comprehensive list of the things a grieving mom may be thinking about at any given moment. I say non-comprehensive because the things we think about as grieving moms are often complex and can be difficult to put into words. I am sharing this somewhat seemingly random list of thoughts to do two things: 1) To help a grieving mom hear me say -- you are not alone in the way you are thinking about this nor are you crazy. The way you are seeing this and thinking about this is completely normal and to be expected. 2) To help someone who has not experienced the loss of a baby better understand what is happening inside the head and heart of a grieving mom -- to have compassion and empathy when you might not understand how she is responding or better yet to have compassion and empathy when you judge her response as not appropriate. So, if you are a grieving mom I hope this reminds you that you aren’t alone. And if you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Resources www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss. | |||
| 18 Sep 2020 | 096 How to Love a Grieving Friend with Whitney & Nicole (Part 01) | 01:01:32 | |
We are currently working our way through a series of episodes that honestly discuss the realities of friendship amidst loss and grief. This episode is Part 1 of a special 2 part episode where I interview best friends Whitney & Nicole.
These two women became friends when Nicole reached out with a text that said something along the lines of “I know you don’t really know me but I just found out my baby has died.” Whitney had walked through the loss of her daughter Olivia a year prior and was able to help Nicole in the days following the tragic words that there was no heartbeat for her son William.
They became close friends, bound by a common thread of having lost a baby. Little did either of these women know that just a short time later Whitney’s son Rory would be born with the same genetic condition as her daughter Olivia and a similar text message would be sent only this time it would be from Whitney to Nicole. These two friends would walk this familiar journey through loss and grief once again.
Their story of friendship is unique and powerful. While their story is unique what they share here is honest and tender and their thoughts about friendship after loss are incredibly relatable and helpful.
I wanted to give space for each of these women’s stories to be shared so this episode is broken into two parts. Stay tuned for part 2 next week when we will continue this conversation.
I am forever grateful for these two women and the friendship they represent. I pray it encourages you to step into the messiness of friendship after loss as it reminds you that it is absolutely worth it.
If you love a grieving mom, don’t forget to check out episode #94 about how to love a grieving friend, it’s a simple list of 10 don’t do this instead do this. To download a free checklist of the ideas shared in that episode head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily On that page you will also be able to access all of the existing resources we have about how to love a grieving mom -- if you love a grieving mom I think these resources will be very helpful to you.
And as always, if you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.
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| 03 Mar 2022 | 152. Parenting After Loss & Helping Siblings Grieve with Kjerstin Davies | 00:39:11 | |
This week I am talking with Kjerstin Davies about the unexpected loss of her son Charlie and what life after loss has looked like for her. We talk about:
We also talk about the organization, Charlie’s Guys, that Kjerstin founded in honor of her son Charlie. Charlie’s Guys serves children 18 years and younger who have lost a sibling or loved one in any way. Their mission is to remind children who have lost a loved one that they are loved and not forgotten and provide them with support while they are on their grief journey. If you are a mama with living children this could be an excellent resource for you to help them in this season as they grieve the loss of their sibling – I’m so grateful for the work that Kjerstin is doing to help children in this way and I can’t wait for you to learn more about it as she shares why she started it, how it works, how you can take advantage of this opportunity or even get involved. As we end our time together, Kjerstin shares how her grief has changed over the years since losing Charlie and her answer may surprise you. Listen all the way to the end to hear why she says time does not heal and what her therapist said that made her angry – I have a feeling that you will be able to relate.
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| 02 Sep 2021 | 128. Life-Limiting Diagnosis (Trisomy 18) , Parenting Living Children, Marriage & When There is No Rainbow Baby with Kelly Griffin | 01:03:15 | |
Kelly Griffin joins me on the podcast to share the story of her son Reeves who was given a life-limiting diagnosis of trisomy 18. Kelly shares with me what it was like receiving a life-limiting diagnosis and what advice and wisdom she would give to a mom who has received a similar diagnosis. We cover a lot of topics about life after loss and even life amidst anticipatory grief in this episode as well.
Kelly shares her experience and wisdom about parenting living children amidst a life-limiting diagnosis and after the loss of a baby -- Kelly shares how she explained to them her son’s diagnosis, what it was like to walk with them as they grieved the loss of a sibling, why she chose to invite them into the grief in the ways she did. Her wisdom on this is incredibly helpful and very honest.
We also talk extensively about marriage amidst anticipatory grief and after the loss of a baby -- the wisdom she shares about this is insightful and challenging and wonderfully practical and of course full of so much hope.
We also spend some time talking about a topic that we haven’t talked about very much on this podcast and something that is still very tender for Kelly and that is what if you do not go on to have a living baby after you have lost a baby -- Kelly talks honestly about what that has looked like for her and she addresses how our culture puts a lot of hope in the idea of a healthy living child after the loss of a baby, a rainbow baby; emphasis put on how a new baby will be our redemption, our healing -- she talks directly to that and to the woman who is experiencing that reality. The hope that Kelly shares here is invaluable and even if you go on to have living children after the loss of a baby, this hope, this truth is for you too.
FREE GIFT: ULTIMATE RESOURCE BUNDLE Before we jump into the episode I wanted to tell you about something really amazing that we have been working on for months and months. We have pulled all of our best and most helpful resources together in one place so that you can easily and quickly access the things you need when you need them. The bundle includes:
All of our best and most helpful resources in one place. And the best part is, we created one for each type of loss so the resources are specific to your loss journey and it is FREE. This 25+ page Resource Bundle is totally free and you can download it today. Download the Ultimate Resource Bundle that is specific (there is one for Pregnancy Loss, Infant Loss & Life Limiting Diagnosis) at themorning.com/resourcebundle.
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| 09 Dec 2021 | 141. A Grieving Mother's Most Prized Possession + Her Story of Motherhood + The Value of Photographs with Gina Harris, CEO of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep | 00:46:23 | |
This week I have the honor and privilege of interviewing Gina Harris, a mom who has experienced devastating loss with two sons diagnosed with life-limiting diagnosis as well as the immense pain of two subsequent miscarriages. Gina understands this journey well and is here today to share with us not only as a mother who has experienced the loss of a baby but also as the CEO of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is an organization that provides the gift of remembrance portraits to parents experiencing the death of a baby. Gina is passionate about the value of photographs for families like us and I was so grateful for this conversation. I especially loved when she said: “the photographs of our son David, are our most prized and cherished possession. They are everything to us still to this day. 14 years later… these photographs document the existence of our precious babies.” I can’t wait for you to hear more about Gina’s story, the role that remembrance photography played in her story as well as Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. Gina shares with us how we can help spread the news about the services they offer, both for moms and for medical professionals, and how you can get connected and learn more about their volunteer opportunities. As a side note they need more than just photographers as volunteers, so don’t dismiss those volunteer opportunities until you hear Gina share a little more about ways you can serve. Also, I wanted to mention that as we near the end of the year, if you are looking for year end giving opportunities this would be a really, really great organization to give towards and you could even do so in honor of your baby this Christmas. To find out more about how to give a donation head to nowilaymedowntosleep.org, that’s nowilaymedowntosleep.org.
HOLIDAY RESOURCES This resource is going to include quick access to all of our holiday material, including links to our holiday interviews and posts like how to handle Christmas Cards as well as a workbook that gives you space to prepare your mind and heart for the holiday season -- you can find that free download at www.themorning.com/holidays
FREE COMMUNITY SHOW NOTES
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| 23 Jun 2022 | 168. Marriage, Supporting a Grieving Dad & Parenting a Baby in Heaven with Emily Stangl | 00:43:30 | |
This week on the podcast I am honored to be talking with Emily Stangl about her experience navigating marriage after losing her daughter Tilly. We talk about the challenges she and her husband faced and how they worked through, and are working, through those challenges. Emily shares the ways she grieves differently than her husband and what that practically looks like in their marriage as well as the role that self care played in their healing individually and also as a couple. Emily shares with me all the beautiful ways that she and her husband grieve together and individually, but not only that, she also shares with me how they parent Tilly, their first and only child, now that she is in heaven. Emily gives such practical and intentional and beautiful ways of doing this and I am sure that it will give you freedom in finding ways to mother and parent your baby in heaven too. We also talk about what it looks like to support a grieving dad, especially when he’s different from you and what it looks like to compromise for the sake of grieving together. It’s a really beautiful conversation that will give you hope in this journey – that there can be joy even here in a marriage that has walked through and experienced the unimaginable. I’m so grateful for Emily and her wisdom and her story and I am sure it is going to bless you.
THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO ERIKA RUSSEL To Erika: Adalynn Paige Neil was loved fiercely for the three days she lived. She is not forgotten. We wish you peace and love and are thinking of you, Caleb, and Adalynn on her birthday. A special thank you to the donor who sponsored this episode – thank you for loving a grieving mom and remembering such an important day. Erika, we honor you and we celebrate and remember Adalynn with you.
QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.168
FREE RESOURCE For more resources about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby, check out our complete Resource Bundle. You can access that bundle instantly and all the marriage related resources including quick links to our favorite episodes about marriage and a date night idea list for when dating your spouse feels really hard. To get instant access to that bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY
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| 24 Nov 2022 | Bonus. When You Don't Feel Thankful on Thanksgiving with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:09:08 | |
To my grieving friends on this Thanksgiving Day. I wish I could pull up a chair beside you and sit with you in person. To give you a look of understanding when someone you love says a hurtful thing or squeeze your hand under the table to remind you that you aren’t alone. Or cover for you when you need to hide away for a bit. To tangibly remind you that you're not alone. Even if I can’t be there with you in person, I want you to know that you are loved today and not alone. I thought you might need to hear from someone who understands first hand how hard today really is, so I wrote you a short letter and wanted to read it to you. today is hard. And that’s ok. I know how seemingly impossible it feels to be thankful and how the idea of celebrating feels like a contradiction and how maybe the only emotion you are experiencing is rage. And I know how all of that makes you feel guilty and full of shame. This is me, a mama who has been there, telling you it is hard. Holidays are hard. And feeling grateful when your heart is broken and your arms are empty -- when a life is missing -- is really, really hard. WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.
FREE NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays
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FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.
FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
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| 02 May 2022 | Bonus. To the Brokenhearted Mom Grieving an Infant Loss with Alexandria Muller | 00:03:40 | |
A Special Bonus Episode. Listen to Alexandria Muller read her letter To the Brokenhearted Mom Grieving an Infant Loss. Each day this week we will feature a special bonus episode. We pray these words would bring you hope and remind you that you are loved and not alone. To read Alexandria's letter: themorning.com/blog/to-the-brokenhearted-mom-grieving-an-infant-loss For more resources to provide hope and support, especially during Mother’s Day, head to themorning.com/mothersday Join Our Free Community: www.themorning.com/community | |||
| 22 Apr 2021 | 118. 5 Ways to Love a Grieving Mom on Mother's Day | 00:19:10 | |
If you know and love a mama who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. This episode is for you. Whether you are a friend or a family member, if you know a mama who is grieving this episode is really important. Because while she may not tell you, the reality is she is hurting right now. In just a matter of weeks we will celebrate mothers on mothers day. And if you have never experienced the loss of a baby, it is impossible to fully understand the weight of what this day carries for the mom who has. And how difficult the weeks leading up to it really are. In this episode I want to talk about why Mother’s Day feels so incredibly hard for a grieving mom and 5 simple ways that you, as her friend or as her family member can remind her that she’s loved, she’s remembered, and her motherhood is seen and celebrated.
And if you are listening and you are the bereaved mama, there’s a few things I want you to know today too and I’ll share those later in the episode. But for now, I wanted to tell you we are working on a really special project to help share your story of motherhood this Mother’s Day -- for all the details about how you can participate head to themorning.com/mymotherhood. Your motherhood story is a story worth sharing. Also would you consider sharing this episode in whatever way feels most natural, whether it's by texting it to a friend or sharing on your social media accounts? Doing so will help raise awareness about the realities of life after baby loss and it will help educate those who love hurting mamas about how to best love them on and around Mother’s Day. The link to this episode is themorning.com/episode118 -- share it with a friend or family member or just a general social media post. One more thing, if you head to themorning.com/shop you can find our Mother’s Day Cards that are perfect for a bereaved mother. They are currently on sale and come in packs of 5 or as a single card. If you know and love a mom who has experienced the loss of a baby, these cards are a perfect way to tell her she is loved and not forgotten this Mother’s Day. Use coupon code: MOTHERSDAY2021 for a special discount this week only. Whether you are a grieving mama or you love a grieving mama, I am so glad you are here SHOW NOTES JOIN THE FREE COMMUNITY SHOP MOTHER'S DAY CARDS
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| 02 Dec 2021 | 140. 5 Simple Christmas Traditions for the Grieving Mom with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:30:37 | |
Today we are talking about Christmas traditions for the grieving mom. I want to share a few things I’ve learned about traditions over the years, how they might be helpful to you, as well as a few traditions you may want to incorporate into your Christmas season and a few tips for navigating traditions in general. HOLIDAY RESOURCES This resource is going to include quick access to all of our holiday material, including links to our holiday interviews and posts like how to handle Christmas Cards as well as a workbook that gives you space to prepare your mind and heart for the holiday season -- you can find that free download at www.themorning.com/holidays
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| 10 Feb 2022 | 149. Hope & Healing When A Motherhood Journey Ends in Loss, Adoption Loss & Parenting After Loss with Bereavement Doula Jenni Hunt [Part 01] | 00:30:34 | |
This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Jenni Hunt. Jenni is a mom to 4 teenage boys whose motherhood journey is unique and complex – like many of ours. While her family looks complete with 4 healthy beautiful boys, what you can’t see is the losses that she has endured. Today she will share with us her unique motherhood journey, how she endured a second trimester loss, experienced two adoption losses as well as recurring miscarriages. Jenni shares what healing has been like for her as well as what it has looked like for her to process her motherhood journey that ended with so many losses. We also discuss what it looked like for her to parent her living sons amidst such heartache and loss. We end our time today with Jenni sharing with us what led her to become a bereavement doula – a beautiful and tender story that I guarantee will touch your heart. I am so grateful for Jenni’s tenderness and empathy and profound wisdom she shares in this episode. Next week in part 2 Jenni will share more about her work as a Bereavement Doula, what is a bereavement doula, helpful ways to prepare for birth if you are currently experiencing loss or for a pregnancy after loss, her thoughts about how to go about finding a medical provider that cares for you, and so much more. Make sure to tune in next week for part 2. But for today, get to know Jenni and her story – I promise it will bless you. FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES
To access those free resources head to www.themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss
SHOW NOTES FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS | |||
| 24 Feb 2022 | 151. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Ectopic Pregnancy, Embryo Loss & Hope for Pregnancy After Loss with Lindsay Blair | 01:02:46 | |
This week on the podcast I have the privilege of interviewing Lindsay Blair, mama of eleven- nine sweet babies in heaven and two living babies – twins who were born after 7 years of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. Lindsay is certified as a Miscarriage and Bereavement Doula, Trauma Specialist, and Infertility Coach – in this episode she shares her complex and difficult journey of motherhood, what her young marriage looked like in this season of trying to grow their family, what healing looked like for her and her husband and how in the world she navigated pregnancy after loss after loss. About pregnancy after loss Lindsay said this: “Hands down pregnancy after loss is one of the hardest things that, that I have gone through.” Lindsay also shares honestly about what it was like to experience recurring miscarriage, two ectopic pregnancies that also took her chance at naturally conceiving again as well as an embryo loss. I asked Lindsay how her grief was different for each of her losses and she said: “these are all very real losses, a very real babies that I had very real hopes and dreams and prayers for.” “we'll always grieve our babies that aren't with us. But when I think about them today, I'm not consumed with negative thoughts and this overwhelming, suffocating grief that is all consuming. Just this love and this joy that I will get to see them again one day. And just the gratitude that even though their lives were short, I'm so grateful. I wouldn't change a second about our story.” If you are experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss, have experienced an ectopic pregnancy or infertility or are simply married and navigating life after loss, there is so much wisdom and hope shared in this episode, I promise you will not be disappointed. And no matter what your story of loss or where you are in your grief journey, this episode will remind you that you are not alone. If you love a mom who has experienced recurrent pregnancy loss or is currently pregnant after loss -- Lindsay has wisdom for you as well in this episode. FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES
To access those free resources head to www.themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss
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| 13 Nov 2020 | 100. 5 Things I've Learned About Grief & Baby Loss from 100 Episodes with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:25:42 | |
You are listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast episode 100. I cannot even believe it. God has used stories and honesty, tears and even laughter to bring joy and hope and healing to women around the world who have experienced the loss of a baby.
This episode is an incredible milestone. One that I can hardly believe. There were many many weeks when the ontaking of producing yet another episode felt too much or too heavy. There were weeks when I wanted to shut the nearly broken laptop or put away the microphone and call it quits. But I couldn’t quit because I knew you would show up. I knew you would be waiting. I knew these simple but honest conversations would bring light to the darkness you were walking through. I knew because these conversations were what I needed 12 years ago.
I knew you needed to be reminded that you weren’t alone. I knew you needed the comfort of another mom telling you you’re not crazy, that the emotions you are experiencing are normal, and that while you may not believe it right now, you are going to be ok. I knew you needed to hear moms who had experienced loss who were just a little further down the grief journey laugh because in those early days of grief laughing feels like an impossibility. I knew you needed to hear women talk honestly about their faith journeys and what it looked like to wrestle with God amidst the pain He could have stopped. I knew what you needed because I needed it too. And some days, even all these years later, I still need it. Like you, I need the comfort of other women who understand this kind of loss; of being reminded I am not alone or the only one walking through such loss. I need their listening ear and their prayers and words of wisdom.
I’m so grateful you kept showing up week after week. I’m grateful for every subscribe and every download and every kind review. I’m grateful for every single dm or email -- would you believe that those messages mean so much that I actually screenshot them and have them saved on my phone. So when the work feels too hard I can be easily reminded that it is absolutely, 100% worth it. Because you are worth it.
You matter. And you are seen. And loved. And not alone.
In this special 100th episode I’m going to be sharing 5 things I’ve learned from the last 99 episodes. But more than anything I want you to hear me say:
Thank you for showing up and tuning in week after week. Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Thank you for giving me the honor of walking alongside you amidst your grief. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I wanted to share two things with you. First, I wanted to invite you to join our free online community -- The Joyful Mourning Community. Join hundreds of other women who are walking this grief journey, women like you who are searching for joy and hope after loss. A place to be reminded that you aren’t alone. A place to find comfort and healing. A safe place amidst the chaos of life after loss. For all the details about how to join this special community head to themorning.com/community. Second I just wanted to share a few words about how this podcast has helped women like you. Aimee said: “This podcast has helped me feel less alone and is the number one resources I share with friends who are going through loss or want to understand it better.” Andrea said “It has helped me know that I’m not alone on this journey and there are other women who are feeling the same emotions as me. It has been my voice of reason on days when I feel like I’m spiraling out of control.” Devyn said “I remember hearing Ashlee laugh and the comfort and hope that gave me that I would be okay, one day, was so healing on it’s own. It was a gateway back to God, as we know how hard that relationship can be post loss.” Kayla said “it was probably the single most helpful thing for me! Being able to hear hope and strength and relate to other women let me know I would get through this.” And to those responses and the many other I received I say “thanks God. thank you for seeing these women. For loving them. For sustaining this endeavor to bring hope to the hurting.”
DAYBREAK ALL ACCESS REPLAY One more thing -- if you love the podcast I have something else I am sure you will love as well. A few weeks ago I hosted our first ever virtual event, Daybreak. And it was amazing. 9 different sessions --- real women sharing honestly about different aspects of their journey of finding hope and joy after baby loss. If you missed Daybreak in its entirety or even just a session or two, head to daybreakconference.com for details about how to get access to the replays. The replay access will only be available for a short time and I want you to have it. Because just like this podcast, it will remind you you aren’t alone and that there is joy to be had. That’s daybreakconference.com -- head there for all the details.
Thank you for being here week after week. Just like always, I pray this episode is a blessing to you. Now let’s jump into today’s episode.
SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode100 SPECIAL THANKS TO: Meg Walker & Mary Margaret Powitz for their constant encouragement and wisdom in this endeavor. I love you ladies and wouldn't have gotten to 100 episodes without you. | |||
| 09 Oct 2020 | BONUS 02 - Conversations with a Grieving Mom: Why does she still talk about her baby? with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:18:33 | |
Throughout October I am highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of 4 short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give you, grieving moms, a voice, to acknowledge your loss and at the same time to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. In this second episode of the series I am talking about why we as loss moms talk about our babies and addressing all the other things someone who has not experienced this kind of loss may find strange or odd, awkward or uncomfortable -- or all of the above. If you are a grieving mom I hope this gives you permission to grieve in any way that is helpful to you, and to honor and celebrate your baby in any way you choose. If you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Resources: www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss. | |||
| 04 Aug 2022 | 170. Answering your questions about loss, grief and finding hope after baby loss with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:52:21 | |
Season 05 is here and I am so, so grateful to be back. In this special first episode of season 05 I am joined by my husband Aaron who is taking on the role as host. In this episode he is asking me all the questions and I am answering your questions! I share about what my grief looks like now nearly 14 years later and how it has changed over the years, I talk about what it has been like for me to reconnect with my son when time has made his life feel so far away. I answer a few questions about preparing to conceive again and pregnancy after loss and even my favorite books for grief and loss. And we finish our time together with a very simple, but profound prayer that I have for you in this new season. No matter what brought you here today, I pray this episode and this inside peek into my story is a reminder to you today that you are seen and loved and not alone.
GIFT FOR YOU To celebrate this new season we have a free gift for you! A brand new art print and Verse Card Set, absolutely free. Download here > www.themorning.com/season5 QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.170
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN NO. 170
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| 19 Apr 2022 | Bonus. 3 Truths When You Don’t Feel Like a Mom this Mother’s Day with Meg Walker [Replay] | 00:06:09 | |
You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, a special Bonus Episode. Join me in listening to Meg Walker as she reads a letter she wrote entitled, 3 Truths When You Don’t Feel Like a Mom This Mother’s Day. In this bonus episode Meg says these words: “We can’t make promises on whether or not every person you’ve ever met will remember your child’s name or the special anniversaries that are etched into your memory - even your own spouse might forget from time to time. What we can promise is this: you will never forget your baby. But you aren’t the only one. On this Mother’s Day, take heart in that even if no one else remembers your baby, God remembers with you - and he sees you. He collects your tears in a bottle. And your baby is not forgotten.” She goes on to offer so much hope as she directly speaks to the woman who doesn’t feel like a mom this Mother’s Day. We pray this special bonus episode brings you hope as you are reminded that you are loved and not alone.
As a gift to you, we created a Mothers Day Resource Bundle & Workbook for you filled with helpful resources that will give you a practical, simple and tangible way to prepare your heart for a day that may feel very difficult to navigate. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/mothersday.
And now for our bonus episode, 3 Truths When You Don’t Feel Like a Mom This Mother’s Day, written and read by Meg Walker Mother's Day Resource Bundle & Workbook for a Bereaved Mother Celebrating Motherhood (a free event) | |||
| 13 Apr 2023 | 199. Navigating a Rare Life-Limiting Diagnosis & Life After Loss with KC Tregoning | 00:51:55 | |
Listen in to hear an honest and very practical, tangibly helpful conversation about navigating many different aspects of a life-limiting diagnosis and life after loss with KC Tregoning. During our time together KC shares about her son Alan and what it was like to receive a life-limiting diagnosis for him – how she navigated the medical system, what she learned about how to best naviagate a very rare diagnosis, questions to ask your team and even how she kept all the information from the plethora of appointments organized in a way that made it all just a little easier. We talk about finding purpose after experiencing loss and what it looked like for her to build community. KC shares what her faith looked like in this season and many of the ways God showed up to remind her of His great love for her even amidst the unthinkable. Lastly, we spend some time talking about how to love a grieving mom and dad.
I am so grateful for KC’s wisdom and very practical advice throughout our time together – I am sure that no matter your story, this episode is going to bless you.
THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF TRIPPER CHARLES. Tripper was born on March 17, 2018. A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church: “We love you, Tripper! We are eagerly waiting with Tripper's family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family” A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember Tripper Charles with you.
If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.
FREE DEVOTIONAL
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| 05 May 2023 | 01. Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose House is Quiet & Empty by Avery Swaringen | Letters to the Grieving Mom | 00:04:53 | |
Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose House is Quiet & Empty by Avery Swaringen. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother. A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-whose-house-is-quiet-empty For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.
THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF ELEANOR BLACK. Eleanor was born on July 30, 2020. A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church. We love you, Eleanor! We are eagerly waiting with Eleanor’s family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember Eleanor with you.
If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.
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FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
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| 18 Feb 2021 | 109. Pregnancy & Postpartum After Baby Loss (Stillbirth) with Maggie Koch | 00:51:12 | |
My guest this week is Maggie Koch and we are talking about pregnancy and postpartum after baby loss. Maggie experienced a late term stillbirth with her daughter Olivia and in this episode she is sharing with us what it was like to be pregnant again and what it was like to prepare for labor and what it was like to bring home a living baby and navigate postpartum. Maggie shares candidly about what it was like to make the decision to try and get pregnant again and I could relate when she said, “I wasn’t sure I would ever be 100% ready to try again with no reservations or fear.” Maggie shared the tangible ways she managed the fear and anxiety as well as the ways she manages it now 6 months after bringing home her son Oliver. We talk about how helpful her care team, questions you might ask them to help you navigate this journey as well as what to do if you are not receiving the care you need. She talks about how she prepared for labor and delivery and what she brought to the hospital to make her feel safe and remind her that her daughter Olivia was not and would not be forgotten. We talked about guilt and the fear of moving on or forgetting our babies, maybe you can relate to Maggie when she said this:
Listen in to hear how Maggie intentionally incorporated her daughter’s memory into Oliver’s birth and how she continues to honor her and remember her in their everyday. And I think Maggie’s final words of encouragement will be incredibly helpful if you have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth, so make sure to listen all the way to the end for that. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.109
PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCE LIBRARY
PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS ONLINE COMMUNITY
EPISODE 109 SHOW NOTES
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| 26 Jun 2020 | 084 Life Limiting Diagnosis and Carrying to Term with Kristin Ironside | 00:45:49 | |
Listen in as I chat with Kristin Ironside, a mama who endured the heartbreaking journey of knowing the baby she carried would most likely not live more than a few hours. Kristin’s daughter, Annabelle was diagnosed with unilateral renal agenesis and unilateral multi cystic dysplastic kidney -- basically at her 18 week anatomy scan, Kristin learned that her daughter’s kidneys were not functioning properly and without properly functioning kidneys in the womb her little body could not produce amniotic fluid necessary for lung development. Non functioning kidneys and lungs would be lethal to her baby girl. Baby Annabelle could continue growing as a healthy baby in her womb, but they would need to prepare themselves for a stillborn or a life of "minutes to hours." In our time together Kristin shares what it was like to receive a diagnosis like that, one of incomprehensible heartbreak, and what it was like to carry Annabelle for another 15 weeks knowing she would not bring her home after she was born. Kristin shares very helpful and practical advice about how to prepare for a birth in a circumstance such as this but more than even practical advice she shares hope. She says “it is possible to have joy through it all.” and “one day you will get on the other side and you will get to say yeah i did make it and let me tell you how good God was through it all.” She gives such a hope-filled reminder as we are wrapping up when she says “God will give you the grace for all those moments that feel impossible now.” This episode is both practically helpful and honestly hopeful. I pray that no matter what brought you here today, this episode would serve as a reminder that you are never, ever alone in this journey and that you are more loved than you could ever imagine. If this is your first time joining us and you have been given a life-limiting diagnosis for your baby, I want to say, I am so incredibly sorry. I want to also tell you that while you probably feel very alone right now, you are not alone. I would love to invite you to join our free online community where you can find other moms just like you who have walked or are walking now a similar journey. You can join us by heading to themorning.com/community. Also, we have created a lengthy list of resources just for you and you can access all of those by heading to themorning.com/lifelimitingdiagnosis. I am grateful you are here and I pray that this episode and those resources I just mentioned will be an enormous blessing and help to you in this season and the season to come. -- SHOWNOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode084 COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community | |||
| 03 Feb 2022 | 148. Trying to Conceive & Pregnancy After Loss with Elizabeth King | 00:45:53 | |
This week on the podcast I have the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth King – a Certified Fertility Health Coach, Birth & Bereavement Doula, New Parent Educator and Certified Life Coach. Elizabeth is joining us this week to talk about trying to conceive after having experienced the loss of a baby, the challenges that exist when trying to conceive and how to overcome those challenges. We talk about making the decision to try to conceive again, what it looks like if you and your spouse or partner are not on the same page about growing your family, the steps she recommends a woman who has experienced loss to take before trying to conceive again and finally what encouragement and hope would she give to a woman who is in a season of waiting.
If you are in a season of considering growing your family again, actively trying to conceive or are currently pregnant after loss this episode is going to be really helpful for you.
PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES
To access those free resources head to www.themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss
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| 22 Dec 2022 | 188. Hope When the Holidays Hurt [Part 04] with Kristin Hernandez | 00:30:59 | |
Welcome to part 4 of our 4 part Holiday series – a discussion about finding hope when the holidays hurt. Kristin Hernandez, author of the Advent Journal, Hope When the Holidays Hurt, is joining me for this series. In the first part of this episode Kristin talks about God’s love for you and knowing that grasping that love can feel very, very difficult for a grieving mom Kristin shares what helped her to see that God had not forgotten her and how He did love her even amidst devastating loss and deep grief. In the second part of this episode Kristin gives her best advice for navigating Christmas morning and moving into a New Year. The wisdom Kristin shares is practically helpful – giving you freedom to grieve this holiday season, freedom to be sad, to say no, to make space to rest. About the New Year she said this: This was the hardest holiday for me the first year. It caught me by surprise. Everybody is celebrating that we're leaving the year and they're looking forward to the next year. And I felt so sad that everyone is moving forward and moving forward with excitement and I didn’t want to move forward. And moving forward scared me. Listen in to hear the hope and wisdom that Kristin shares about both Christmas morning and the New Year but mostly I hope you hear us both say, you are not alone friend. If the next week or so are especially difficult for you, remember, it’s ok to be sad, it’s ok to not feel merry or excited for a new year… you aren’t alone in that and also it won’t always feel this way. Throughout this series and season of Advent, Kristin and I will be discussing an entry from that week of journal entries here on the podcast as well as our free online community. If you haven’t already joined us in our free community, this is a great time to do so. Don’t navigate the holidays alone, come join us and find women who understand, women who get it and can offer a listening ear, understanding and wisdom. Our free online community is not on social media so as to provide a truly safe place for grieving moms. To join us click here. We will be sharing insights from our daily readings from the journal as well as honest thoughts and conversation about navigating the holidays as a grieving mom. WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox. FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays
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FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.
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| 30 Oct 2023 | 207: What Now? Hope & Help for Neonatal or Preterm Baby Loss | 00:49:22 | |
In this episode I’m sharing with you what I want every grieving mom who has experienced a Neonatal or Preterm Loss to know about grief and life after loss. I pray the words I share with you today offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone. In this episode:
Resources in this episode:
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THE MORNING SHOP
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| 23 Sep 2021 | 131. What the Bible Says About Suffering (Navigating Faith After Baby Loss) with Lacey Rabalais | 00:52:49 | |
In this episode I am asking a series of difficult but important questions about God, our suffering, and navigating faith after the loss of a baby to Lacey Rabalais. She spends her days studying and writing about God’s Word and as a theologian who had also experienced the loss of a baby I knew she would be the perfect person to discuss these questions with. Many of the questions we are discussing today were submitted by you, listeners of the podcasts and or members of our free private community, The Joyful Mourning Community. These are real questions and like I said, somewhat difficult to answer in a way that might feel acceptable in the midst of heartbreak and sorrow. Questions like:
I know that this conversation and some topics we talk about might be hard to think about or consider and I want to encourage you by saying that’s ok -- you’re free to wrestle with the truths we present here. My hope is that as you listen, even to that which might be difficult to hear or believe, that your heart would be comforted in knowing that you are not alone and that you are loved by the God of the universe far more than you could ever comprehend or imagine. And that not only does he love you but he loves your baby too.
We do our best to bring the truth of scripture into these hard, difficult spaces but I am certain that there is more that could be said and additional conversation that would be potentially helpful. One of the best things I would recommend is to come join us in our free community -- a safe space where you are free to wrestle through your questions, anger, sadness, confusion and hurt. Find out more about our free community by heading to www.themorning.com/community . I can’t wait to meet you there.
Additionally we have pulled together our best resources about navigating faith after the loss of a baby including a free 7 day devotional and a few of the resources that are mentioned in this episode -- you can find all of those resources over at www.themorning.com/hope
Ok friends -- thank you for listening. I pray this episode grows your faith and your love for the God who loves you so much.
JOIN THE FREE COMMUNITY SHOW NOTES RESOURCES FOR FAITH AFTER BABY LOSS
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| 17 Apr 2020 | 075 Grief & Loss During a Pandemic with Meg Walker | 00:51:17 | |
Just like last week’s episode, the conversation in this week’s episode is really, really helpful and full of hopeful reminders that are vital for anyone who has experienced grief and is currently navigating life in the midst of the pandemic at hand. In this episode I spend some time talking with Meg Walker about what it’s been like for her personally to navigate this season. She speaks candidly about the grief that this moment has stirred up in her as a loss mom and what it has looked like practically to live through those realities. I love towards the end of the episode when Meg says these words: “It’s ok to not have it all together. It’s ok to be having a really hard time with this. It’s ok for this to be resurfacing things we thought we had conquered. It’s ok for fears to arise. It’s ok to say I can’t do this God and I need you to do it for me." And also this: "You are not alone. You might feel forgotten. But you are not forgotten by the One who matters. You are so loved by Him. And on the days when it’s really hard and you can’t even get out of bed. That’s ok. He doesn’t love you any less. There’s so much grace for you.” Thank you for being here friend. Thank you for tuning in. I pray this episode meets you right where you are today, bringing light to the dark places and spaces; bringing a reminder of hope; a reminder that you are loved and not alone. And two more quick things before we jump into today’s episode. First, the audio recording quality of this episode gets a bit glitchy at times; that is most likely due to the entire world being on the internet right now. I apologize that the quality isn’t quite what I would want it to be. But while the technical aspect may not be perfect, the content is still really really good and definitely worth listening to. Second and last thing, we talk a lot in this episode about reaching out if and when you feel alone. And one of the best places to do that is The Joyful Mourning Community -- its a group of women who know first hand what you are going through. They are able to say ‘me too’ and remind you that you aren’t alone because they have been there too. So come join us and be reminded that it’s ok to feel like a mess right now. It’s ok to feel scared. It’s ok to doubt or be angry or sad or confused. It’s ok. We want to remind you that you are loved. We want to remind you that you're not alone in all those feelings. So, come join us by heading to themorning.com/community. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning | |||
| 07 May 2020 | 078 5 Ways to Love a Bereaved Mom this Mother's Day with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:18:33 | |
If you know and love a mama who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. This episode is for you. Whether you are a friend or a family member, if you know a mama who is grieving this episode is really important. Because while she may not tell you, the reality is she is hurting right now. This weekend we celebrate mothers. And if you have never experienced the loss of a baby, it is impossible to fully understand the weight of what this day carries for the mom who has. In this episode I want to talk about why Mother’s Day feels so incredibly hard for a grieving mom and give 5 simple ways that you, as her friend or as her family member, can remind her that she’s loved, she’s remembered, and her motherhood is seen and celebrated. And if you are listening and you are the bereaved mama, there’s a few things I want you to know today too and I’ll share those later in the episode. But for now, we made a few special resources just for you to help as you walk through this weekend. You can find all those resources over at themorning.com/mothersday. Resources to remind you that you are a mother and that your motherhood is worth celebrating. Whether you are a grieving mama or you love a grieving mama, I am so glad you are here. I pray this episode is a blessing to you. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.morning.com/community GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning | |||
| 11 Feb 2021 | 108. Infertility, Miscarriage, Life-LImiting Diagnosis & Pregnancy After Loss with Amy Lagomarsino | 01:09:38 | |
In today’s episode I am talking with one of our Joyful Mourning Community members, Amy Lagomarsino about her motherhood journey. A journey that has been filled with incredible loss and yet even amidst tears Amy speaks with joy and hope. Amy shares her story of infertility and seasons of waiting, she shares about pregnancy loss and miscarriage, she shares about her daughter Ella who received a life-limiting diagnosis and lived for 27 hours and she also shares honestly and tenderly about being pregnant again after such loss. Like I said, her journey has been full of the hardest of things and yet she shares in a way that reminds me that even in the middle of such loss there is hope to be found. During our time together, Amy not only shares her story but really helpful wisdom she has learned along the way from the different experiences that make up her motherhood journey. She has words of wisdom for the woman in a season of waiting and wondering if she will ever get pregnant. She has wisdom and encouragement for the woman who has just experienced a miscarriage. She talks about how she prepared for the birth of her daughter Ella and what advice she would give to a woman who has been given a life-limiting diagnosis. She shares what it was like to walk her son Lorenzo through the loss of his baby sister. We talk honestly about guilt and what to do with all the could-haves or should-haves. We talk about how she said her heart could not handle another loss and that meant no more trying to conceive again, you’ll have to tune in to hear what changed her mind. We talked about the tangible ways she mentally prepared to try and conceive again and how she dealt with others’ excitement over a pregnancy after loss when she just wasn’t quite there yet. In fact, if you love a grieving mom, her explanation of why it was hard for her to tell others she was pregnant again might be really helpful and insightful to you. I specifically loved and was so encouraged by how her parents and extended family responded when she told them she was pregnant again. I wish every friend and family of a grieving mom could here at least that portion of the episode because it would just communicate an incredible amount of love in such a tender moment. We even squeeze in how she chose to celebrate Ella’s birthday and honor her at Christmas and why it felt so important to do so. If you are a grieving mom, what she shares might give you some tangible ideas for your own celebrations, anniversaries and holidays. And if you love a grieving mom I think Amy’s thoughts on this might help you better understand a grieving mom. This episode is full to the brim of real life wisdom about a journey no one asks for but many of us are on. I pray that this honest conversation is a blessing to you as you navigate your own journey.
FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR PREGNANCY OR INFANT LOSS
PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS To access that free download head to www.themorning.com/4040.
HOW TO LOVE A GRIEVING FRIEND
SHOW NOTES | |||
| 02 Mar 2023 | 193. Growing Your Family and Pregnancy After Loss Q&A with Meg Walker and Ashlee Proffitt | 00:49:58 | |
In this episode Meg Walker, The Morning’s Content Editor and Community Manager, and myself are answering a handful of your questions about pregnancy after baby loss. Questions like:
We’re discussing all of those and more in this honest conversation. Over the next few weeks we will continue this conversation about what it looks like to grow your family after loss. We will have resources for those trying to conceive again, thinking about trying to conceive again, pregnant after loss and also for those who have either by choice or factors beyond their control made the decision to not pursue growing their family in this season. As we kick off this series I would love to share with you 3 very helpful resources:
THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO CAROLINE CRAWFORD COURVILLE. “This episode is dedicated to Caroline Crawford Courville in honor of her first birthday in heaven. Caroline, you are so missed but the short time you were with us was such a gift and our hearts are filled with gratitude over the impact you have had in our lives. We are more compassionate, more patient, and filled with a greater understanding of God’s love for us. Thank you for reminding us daily to keep our eyes fixed upon heaven. We look forward to the day we will be together again. With love, Mom, Dad, and your big brothers!” A special thank you to the Courville family for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Caroline and we remember her with you. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details. FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLE
FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
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| 20 Nov 2020 | 101. Navigating the Holidays After Pregnancy or Infant Loss with Meg Walker, Mary Margaret Powitz & Ashlee Proffitt | 01:25:14 | |
Today I am chatting with Mary Margaret Powitz and Meg Walker about what it looks like to navigate the holidays season while grieving. We come into this conversation with different experiences and different perspectives as our journeys have spanned different amounts of time -- this will be my 12th holiday season since my son died, it will be Meg’s 6th and Mary Margaret's second. I think the different perspectives and what we have learned and are learning along the way will be really helpful.
In this episode we talk about what the biggest challenges a grieving mom faces during the holiday season and ideas and wisdom for how to handle those challenges. We talk about expectations and how to handle those. We talk about hurtful conversation and things said and how to handle those. We talk about what it looks like to parent living children during the holidays when you are grieving. We talk about traditions and triggers and creating boundaries. We also talk about what it looks like to love and support a grieving mom through the holidays.
This episode is honest and holds a myriad of wisdom about navigating one of the most difficult aspects of grief and life after loss. I really think that it will be helpful and a source of hope as we enter into the holiday season.
FREE DOWNLOAD: HOLIDAY PREPARATION GUIDE One additional resource that will be incredibly helpful to you is our Holiday Preparation Guide -- this totally free guide is a tool that will give you space for your thoughts and feelings as you prepare for the Holidays. I am certain that if you go download that guide and spend even just a few minutes working through it, it will be incredibly beneficial to your mental, emotional and spiritual health this holiday season. In that guide we include a list of resources to listen to, questions to evaluate where your heart is right now, space to work through expectations you may be feeling either from yourself or others, triggers and space to create a plan for those as well as journaling pages and meditation prompts. This free guide, the Holiday Preparation Guide can be found at www.themorning.com/holidays2020.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE. JOIN THE FREE COMMUNITY SHOW NOTES | |||
| 31 Dec 2020 | 102. A Reminder of Hope For The New Year with Ashlee Proffitt | Pregnancy or Infant Loss | 00:16:59 | |
A note to my grieving friends on this last day of 2020. If you feel not quite ready for a new year, or are limping your way into 2021, this episode is for you. I share some truths that I think will offer you a bit of hope and freedom in this moment as well as some practical advice and questions you can spend some time reflecting on. Download a one page printable journal reflection guide to help you process through this year at themorning.com/episode102.
As 2020 comes to a close, I pray this episode does what all the episode before it did, reminds you that you are not alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine.
THE COMMUNITY If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, welcome. I am so glad you are here. I want to invite you to join our community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- a space to feel known and understood and not alone in your grief. Because grief is lonely but it doesn’t have to be. Come join this free online community by heading to themorning.com/community, that’s themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there. | |||
| 13 Jan 2022 | 145. Finding Hope After Losing a Twin (SIDs) + PAL, Faith, Honoring Her Son with Brooke Seibal | 01:03:32 | |
This week on the podcast I am interviewing Brooke Seibal – a mom to 5 children, 4 here on earth, 1 in heaven. During our time together Brooke shares the story of her son Knox, a twin that she lost suddenly just shy of 6 weeks old. Brook also shares about the unique challenges of losing a twin, as well as her grief journey and what healing has looked like for her. We talk about parenting young children after loss and amidst grief and about her decision to have another baby just a few months after her son Knox had died. We talk about how she honors her son’s life in the day to day as well as the bigger milestone days like birthdays – what that practically looks like for her celebrating her son Jonathon while grieving his twin brother Knox. We talk about Brooke’s faith and what God has been teaching her over the last 2 years since experiencing such a tremendous loss. Brooke shares with honesty, hope and joy during our time together and she gives an abundance of practical advice that I am certain can be of help to you, no matter your story. I pray this episode and the wisdom and hope shared here encourages you today.
FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE SHOW NOTES FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS | |||
| 06 Oct 2022 | Bonus. Conversations with a Grieving Mom | What a Grieving Mom is Thinking About with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:17:12 | |
Listen into the third and final bonus episode in our Conversations with a Grieving Mom series. If you have been tuning in this week to the first two bonus episodes you know that October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month and this week I have shared 3 short mini bonus episodes to help us kick off this month.
These short episodes highlight specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. Over on the blog we have been and will continue doing the same, with a series called “What I wish You Knew” featuring responses from real women who have experienced different types of loss. If you are a grieving mom, both of these resources are meant to remind you that you that you are not alone. And if you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast as well as the blog series is going to be incredibly helpful at giving you a greater understanding about how to love your grieving friend.
In this third episode of the series I am sharing a non-comprehensive list of the things a grieving mom may be thinking about at any given moment. I say non-comprehensive because the things we think about as grieving moms are often complex and can be difficult to put into words. I am sharing this somewhat seemingly random list of thoughts to do two things, 1) to help a grieving mom hear me say -- you are not alone in the way you are thinking about this nor are you crazy. The way you are seeing this and thinking about this is completely normal and to be expected. And 2) to help someone who has not experienced the loss of a baby better understand what is happening inside the head and heart of a grieving mom -- to have compassion and empathy when you might not understand how she is responding or better yet to have compassion and empathy when you judge her response as not appropriate.
FREE GIFT | THE BIRTHDAY PROJECT RESOURCES FOR PREGNANCY & INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH,how we are raising awareness and honoring your baby(s) head to www.themorning.com/awarenesss
JOIN US FOR A FREE LIVE EVENT
IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM | |||
| 16 Oct 2020 | BONUS 03 Conversations with a Grieving Mom: All the things she is thinking about, all the time with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:14:46 | |
Throughout October I am highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of 4 short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give grieving moms a voice, to acknowledge your loss and at the same time to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom.
In this third episode of the series I am sharing a non-comprehensive list of the things a grieving mom may be thinking about at any given moment. I say non-comprehensive because the things we think about as grieving moms are often complex and can be difficult to put into words. I am sharing this somewhat seemingly random list of thoughts to do two things: 1) To help a grieving mom hear me say -- you are not alone in the way you are thinking about this nor are you crazy. The way you are seeing this and thinking about this is completely normal and to be expected. 2) To help someone who has not experienced the loss of a baby better understand what is happening inside the head and heart of a grieving mom -- to have compassion and empathy when you might not understand how she is responding or better yet to have compassion and empathy when you judge her response as not appropriate.
So, if you are a grieving mom I hope this reminds you that you aren’t alone. And if you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Resources www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss. | |||
| 18 Mar 2021 | 113. Marriage After Infant Loss (Prenatal Life-Limiting Diagnosis) with Lindsey Dennis | 00:51:41 | |
I’m chatting with Lindsey Dennis about how the loss of her two daughters shaped her very young marriage. We talk about the patterns that developed as a result of experiencing such devastating loss so early in a marriage and what advice she would give to a couple new in their marriage and navigating grief. We talk about how to navigate the reality of grieving differently than your spouse and she gives tangible advice about that that I think will really encourage you. She shares very transparently and honestly about what she would do differently in regards to her relationship with her husband. Lindsey talks about what it looked like for her and her husband to pursue one another amidst grief; she shares honestly about how difficult that was for her and if you are feeling similarly the practical advice about this will be tangibly helpful and encouraging to you. We talk about how important communication is but not just how important it is, which feels really obvious - but Lindsey gives some really helpful advice when I ask her what it looked like practically to communicate amidst grief -- especially when you are grieving differently than your spouse. Lindsey shares the one question her counselor encouraged her and her husband to ask one another on a consistent basis. And please please make sure to listen all the way to the end because Lindsey’s final words offer such incredible hope. LINDSEY'S FULL STORY: EPISODE 41 EPISODE 113 SHOW NOTES LIVE Q&A / HOPE HANGOUT MARRIAGE RESOURCES Check out all the resources we have on marriage by heading to themorning.com/marriage.
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| 30 Sep 2021 | 132. "I felt abandoned by God." Wrestling Well & Faith After Baby Loss with Kristin Hernandez | 01:08:12 | |
Over the past 4 weeks we have been talking specifically about navigating faith after the loss of a baby, asking hard questions about God and what the Bible has to say about our loss because if you are anything like me you have asked those questions before, maybe not out loud for fear of judgment but in the quiet private corners of your own mind. Questions like Why did God allow this to happen? Did I do something wrong to deserve this? How can I trust a God who would let this happen? This series of conversations is incredibly needed and it has been a privilege to discuss these hard, but important questions.
In this final episode of this series on faith after loss, I have the privilege of interviewing Kristin Hernandez, author of the book Sunlight in December, A Mother’s Story of Finding the Goodness of God in the Storm of Grief. Kristin’s motherhood journey has been wrought with loss and she enters into this conversation with incredible tenderness and empathy -- as a grieving mom who has spent time wrestling with God, searching for answers, for truth and for hope.
Kristin shares her motherhood journey with us and what her spiritual walk looked like amidst her losses and after. She talks about misconceptions about what it means to be a strong christian who is grieving and what it looks like when God doesn’t answer our prayers in the way we want Him to. And I loved when Kristin said “I can trust and believe what the Bible says, even when I don’t feel it.”
This conversation is for anyone who knows and loves God and is walking with Him. It’s for the woman who is really wrestling in her faith right now. It’s also for the woman who isn’t quite sure what the Christian faith is all about and maybe you are looking for answers or just want to learn more -- this is a great place to start. And lastly, if you love a grieving mom, this would be a really, really great conversation to listen to in regards to better understanding what a grieving mom is experiencing as she navigates her faith journey.
Kristin and I do our best to bring the truth of scripture into these hard, difficult spaces but I am certain that there is more that could be said and additional conversation that would be potentially helpful. One of the best things I would recommend is to come join us in our free community -- a safe space where you are free to wrestle through your questions, anger, sadness, confusion and hurt. Find out more about our free community by heading to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to meet you there and talk about these things with you.
And lastly, we have pulled together our favorite free resources for navigating faith after the loss of a baby including a free 7 day devotional. Check out those resources at themorning.com/faith.
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| 03 Nov 2022 | 182. Finding Hope & Healing as an Unmarried Grieving Mom After a 2nd Trimester Loss with Megan O'Neill | 00:48:01 | |
Listen in as I chat with Megan O'Neill, a mama to a baby in heaven. Megan experienced a 2nd trimester loss and shares with me the story of her baby and her journey of grief, life after loss and what it has looked like for her to find healing. Megan shares honestly about the unique challenge she experienced being an unmarried christian woman at the time of her pregnancy, how difficult that was to navigate, the shame and the guilt and how that was made even more difficult when she lost her baby at 14 weeks. She shares what she has learned from that experience, how she navigated those challenges and what wisdom and encouragement she would give to an unmarried single grieving mother who might be listening today. If that is you, I hope you know, like all of our grieving mothers, you are loved, friend and you are not alone.
Throughout our conversation Megan shares candidly about what it has looked like for her to mother her baby while her arms are empty. No matter your story, these words from Megan will encourage you, she said this:
QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO. 182
FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.
FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
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| 25 Feb 2021 | 110. Navigating a Life-limiting Diagnosis, Help for Mental Health, & Hope for Pregnancy After Loss with Adeyling Fiallos | 00:56:30 | |
My guest this week is Adeyling Fiallos. Adeyling experienced a miscarriage that was later followed by the death of her newborn son, Sage, due to a life-limiting condition. Adeyling became an advocate for pregnancy and infant loss in her community and founded Sage and Sara Candle Co (named after her babies) where she makes beautifully scented candles and gives back to hospitals and nonprofits with each purchase. Her mission is to help bring light and comfort to parents amidst the dark days following the loss of their child(ren).
Adelying and I talked about many aspects of loss as it related to her story specifically. We talked about what it was like to receive a prenatal life-limiting diagnosis, what it was like to carry a baby you knew would likely not live very long outside the womb, what it was like to prepare for birth and very profoundly what it was like to go home without her baby. Where everything looked as though nothing had changed but everything had changed. She would never be the same. And she gives helpful and practical advice to any mom listening who has been given a prenatal life-limiting diagnosis about how to prepare for birth and what to expect in the days after.
We also talk about those first few weeks and months after her son died, specifically as it relates to her mental and emotional health. We talked about how grief and depression and postpartum depression have very similar symptoms and I encourage listeners then and I’ll encourage you now, if you have any thoughts of harming yourself or are experiencing intense emotions in a way that is inhibiting normal life functions, please seek professional medical help right away. As always you can Call 911 for emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room. Or call the toll-free 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. No matter where you are in your grief journey Adeyling shares some very practical advice about what has helped her mental and emotional health since experiencing her losses that I think will be really helpful to you. She talks about the role acupuncture played as well as sleep medication. She talks about how valuable writing and journaling was to her as well as finding the right grief support group and how helpful online communities were to her. This would be a great time to remind you that if you are not a part of our joyful mourning community -- we would really love to have you. Life after baby loss is incredibly lonely and we want to come alongside and remind you that you are not alone. We are with you. We understand what you are walking through. Come join us by heading to themorning.com/community.
Adeyling also shares her thoughts about trying to conceive again and we talk about what pregnancy after loss has been like for her. At the time of this recording Adeyling was 18 weeks pregnant and if you are pregnant after loss or thinking about trying to conceive or currently trying, I think you will be able to relate to what she has to say about this in a profound way. And as we mentioned last week in our episode with Maggie Koch about pregnancy after loss we know how hard the pregnancy after baby loss journey is, so we have created several free resources for you that will be tangibly helpful. To check out those resources, head to our Pregnancy After Loss Resource library at themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss.
Lastly, Adeyling talked about the value of having a strong support system in a pregnancy after loss -- a community you can count on and rely on. We agree with Adeyling and that is why we created a free online community just for the pregnancy after loss conversations. Pregnancy after loss is a unique journey deserving of its own safe space and community where you can talk openly about what you are experiencing -- this community comes alongside our existing main community I mentioned previously to provide support for a season of pregnancy after loss. Come join us by heading to themorning.com/pal, that’s themorning.com/pal. We are so hopeful for what this new community will offer to a woman in a pregnancy after loss journey. One more time, to join us head to themorning.com/pal.
This episode is tender and honest and full of relatable moments and helpful wisdom. I think it’s going to really bless you today. - THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS COMMUNITY SHOW NOTES
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| 17 Feb 2022 | 150. What is a Bereavement Doula & How One Might Help You with Jenni Hunt [Part 02] | 00:31:28 | |
This is part 2 of a 2 part interview with Jenni Hunt – a certified Birth and Bereavement Doula who spends much of her time supporting families facing miscarriage, stillbirth or an adverse prenatal diagnosis as a Birth and Bereavement Doula. Last week we heard Jenni’s story of motherhood, the losses that she has endured, what she has learned from her losses and how she has found healing. We ended our time last week with Jenni sharing with us what led her to become a bereavement doula – a beautiful and tender story that I guarantee will touch your heart. Today we will be talking specifically about her work as a birth and bereavement doula so if you have not listened to part 1 make sure to skip back and listen before diving into part 2.
This week in part 2 Jenni is answering all my questions about Bereavement Doulas – what is a bereavement doula, how can a mom prepare for birth when loss is involved, what are some ways she helps women practically approach their labor & delivery experiences when loss is involved? (Either for current or for a pregnancy after loss.)
We discuss common challenges that she sees, and how women can prepare for those challenges. We also discuss how women grieve and process differently – a very helpful conversation if you have ever wondered if you are grieving “the right way.”
And we end our time together with Jenni giving very helpful and hopeful advice about navigating your medical provider and what to do if you do not feel cared for by your medical team.
If you are currently pregnant and your baby has received a life-limiting diagnosis, this episode will be a very helpful tool in understanding how a bereavement doula might be able to help you throughout the remainder of your pregnancy, your labor and delivery, and especially your time with your precious baby.
If you are in a season of thinking about growing your family again, actively trying to conceive or are currently pregnant after loss this episode is going to be really helpful for you as well as you learn more about how a bereavement doula might serve you in this season. For more free and helpful resources about navigating pregnancy after loss, head to themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss.
And even if neither of those apply to you, this interview is incredibly helpful and again, so wonderfully tender. I am so grateful for Jenni – for her care and compassion towards grieving mothers.
FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE
PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES www.themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss
SHOW NOTES FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS | |||
| 01 Apr 2021 | 115. Navigating Pregnancy Loss: Marriage, Faith & Pregnancy After Loss with Rachel Ramirez | 00:58:19 | |
Today I have the privilege of interviewing Rachel Ramirez about her story of motherhood. Rachel has experienced 3 miscarriages and walked through the subsequent journey of grief and in this episode she is sharing all that she’s learned along the way. We spend time talking about what miscarriage was like for her and what she wishes others understood about pregnancy loss and what encouragement she would give to a woman who has just experienced a miscarriage. We talk about marriage after loss and how to navigate the inevitable differences in the ways partners grieve. Her wisdom about marriage and how to love your spouse while grieving is incredibly encouraging and practically helpful. We also talk about pregnancy after loss and how she made the decision to try again even after multiple losses. We spend a significant amount of time talking about Rachel’s faith journey. Her answers to my questions about how to navigate faith after loss might surprise you and I am certain they will encourage you. If Christianity and the Bible and God is something you have never thought about much or are exploring for the first time we have words of hope for you too in this episode. Whether you are searching for answers about God, angry at God, confused by Him, disappointed in Him or running to Him, or some combination of those, make sure you listen all the way to the end of this episode to hear Rachel’s analogy of God amidst grief -- it’s incredibly hope-filled and encouraging. If you are unsure about this faith that Rachel and I are talking about, check out www.themorning.com/hope for a few resources that might be helpful to you in your faith journey. FREE DEVOTIONAL JOIN THE COMMUNITY SHOW NOTES
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| 31 Mar 2022 | 156. Navigating Birthdays, Anniversaries & Everyday Milestones | Honoring & Celebrating Your Baby after Baby Loss with Chelsea Spoelker | 01:11:11 | |
Today Chelsea Spoelker joins me to share the story of her daughter Stella and how this short, but incredibly powerful life changed hers forever. Stella was born with Trisomy 18, a life-limiting diagnosis and lived for 39 days. Chelsea shares with me how, through Stella’s life, she learned to celebrate each day like it was her last. She began that journey of celebrating and honoring her life while she was pregnant and each day, each milestone after she was born. Since Stella’s death Chelsea has learned what it looks like practically to parent and celebrate and honor a child that has died and today she is sharing all of that with you.
While this conversation specifically centered navigating milestones and celebrating and honoring our babies, Chelsea also shared what it was like to make the decision to carry Stella to term when her medical team was advising to end the pregnancy, the very drastic steps she and her husband took to seek out medical care where they felt supported, how she and her husband navigate milestones differently and something that all loss moms can identify with – regret. Chelsea opens up about all of that and more.
And toward the end of the episode Chelsea gave a simple but powerful encouragement when she said: “figure out what works for you, what feels right for you and honor that, do that.” I loved the encouragement to do milestones in any way that feels right for you.
If you are looking for practical help navigating milestones, I have two things that will help:
Lastly, this episode is dedicated to all of our trisomy babies and to the mamas that love them. In honor of Trisomy Awareness month we celebrate your babies, we remember them, we remember you. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.156
FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY
SHOW NOTES
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| 14 Aug 2020 | 091 Multiple Losses, A Hysterectomy & Hope When There is No Rainbow with Kelsey Hayes | 00:49:09 | |
Listen in to this honest conversation with Kelsey Hayes. A mom who experienced multiple losses that ended with a full hysterectomy and a chance at having future biological children. We talk about what hope looks like when there is no foreseeable rainbow, we talk about how grief was different for each of her losses, we talk about how joy and peace can exist in the middle of absolute heartache. And her perspective on how to view and act towards people who say the most hurtful things after loss is both challenging and encouraging as she shares very candidly about a really painful experience with a family member. We talk about the challenges of parenting after loss and I could really relate when she said “it's tough being a parent after having a loss, you're on guard for anything that can happen and your brain goes to the worst possible scenario.” We talk about all of that and more in this episode. Kelsey’s raw vulnerability and honesty is incredibly relatable and I am sure that it will be helpful as it reminds you that you are not alone in this grief journey. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY
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| 01 May 2023 | 00. This is Motherhood, Too | 00:07:23 | |
A special episode in honor of your motherhood. This entire month we are giving space for your unique story of motherhood, providing a little extra support and hope as you head into Mother’s Day – a day that can be full of many complex emotions, often very painful. But more important than our resources and articles on the blog and special episodes here on the podcast, mostly, I want you to know, we want you to know that Your motherhood is motherhood, too. Even if it doesn’t look like everyone else’s, or like how you wish yours was. Even in the journey you’re facing, this day is for you, too. In this special episode I am kicking off this month with a poem written by Meg Walker called This is Motherhood, Too. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother. For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday. | |||
| 12 Oct 2023 | Bonus 02. Conversation with a Grieving Mom: Why does she still talk about her baby? | 00:19:06 | |
Listen into today’s special episode about: why we as loss moms talk about our babies and addressing all the other things someone who has not experienced this kind of loss may find strange or odd, awkward or uncomfortable -- or all of the above. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month and over the course of the month you will hear 3 short mini bonus episodes. In these short episodes I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. If you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast is going to be incredibly helpful at understanding her better.
IF YOU ARE A GRIEVING MOM For an abundance of resources about navigating life after the loss of a baby head to www.themorning.com/resourcebundle IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM And if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily. | |||
| 11 Aug 2022 | 171. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Marriage & Parenting Living Children with David & Kaitlyn Phipps | 00:40:54 | |
This week I am honored to be interviewing Kaitlyn and David Phipps about their parenthood journey. Listen in as they share with me about their experience of recurrent pregnancy loss – a journey that hasn’t ended with a “rainbow baby.” They are very much still in the thick of their story unfolding and I am so grateful for their willingness to share in the middle of the story. During our time together we talk about how they navigated marriage amidst several losses, what it looked like for Kaitlyn to support David and likewise how David supported Kaitlyn – and they both share invaluable wisdom for you our listener as you navigate marriage after the loss of a baby. We also spend time talking about what it looked like for them to parent their living children in this season of loss and grief. How they talked to them about their loss, how they explained what was happening, the challenges they faced in parenting amidst grief and how they navigated those challenges. We finish up our time together talking about how they made the decision to try to grow their family again and again in the face of recurrent loss. If you are navigating life after loss with a spouse or partner, trying to navigate parenting living children after loss and thinking about or actively trying to conceive again or are pregnant again after loss I think this conversation will be really helpful to you. GIFT FOR YOU To celebrate this new season we have a free gift for you! A brand new art print and Verse Card Set, absolutely free. Download here > www.themorning.com/season5 QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.170
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN NO. 171 Ultimate Resource Bundle: Our best and most helpful resources all in one place. Download Here.
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| 10 Nov 2022 | 183. Hope, Encouragement & Practical Advice for Navigating the Holidays as a Grieving Mom | 00:21:08 | |
Listen into a special episode where you will hear from 7 different women answering the same question, what wisdom, encouragement, hope or advice would you give to a grieving mom as she navigates the holiday season. The clips shared here are all from previous episodes but their words still ring true and resonate deeply today. I’ve linked the full episodes for each of these interviews below in the order that you will hear them in this episode. So, if you want more from each of these past guests just click on those links to listen into the full episode on navigating the holidays .
FREE NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays
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FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.
FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
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| 17 Jul 2020 | 087 Understanding Grief After Baby Loss with Counselor Libby Marler | 00:54:15 | |
If you have experienced the loss of a baby or know and love someone who has experienced the loss of a baby this episode is an absolute must-listen. Libby Marler is my guest this week; she is a trained counselor who specializes in women’s issues including maternal mental health, parenting, grief and loss, as well as anxiety issues. Libby became passionate about providing counseling and support for women after she navigated the death of her own daughter due to a life-limiting diagnosis. In this episode Libby shares with us a general overview of what someone who has experienced the loss of a baby can expect in regards to grief. For many of us, the loss of our baby was the first time we have experienced a significant loss close to us, we are unfamiliar with the grieving process and we are trying to discern what’s normal, what isn’t, what is expected of us, when should we seek outside help -- basically all the things and in this episode Libby breaks it all down for us. She shares invaluable expertise regarding baby loss and grief, including helpful steps to take to process through your grief in a way that is not burdensome or weighty but instead, very freeing. If you have ever wondered if what you are feeling and thinking amidst grief is normal or if you have ever asked yourself ‘Am I showing enough emotion? Am I showing too much emotion?’ or ‘Shouldn’t I be farther along by now?” this episode is for you. Libby offers wisdom that I am sure will encourage you in your grief today. I created a helpful guide called Understanding Grief to go along this episode that breaks down much of what Libby talked about in today’s episode. This guide includes an explanation of bereavement trauma, aspects of trauma in regards to baby loss, what are normal feelings of grief, what are normal physical responses to grief, ways to process your loss, thoughts about when to seek professional help and several helpful journal prompts. I think this guide will be incredibly helpful to you in your grief journey. To download your free pdf guide head to www.themorning.com/griefguide. Thank you for being here and tuning in. I pray this episode and that free resource I just mentioned reminds you that you are not alone in your grief and there is hope to be had, even in the mourning.
SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode087 UNDERSTANDING GRIEF GUIDE: www.themorning.com/griefguide JOIN THE COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community
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| 10 May 2020 | SPECIAL EPISODE: Happy Mother's Day to the Grieving Mother | 00:03:18 | |
Happy Mother’s Day Your mothering may look different than those around you or what you ever imagined it would be. But this day is for you too. Today I acknowledge you who are hurting this year. “I see you. I have not forgotten. God has not forgotten. YOU are not forgotten.” To the woman looking at yet another negative pregnancy test; I see you. To the woman holding only a memory of a heartbeat, I see you. To the woman staring at a gravestone, I see you. I see your bravery every time you smile and every time you get out of bed and every time you hold a baby that isn’t yours and every time you give the honest answer about how many children you have. I see your sacrifice when you show up to church or to work or to your best friend’s baby shower even though it hurts like hell. I see your selflessness when you put another’s needs above your own, even when your heart is breaking. I see your compassion when you weep over another’s story of loss and heartache. I see your faith when you praise the God who could have stopped this pain. I see you. And I am so grateful for your example. Your example has changed me.
-- www.themorning.com/mothersday | |||
| 16 Jun 2022 | 167. Marriage & Parenting After Infant Loss with Becky Banik | 00:50:59 | |
This week on the podcast I am honored to be talking with Becky Banik about her experience navigating marriage and parenting after the tragic loss of her son Joey. Becky shares candidly and honestly about the difficulties and challenges her marriage faced as well as what has helped in the year since they lost their son.
We talk about the most challenging aspect of navigating the marriage relationship after loss and the advice she would give you about how to navigate those challenges. We talk about the importance of acknowledging and recognizing that people change after loss and grief and so its important to get to know each other again, and what that practically looked like for Becky and her husband. Becky shares how she grieved differently than her husband and the ways they navigated those differences, how the 5 love languages played a vital role in learning to understand each other and meet each other's needs and really hear other. We also talk about the very important role that counseling played in saving their marriage. And if you love a grieving couple, sprinkled throughout this entire conversation are very, very helpful, practical ways to support a grieving couple.
And I love that Becky ends our conversation with this encouragement “it’s worth the fight.” Such hopeful wisdom from someone who has been there and is still fighting for it even today.
This conversation will remind you that you are not alone in the difficulty of grieving with your spouse or partner while also giving you incredibly practical and helpful wisdom and tools about how to grieve and grow together – I am sure it is going to bless you.
THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO LEVI MICHAEL GONZALEZ Today’s podcast is sponsored by the Gonzalez family in memory of their son Levi Michael Gonzalez. Our dearest Levi, June 23rd will be five years. Five years since we held you in our arms but couldn’t bring you home. Five years since you made us parents. You beautiful boy. You have changed our lives. Even though you’re not with us physically, spiritually you’ll be with us forever. You have changed so many lives with just your story. Even though you couldn’t be with us, we’re so glad you’re with Jesus. Forever we will love you always. A special thank you to the Gonzalez family for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Levi and we remember him with you.
QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.167
FREE RESOURCE For more resources about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby, check out our complete Resource Bundle. You can access that bundle instantly and all the marriage related resources including quick links to our favorite episodes about marriage and a date night idea list for when dating your spouse feels really hard. To get instant access to that bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY
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| 20 May 2020 | 080 Marriage After Miscarriage & Infant Loss with Aaron and Ashlee Proffitt | 00:58:57 | |
Today is my 15th wedding anniversary and I get the privilege of interviewing my husband for this episode. Our marriage has been marked by loss, beginning all the way back to our first wedding anniversary when I began miscarrying our first baby and then just a few years later when our nearly 6 week old baby died in his sleep. As we embark on year 15 together we thought it would be helpful to talk about what it has looked like for us to navigate marriage while grieving the loss of a baby. Listen in as we talk about the challenges we faced, the mistakes we made, what we would have done differently and the encouragement we give to newly grieving parents.
QUESTIONS WE ANSWER (OR TRY TO ANSWER) DURING THIS EPISODE
-- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode080 COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community
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| 23 Jul 2020 | 088 Pregnancy After Loss & Dealing With Unresolved Grief with Counselor Libby Marler, The Counseling Collective | 00:54:36 | |
In our previous episode, episode 87, I talked with counselor and maternal health expert Libby Marler, from The Counseling Collective, about what someone who has experienced the loss of a baby can expect in regards to grief. In that episode, Libby shares invaluable expertise regarding baby loss and grief, including helpful steps to take to process through your grief.
Libby is back in this week’s episode to talk with me specifically about pregnancy after loss and how unresolved grief can affect a pregnancy after loss. We talk about why pregnancy after loss can be so incredibly difficult, the common emotions associated with pregnancy after loss, how grief and stress can affect a pregnancy and what steps we can take to deal with the grief and stress in a healthy way. If you have experienced the loss of a baby and are pregnant again, or would like to be pregnant again, this episode is a must listen. If you have ever asked the question, when is it the right time to try to get pregnant again, this episode is for you. And if you love someone who is pregnant after the loss of a baby this episode is an absolute must — it will help you understand what she is going through in a really significant way.
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PDF GUIDE: UNDERSTANDING GRIEF: www.themorning.com/griefguide SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode088 | |||
| 19 May 2022 | 163. This is Motherhood, Too | An Honest Conversation for the Mom Who Has Experienced Pregnancy or Infant Loss [Part 03] | 00:26:03 | |
This is part 3 of a 4 part series called: This is Motherhood, too where I am joined by Kristin Hernandez, Aimee Jones, Micayla Lyons and Corrie Lovette. This is a special series about what motherhood means to the mom who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss and all of my guests have experienced different types of loss, some as recent as 4 months ago and for some it's been years. My hope is that no matter what type of loss you have experienced and how long ago you experienced that loss, this honest, hopeful conversation would make you feel known and understood and less alone in this journey.
If this is your first time listening, make sure to listen in to Part 1 and Part 2 of this special series so you can get to know our guests and their stories. In this episode, we are jumping right into the conversation and I am asking my guests 3 questions:
I am certain that no matter your story, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone and there is hope to be had. We created a workbook that goes along with this podcast series to give you an opportunity to answer these questions for yourself as you consider how your motherhood journey has been shaped by loss. No matter where you are in your grief journey I think doing this will help you to find healing in a new way. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/motherhood. MEET OUR GUESTS
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| 28 Jan 2021 | 106. How to Love a Grieving Friend After Pregnancy or Infant Loss with Anna & Anna | 00:47:29 | |
This week we are talking all about what it looks like to love a friend that is grieving the loss of a baby. For this interview I get to chat with two friends, Anna and Anna. I thought it would be helpful to not only get the perspective of a mom who has experienced loss but also of her friend -- to have the conversation with them both at the same time about what it looked like to love a grieving friend amidst grief as well as what it looks like to be the grieving friend receiving the support.
Both women have experienced loss, between them they have experienced two pregnancy losses and one infant loss -- so their perspective is unique and full of empathy and tenderness. We talked about the biggest challenges facing relationships when one person is grieving, we talked about what it looks like practically to step into the mess that is friendship and grief, we talk about the value of checking in again and again and again, we talk about helpful things to say and do as well as things that are not so helpful and words that might be hurtful.
And if you are listening as someone who says “but I feel forgotten by my friends and family.” or “that’s great for them but i don’t have a friend like that who cares like that”, keep listening because we address that too.
This episode is so encouraging as it reminds us that it is the simplest efforts like a call or a text or a mug full of hershey kisses matter so much. That loving someone who is hurting does not have to look like grand gestures but rather an imperfect showing up that is consistent and prayerful and thoughtful has the potential to bring so much comfort to a grieving mom.
I pray this episode encourages you to step into the messiness of friendship after loss as it reminds you that it is absolutely worth it.
FREE RESOURCE FOR HOW TO LOVE A GRIEVING FRIEND If you love a grieving mom, check out episode #94 (www.themorning.com/blog/episode106) about how to love a grieving friend, it’s a simple list of 10 don’t do this instead do this. To download a free simple checklist about how to love a grieving friend head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily.
FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY If you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.
SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode106 | |||
| 08 Sep 2022 | 175. Healing & Hope After Losing Her Son with Mikayla Chaparro [Part 01] | 00:47:07 | |
This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Mikayla Chapparro. In this interview you are going to hear the most honest and tender conversation about what it was like to lose her son Valor when he was just shy of his first birthday and the grief journey she would then embark on. We talk about destructive patterns amidst grief and what it was like for her to replace those patterns with healthier coping methods that would lead to true healing. Listen in as she shares honestly about the challenges she faced in grief and the ways that she found healing. Mikayla has a gift with words and beautifully articulates something that many of us, until lived it, would argue there could be no beauty here – and yet Mikayla talks about a God who weaves unimaginable beauty from unthinkable tragedy. Next week in part 02 we spend our time talking about her faith journey – as a new christian just exploring the faith when her son died she began to wrestle with God over what He had allowed in the death of her son. She talks honestly about what that looked like for her and what her faith looks like today nearly a year later. Whether you are clinging to God and He has never felt closer or you are running hard away from Him and anything that has to do with Him – tune in for that episode, I know it will offer you hope and healing. I am so grateful for Mikayla's honesty and tenderness, I know this episode and this interview is going to be a tangible reminder that you are not alone in this. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE NO. 175
FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.
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| 04 Oct 2022 | Bonus. Conversations with a Grieving Mom | Why Raising Awareness Matters with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:06:30 | |
Listen into the first bonus episode in a series I have titled Conversations with a Grieving Mom. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month and this week you will hear 3 short mini bonus episodes to help us kick off this month. In these short episodes I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. Over on the blog we will be doing the same, with a series called “What I Wish You Knew” featuring responses from real women who have experienced different types of loss. If you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast as well as the blog series is going to be incredibly helpful.
For an abundance of resources about Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, how we are raising awareness and honoring your baby(s) head to www.themorning.com/awarenesss that’s themorning.com/awareness.
JOIN US FOR A FREE LIVE EVENT Last thing, if you are a grieving mom I want to invite you to join us for a free live event – a Night of Remembrance – a night to honor your baby(s). You can find the details and registration information for this event at themorning.com/remembrancenight.
IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM And if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily.
Ok, let’s listen into today’s special episode about: why raising awareness about pregnancy and infant loss is valuable and important, why it matters. | |||
| 14 Oct 2021 | 134 Infertility, IVF, Pregnancy Loss & Life-Limiting Diagnosis - Navigating Grief & Finding Joy with Kristyn Szala | 00:51:05 | |
Listen in as I spend time with Kristyn Szala and ask her all kinds of questions about her motherhood journey. Kristyn has experienced infertility, journeyed through ivf, experienced a miscarriage with one of her twins and then would go on to experience a life-limiting diagnosis for her son Asher. During our time together Kristyn talks honestly about her experience with IVF and what it was like to lose a twin in the first trimester of pregnancy -- she shares what it was like to grieve that loss, the unique challenges it held and what advice she would give to a woman in that situation. We go on to talk about what it was like to receive a life-limiting diagnosis for her son Asher -- what she wishes she had known, what she learned and what she would have done differently. Kristyn said that immediately after hearing the news she canceled everything, her maternity photos, her baby shower, everything. But then after thinking about it for a few days she decided this baby and this pregnancy was worth celebrating. She said she asked herself: “how do I want this pregnancy to be? I want it to be full of joy.” This part of our conversation was really beautiful and I absolutely love the idea her friend did for her in the way of a Baby Blessing -- you’ll have to listen to hear exactly what I’m talking about. We talked about a few specific tactics that were helpful to her in navigating life after loss as well as a major career change she made a few years following her son Asher’s death. The last thing we talk about very candidly and tenderly is the reality that Kristyn is unable to have more children and what it’s like to navigate losing your youngest child -- if that is your reality too, I am sure that what Kristyn has to say about this will remind you that you are not alone.
FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTES FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY
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| 15 Apr 2021 | 117. Intimacy After Pregnancy or Infant Loss with Libby Marler | 00:43:32 | |
Today we finish up our series on marriage after loss with a special interview with Libby Marler about intimacy after pregnancy or infant loss. Libby joins us as a trained and experienced counselor who specializes in the perinatal period, the time of pregnancy and the year following a pregnancy. She also specializes in grief and loss and joins not only as an expert but also as a mom who has walked through a life-limiting diagnosis and infant loss. What Libby shares in this episode is going to be incredibly helpful as it relates to intimacy after baby loss and marriage in general when grieving. This is an aspect of baby loss that is often not talked about and often considered a taboo topic in culture in general. But it is really important and vital to the health of your marriage so I am incredibly grateful for Libby taking the time to share with us. She shares this idea about how there are two basic styles of grieving and that in and of itself would be worth listening to -- it was that helpful. Libby talks about why intimacy after the loss of a baby can feel so hard, she addresses the woman who might feel like she is dishonoring her baby by being intimate with her spouse, she addresses the woman who feels guilty for not being able to connect with her spouse in that way, and she also addresses the woman who is finding comfort in intimacy. She gives so much freedom to all of us when she says: “not all couples, not all women experience things in the exact same way. So there's nuance to each and every experience and just like grief, how you and your husband relate to each other sexually after you experienced the loss of the baby is going to fall on a spectrum at any given time. And we really run into trouble in marriage, when we misunderstand and misinterpret our partners different grieving styles and how they use different strategies to adapt and cope with the feelings of grief that they have. And that can especially happen in terms of our intimate relationship.” During our time together we also talked about how intimacy is more than just a purely physical act and what it might look like to reconnect in other ways. I loved when Libby said this: "Other things that I think of is laughing together. And that's really hard in grief, but finding ways to laugh is important, it connects you and reduces your feelings of stress and actually helps release some endorphins for you to feel happier, more connected. The stress level goes down and gives you more of a sense of wellbeing.” If you want a few ideas for how to reconnect with your spouse and create opportunities for laughter, head to www.themorning.com/datenight to download 29 Date Night Ideas. We created those with the purpose of reconnecting in mind, trying new things and even laughing. Last thing before we jump in, when I asked Libby what resources she recommended on this topic and for marriage in general she said, get in community -- find other women who are navigating this grief journey and marriage after loss journey so you will be reminded that you aren’t the only one and that you aren’t alone. If you have not already joined us I want to invite you to come join our free online community by heading to www.themorning.com/community - I hope to see you there! | |||
| 10 Nov 2023 | Bonus. 5 Tips for Preparing for the Holidays | 00:11:02 | |
As the holiday season rapidly approaches, pretty pictures from the early christmas decorators, gift guides for every gift giving situation and person, the text messages exchanging plans, recipes, and details for the holiday family gatherings this year, and invitations to all the holiday parties – no matter how hard you may be trying to hide from it, you have likely already been inundated by this fast approaching season. Where everyone seems about to burst with excitement and joy. Everyone except you. Grief has felt so lonely and in this moment it feels even more so. As if you are the only one who would rather skip the next two months and all it’s festivities altogether. The holidays season, Thanksgiving into Christmas and New Years can be excruciating for families walking through grief after the loss of a baby. The season can feel impossible, overwhelming, scary or simply something to be avoided. I wanted to share a few quick resources with you to help you prepare for this season so you can move forward with hope. Holiday Workbook & Resource Bundle: www.themorning.com/holidays Holiday Support Group for Grieving Moms: the-morning.myflodesk.com/holiday-support-group LISTEN: Episode 56, Episode 57, Episode 58, Episode 101, Episode 138 and Episode 183 CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FOR A GRIEVING MOTHER: www.themorning.com/blog/5-christmas traditions-for-a-grieving-mother DIY ORNAMENTS TO HONOR YOUR BABY: www.themorning.com/blog/diy-christmas-ornaments CHRISTMAS CARD GUIDE: www.themorning.com/blog/christmas-card-guide | |||
| 21 Aug 2020 | 092 5 Things To Know About Pregnancy After Pregnancy or Infant Loss with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:19:29 | |
I have said it before and I will say it again. Apart from losing my son Aaden, being pregnant again after losing him was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. And I know I am not alone in feeling that way. In fact the topic I receive the most requests for is pregnancy after loss. Just this week over in The Joyful Mourning Community a community member posted this, she said: “how do you deal with the crippling anxiety of being pregnant after loss?” Over the past month or so I have added several resources specific to pregnancy after loss to our resource library including podcast episodes and blog posts -- you can see all of those newly added resources by heading to themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss. In today's episode I wanted to share 5 simple things to know about pregnancy after baby loss. These 5 things are meant to remind you that you aren’t alone in all the feelings you are feeling and the thoughts you are having. And even though you may feel crazy, you aren’t crazy. If you are currently pregnant or hope to be pregnant again soon I pray this episode brings a ton of freedom. As you probably know, it is incredibly difficult for someone who has never experienced pregnancy or infant loss to know the depths of pain and fear that can be present in a pregnancy after loss. So consider this episode a reminder of things you already know but might just need to hear again, from a friend who has been there and really does understand. A friend giving you the freedom to feel all the feelings with no shame or guilt.
SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode092 JOIN THE COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community | |||
| 27 Oct 2022 | 181. Sisters Share About Navigating a 1st Trimester Loss & 3rd Trimester Loss | Close Relationships Amidst Loss with Emily Stinemetz & Tate Drew | 00:54:27 | |
This week on the podcast I am interviewing Emily Stinemetz and Tate Drew – sisters who have both experienced baby loss. Emily experienced a first trimester loss followed by a season of unexplained infertility and Tate experienced a third trimester loss at 34 weeks. This conversation is really beautiful and tender as you hear their obvious love, empathy and compassion for one another even as their losses were very different and their motherhood journeys very different. They share openly about how they grieved differently and what it was like to walk with one another through their different seasons of grief and what it was like to be pregnant at the same time, for one to experience loss and then to navigate loving a sister and a baby niece while grieving. About this and navigating their relationship amidst different seasons of each of them grieving while one may be rejoicing, one sister said this:
Both women share what they wish others understood about their specific type of loss and give helpful and hopeful wisdom to any woman who is grieving, no matter what type of loss she may have experienced. We talk about comparison in our grief and in our stories. We talk about how to find healing and ways to love a grieving a mom. No matter your story or what brought you here, this conversation is honest and helpful and hopeful – it will encourage you to do the grief work that leads to healing and will remind you that your loss mattered. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO. 181
FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.
FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
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| 02 Oct 2020 | BONUS 01 Conversations with a Grieving Mom with Ashlee Proffitt | 00:05:24 | |
Listen in to the first bonus episode in a series I have titled Conversations with a Grieving Mom. Throughout October I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of 4 short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. In this first bonus episode I am speaking openly about why raising awareness about pregnancy and infant loss is valuable and important, why it matters.
For an abundance of resources about this topic head to www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss. -- October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month. Maybe you saw the statistics yesterday as women raised their hand to say “I am 1 in 4” and to share their story of baby loss. Or maybe you didn’t even notice, just another ‘awareness’ month filling up your feed. It’s ok, I didn’t know that October was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month either until it was me. Until I was the 1 in the 4. But here’s the thing, while you may not be the 1 you likely know her. She is your friend. Your sister. Your daughter. Your neighbor. Your coworker. The stranger at the grocery store. The acquaintance at church.
1 in 4 is so much more than a number. Raising awareness is about so much more than a statistic. It's a person. It’s a life.
We raise awareness because that one matters.
We raise awareness because the numbers would tell us that if it isn’t you, then you likely know someone who has experienced the loss of a baby. We raise awareness so that you might know better how to love her and care for her. Because to ignore her pain is to ignore her.
We raise awareness because we want you to know our story. To know our baby. Because to know us and not know about our baby is to not really know us at all.
-- RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss | |||
| 30 Mar 2023 | 197. Grief, Faith, & Growing Your Family After A Life-Limiting Diagnosis with Monica Harris | 00:38:09 | |
"When God doesn't give a miracle..." Monica Harris joins me for this episode to share her motherhood journey and her experience receiving a life-limiting diagnosis for her son Vance as well as the news that she and her husband were carriers for a genetic condition that could result in a similar diagnosis in future children. At the time of our recording Monica was 37 weeks pregnant with a daughter who was also given a difficult diagnosis – prayerfully not a diagnosis that would limit life but difficult and complex nonetheless. Knowing this makes my time with Monica and her words that much more powerful – when she talks about what it looked like to pray for a miracle and for God to not give that miracle– about this she says: “He's good God, but He's not always going to say yes.” and we talked about her pregnancy right now, she said this: “I like to be in control, but this time I have no control. Just praying and believing that God will take us through whatever comes.” We spend some time talking about:
This is a beautifully tender and honest interview with a mom who is still in a season of waiting, of anticipating, of navigating the unknown but her faith will encourage you – I know it encouraged me. FREE DEVOTIONAL FREE RESOURCES FOR PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS:
THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF MALACHI GRECO. This episode is sponsored in honor of Malachi Greco. A message from Adriana Gruntz: “God used and continues to use Malachi to break our hearts to show us His tender mercies. God is using Malachi to teach me and the whole family how to intensionally be there for each other and for the people around us. Malachi is our eternal gift and though the pain will never leave, God will teach us a new kind of Joy. Malachi we will forever carry you in our minds and hearts. We love you so much. I also wanted to hug, through this message, my sister Paoli and her wonderful husband Todd. We love you so much!” A special thank you to Adriana for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Malachi and we remember him with you. We remember Malachi with you. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details. FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
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| 31 Jul 2020 | 089 Pregnancy After Baby Loss with Katelyn James Alsop | 01:01:05 | |
Listen in to an honest conversation about pregnancy after loss with my dear friend Katelyn James Alsop. We talk very candidly about what it’s like to be pregnant again after losing a baby. There are moments of tears and of laughter in this episode, but isn’t that the reality of this grief journey; a dance of joy and sorrow. We talk about how Katelyn made the decision to try again for another baby after her son James died from complications from Down Syndrome. We talk about when or if there ever is the right time to announce another pregnancy, what it’s like to keep our baby’s memories alive when a new baby is born and I love when Katelyn talks to me about battling the fear that plagues so many of us in our pregnancies after loss. We even talk about parenting after loss and parenting while pregnant after loss; what it looks like to invite our living children into our grief and our fear. And in doing so, hopefully teach them about what it looks like to trust God even when it’s scary and even when the worst happens and also show them what finding healing can look like. I am so grateful for Katelyn and her story and her honesty in this episode. I pray that it reminds you that you are not alone. And that there is joy to be had, even in the scary, fearful places like pregnancy after loss.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY If you have experienced the loss of a baby I want to extend an invitation to The Joyful Mourning Community. A place where you can find women who have walked and are walking this road of baby loss and navigating life after loss and even specifically pregnancy after loss. It’s a place to remind you that you aren’t alone. Come join us by heading to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to meet you. -- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode089 | |||
| 24 Mar 2022 | 155. Baby Loss, Grief & What to Expect After Loss with Counselor Libby Marler [Replay] | 00:55:07 | |
This episode originally aired almost 2 years ago but it is such a fantastic resource that we wanted to put it in front of you again. If you have experienced the loss of a baby or know and love someone who has experienced the loss of a baby this episode is an absolute must-listen. Libby Marler is my guest in this interview; she is a trained counselor who specializes in women’s issues including maternal mental health, parenting, grief and loss, as well as anxiety issues. Libby became passionate about providing counseling and support for women after she navigated the death of her own daughter due to a life-limiting diagnosis.
In this episode Libby shares with us a general overview of what someone who has experienced the loss of a baby can expect in regards to grief. For many of us, the loss of our baby was the first time we have experienced a significant loss close to us, we are unfamiliar with the grieving process and we are trying to discern what’s normal, what isn’t, what is expected of us, when should we seek outside help – basically all the things and in this episode Libby breaks it all down for us. She shares invaluable expertise regarding baby loss and grief, including helpful steps to take to process through your grief in a way that is not burdensome or weighty but instead, very freeing.
If you have ever wondered if what you are feeling and thinking amidst grief is normal or if you have ever asked yourself ‘am I showing enough emotion? Am I showing too much emotion?’ or ‘shouldn’t I be farther along by now?” This episode is for you. Libby offers wisdom that I am sure will bring you hope in your grief today.
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| 25 Aug 2022 | 173. Parenting Babies in Heaven & Parenting a Living Baby After Being an Invisible Mother with Carolyn T. | 00:41:41 | |
This week I have the joy of spending time with Carolyn T. – a mama who has experienced the excruciating pain of losing a son at 35 weeks, followed by two more painful losses. Carolyn shares with me her grief journey and how with each loss her grief looked different – offering freedom to us as grieving mothers that our grief can look different from loss to loss or just day to day, but that doesn’t mean our love for our baby has changed or has decreased or we miss them less. Carolyn shares with me her journey of grief and finding healing and what it looked like for her to practically be a mother when her arms were empty. And then she shares with me what it was like to parent her living son after having been an invisible mother for so long. As she spoke of the grief she experienced after her living son was born she said this: “once Patrick was born and I experienced all of the daily tasks of being a mother, I realized, wow, this is all that I've lost. And all of that just slapped me in the face. Here's a reminder of what you lost.” If you can relate to those words, listen in because Carolyn shares how she navigated that season of new grief and found healing. I’m so grateful for this conversation and the hope and honesty Carolyn brings to the grieving mom. And all the practical ways she shares about how she practically mothers her babies in heaven.
QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE NO. 173
FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Download Here.
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| 27 Apr 2023 | 201. Pursuing Healing in our Grief with Danielle Anderson | 01:06:06 | |
In this episode I have the privilege of interviewing Danielle Anderson – a birth & bereavement doula, speaker, teacher, a wellness coach and a mom who has experienced tragic loss. For the last 10 years, Danielle has been on a journey of healing and restoration, and has learned the importance of whole health - spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical – and during our time together she shares incredible insight and wisdom about all that she has learned. Insight that is going to offer you hope, help and freedom in your grief journey.
Danielle shares her motherhood journey with me and what surprised her about grief and the most challenging aspect of her grief journey and how she navigated that challenge. We talk about finding healing and what it means to be present with our emotions, how to have mental boundaries and take control over the narrative we are telling ourself about our loss; we talk about the importance of sleep and what to do if sleep feels impossible right now.
I appreciate this conversation so much and truly wish I had had these wise words when walking through the fresh days of grief – Danielle offers so much freedom in what it looks like to be a mother grieving the loss of a child. I am sure that this episode is going to bless you.
JOIN US FOR A LIVE EVENT | MAY 7 AT 8P EST. Danielle will be joining us again for a special live event in honor of Bereaved Mother’s Day on Sunday May 7 at 8p est. and we would love for you to join us. Danielle will be leading this special event as we honor your motherhood journey with rest, hope and healing – she will teach us about how grief and trauma impact you holistically and ways to practically find healing and hope even amidst your grief. There will be time to practice what she is teaching so you can implement these healing methods in your own life and we will end the event with a live Q&A so you can ask Danielle your questions about grief and finding healing. This is an incredible opportunity and I would love to see you there. For all the details and to register head to themorning.com/takecare
THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF HADLEY JACKSON. Hadley was born on February 23, 2017 and passed away on November 3, 2017 A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church: “We love you, Hadley! We are eagerly waiting with Hadley’s family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family” A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember Hadley with you.
If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.
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| 16 Oct 2023 | 205. What Now? Hope & Help for 2nd Trimester Loss | 00:40:35 | |
In this episode I’m sharing with you what I want every grieving mom who has experienced a 2nd trimester loss (late miscarriage or stillbirth) to know about grief and life after loss. I pray the words I share with you today offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone. In this episode:
PINK STORK
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| 04 Sep 2020 | 094. 10 Do's & Don'ts - How to Love a Grieving Friend | 00:22:49 | |
Over the next few weeks we will be sharing resources specifically about how to love a grieving friend. I even had the opportunity to interview moms who had experienced loss with their friend to ask honest questions about what it was like to navigate friendship after loss and amidst grief. If you have ever asked the question: how do I love my grieving friend, this series of episodes and resources we will be sharing is going to be extremely helpful. And if you are a grieving mom this is going to be an incredible bank of resources that you can easily send to those you love about how they can help you in this season. To follow along with all the resources we will be adding over the next few weeks head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily
This episode is broken into two parts, the do’s and the don’ts of loving a mom who has experienced the loss of a baby. Two caveats before we jump in -- first, this list is not exhaustive and better viewed as a great starting point and second, every mom is unique; what might be helpful to one might not be helpful to another. So listen and learn from this episode but filter the things I share here through the knowledge that you know her better than me.
If you love a grieving mom, head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily to download a free checklist of these ideas. That’s themorning.com/friendsandfamily. On that page you will also be able to access all of the existing resources we have that will help you navigate this season-- if you love a grieving mom I think these resources will be very helpful to you. And if you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community, that’s themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there. | |||
| 21 Oct 2021 | 135. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Preterm Labor, Infant Loss, Invisible Motherhood & Pregnancy After Loss with Mary Prince | 00:50:59 | |
Listen in as I spend time with Mary Prince and she shares her motherhood journey with me. She talks honestly and candidly about her recurrent miscarriages, and then her son Noah who was born at 26 weeks due to a placental rupture who would die just a few short months later as a result of a rare and very difficult to diagnose heart defect. I ask Mary to talk about what it’s been like to be an invisible mother, having experienced pregnancy 4 times, having delivered a baby boy and mothered him in the nicu, but now to have only empty arms. Mary shares what has surprised her about her motherhood journey and the grief that she has endured. If you love a grieving mom, she gives really helpful wisdom and advice about what it looks like to support a mom who has experienced the loss of a baby. At the time of this recording Mary was 18 weeks pregnant and Mary gives an honest real-time look into what pregnancy after so much loss has been like. She gives wisdom and really helpful tangible advice that I think will really encourage you if you are in that season. We talk about all those things and so much more. I am so thankful to Mary and her willingness to share her journey with us -- I pray it is a blessing to you.
FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTES FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY | |||
| 12 May 2023 | 09. Letter to the Mom Still Grieving Her Baby’s Diagnosis | 00:04:32 | |
Listen in as I read a Letter to the Mom Still Grieving Her Baby’s Diagnosis by Shanae Thompson. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother. A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-mom-still-grieving-her-babys-diagnosis For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday. FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
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FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
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| 02 Jun 2022 | 165. Marriage after Miscarriage and How to Support a Grieving Dad with Joseph & Corrie Lovette | 00:59:02 | |
This week on the podcast I am interviewing dear friends of mine, Joseph & Corrie Lovette. You will recognize Corrie as one of our guests from the This is Motherhood, Too series and I am so excited to have her back on the podcast and this time to be joined by her husband Joseph. 4 years ago, after having been married for almost 10 years, they experienced the loss of a baby. And today they are joining us to talk about experience navigating loss and grief as a married couple and even more specifically what it looks like to support a grieving dad. We talk about the challenges they faced, how they navigated those challenges, lies that Joseph believed and practical ways they gave space for each other to grieve. Their answers are honest and relatable – and maybe my favorite part is that Joseph says, it’s ok to grieve men, it’s ok to cry and have emotions and it’s ok to grieve a baby you never met – I know this interview is going to bless you and remind you that you are not alone in this while simultaneously giving you specific ways to support the grieving dad in your life.
QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS
FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS For more resources about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby, check out our complete Resource Bundle. You can access that bundle instantly and all the marriage related resources including quick links to our favorite episodes about marriage and a date night idea list for when dating your spouse feels really hard. To get instant access to that bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle
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| 16 Sep 2021 | 130. Navigating Faith After Two Infant Losses (Life-Limiting Diagnosis) with Lindsey Dennis | 01:03:11 | |
This week I invited my friend Lindsey Dennis back to the podcast to talk about her spiritual journey and walk with God amidst anticipatory grief and the grief that followed the loss of her two daughters, Sophie and Dassah -- both from life-limiting diagnoses. Lindsey shares honestly as she answers questions like:
I also asked Lindsey how she wrestled through the idea that God was powerful enough to heal her babies… or was He? Or did He just choose not to? And if He chose not to, is He still good? We also discuss the question: did I do something wrong to deserve this loss? A question that many of us have probably thought about or asked at one point or another in our grief journey. We end our time talking about heaven and what the Bible has to say for us as grieving moms and the hope we have to see our babies again one day.
Whether you have been following God for a long time, if you are new to the christian faith, or if you are searching or angry or confused or questioning everything you thought you believed -- you are in good company, friend. You are not alone and I think this episode will encourage you today right where you are.
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| 27 Apr 2021 | Bonus. Mother's Day is Coming by Mary Margaret Powitz | 00:06:03 | |
Join me in listening to Mary Margaret Powitz as she reads a letter she wrote to you as we anticipate Mother's Day. In this bonus episode Mary says these words: “your motherhood, no matter how it looks, is worth celebrating... However long you had with your child, they still lived, and you still loved them, and you are still a mother. Whether anyone else claims it to be true. And that means, Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be about what others do or don’t do, but about how you choose to celebrate your own story and value as a mom.” We want to invite you to celebrate your motherhood. This Thursday, April 29 we are hosting a simple free event to give you a safe space to do that very thing -- to celebrate your motherhood. To join us for this free event, head to themorning.com/celebratingmotherhood. I hope to see you there. Mother’s Day is Coming, written and read by Mary Margaret Powitz. Mother's Day Resources for a Bereaved Mother Celebrating Motherhood (a free event)
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| 28 Apr 2023 | Bonus. How to Prepare for Mother's Day as a Bereaved Mother [Replay] | 00:23:01 | |
As we approach Mother’s Day, maybe you are wondering will anyone recognize my motherhood? Will anyone remember? Will anyone see me as a mother? Today I am talking about what it looks like to prepare for Mother’s Day as a bereaved mother. I am sharing my best advice about how to tangibly prepare for this day, and the days leading up to it, as well as simple ideas for how you, as a bereaved mother, can celebrate your motherhood this Mother’s Day. For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.
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| 03 May 2022 | Bonus. To the Brokenhearted Mom Grieving a Stillborn Baby with Morgan Golding | 00:02:54 | |
A Special Bonus Episode. Listen to Morgan Golding read her letter To the Mom Grieving a Stillborn Baby. Each day this week we will feature a special bonus episode. We pray these words would bring you hope and remind you that you are loved and not alone. To read Morgan's letter: www.themorning.com/blog/to-the-mom-grieving-a-stillborn-baby-1 For more resources to provide hope and support, especially during Mother’s Day, head to themorning.com/mothersday Join Our Free Community: www.themorning.com/community | |||
| 16 Mar 2023 | 195. Anxiety, Fear & Faith After Loss & Amidst Pregnancy After Loss with Mary Holloman | 00:49:49 | |
In this episode Mary Holloman joins me to talk about her motherhood and grief journey. She shares about her experience with consecutive first trimester losses, what surprised her about grief and the very practical ways she navigated the grief of that season. Then we spend time talking about pregnancy after loss where we discuss questions like: Making the decision to try to grow your family after experiencing multiple losses, the most challenging aspect of her pregnancy after loss and what it looked like to navigate those challenges. Throughout our time together Mary gives wisdom, encouragement and practical help for navigating the anxiety and fear and the angst that comes from the constant ‘what-ifs’ that so many of us experience after loss and in a pregnancy after loss. Mary wrote a children’s book all about this that is such a wonderful picture of what this looks like in our life. Her book is The Anxious Lily and she shares about this helpful resource as well. If you are feeling anxious, if you are navigating a pregnancy after loss, if you have questions about faith, if you have wondered if your 1st trimester loss counts – this episode is for you. HELPFUL PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS / GROWING YOUR FAMILY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES:
HELPFUL RESOURCE FOR ANXIETY & GRIEF: THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF CECILIA LARZABAL. This episode is sponsored in memory of Vada June Driggers. A special thank you to Sarah Damoff for sponsoring this episode. We remember Cecilia with you. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details. FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
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| 29 Dec 2022 | 189. 3 Things for a Grieving Mom to Know About the New Year | 00:22:41 | |
Today’s episode is all about the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. I’m sharing with you 3 things to know as you enter a New Year and a few practical tips for each. The New Year can catch a grieving mom by surprise in it’s heaviness and I hope these thoughts I’m going to share with you bring you hope and give a few practical tips for navigating the days ahead. For an extra bit of encouragement go back and listen to Episode #143 for hope and encouragement about beginning a New Year from our Morning Team members – I promise it will bring you hope and remind you that you are not alone. FREE NEW YEAR WORKBOOK: www.themorning.com/newyear FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.
FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
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| 25 Sep 2020 | 097 How to Love a Grieving Friend with Whitney & Nicole (Part 02) | 00:47:53 | |
We have been working our way through a series of episodes that honestly discuss the realities of friendship amidst loss and grief. This episode is part 2 of a special 2 part episode where I interview best friends Whitney & Nicole. If you missed part 1 skip back one episode because in this episode we will be picking up right where we left off. Whitney & Nicole’s story of friendship is unique and powerful. And in this second part of the interview we talk about the biggest challenges that friendships after loss might experience, they share past hurts from friends and family and how they are processing that now a few years later. We talk about the ways they each felt the most loved after their individual losses and how friendships change, ultimately because we as a grieving mom have changed and how that’s ok. What they share in this episode is honest and tender and I think you will find their thoughts about friendship after loss incredibly relatable and helpful. And like I said, this is part 2 of a 2 part series -- I wanted to give space for each of these women’s stories to be shared so this interview has been broken into two parts. We will be jumping right into the conversation where we left off last week so if you missed Part 1, episode 96 make sure to go listen to that episode! I am forever grateful for these two women and the friendship they represent. I pray it encourages you to step into the messiness of friendship after loss as it reminds you that it is absolutely worth it.
FRIENDS & FAMILY If you love a grieving mom, don’t forget to check out episode #94 about how to love a grieving friend, it’s a simple list of 10 don’t do this instead do this. To download a free checklist of the ideas shared in that episode head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily. On that page you will also be able to access all of the existing resources we have about how to love a grieving mom -- if you love a grieving mom I think these resources will be very helpful to you.
COMMUNITY And as always, if you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.
SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode097 | |||
| 06 Apr 2023 | 198. Infertility, Loss & Lament with MaryEsther Caldwell | 01:07:02 | |
Listen in to hear an honest conversation about infertility, loss, and lament from MaryEsther Caldwell. During our time together MaryEsther shares honestly about what it was like to navigate infertility, and then to experience a miraculous pregnancy only to unexpectedly lose her daughter Magnolia Jubilee at 22 weeks. We talk about the challenges of grief and what surprised her and what she wished others understood about infertility and loss and the grief of both. About this she says: “I am just aware on a really deep level that I may never be pregnant again. I have to really deal with the question of, is God good if I never have any more children? If I never get to raise and mother a child here, is God still good? And I think the harder question for me actually is, will my life still be meaningful? Will I still have any joy in my life if this doesn't happen?” Then we spend some time talking about what it means to lament, what is lament, what she means by ‘grief visibility’ in the church and how we can do better serving those who are grieving within the space of corporate worship. Lastly, we talk about friendships after loss and what it looked like for her to navigate friendship and wisdom she has for those who are newly grieving navigating that aspect of life after loss. About this she says: “friendship has always been really important to me. I think through this, especially in the beginning and even a little now, it's been really hard for me to go from being the person who was always there for other people, to a person who desperately needed to rely on others.” Resources for Lament
THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF ELIANA GRACE. This episode is sponsored in honor of Eliana Grace. A message from Eliana’s mom: “Eliana, you are so loved. We miss you dearly and will always remember you. Love, Mom, Dad, Everly and Lou.” A special thank you to Kelsey Rebedew and Eliana's family for sponsoring this episode. We remember Eliana with you.
If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.
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| 24 Apr 2020 | How to Photograph Your Baby (& Why it's Important) When a Professional Photographer Can't Be There with Laura Foote | 00:59:44 | |
If your baby has been given a life-limiting diagnosis and you will deliver during this time of Covid-19 or you somehow miraculously found this episode as a mom who just got news that there is no heartbeat and will deliver a baby already born into heaven -- this episode is for you. If you are a nurse who works with labor and delivery this episode is for you too. Today I interview my friend Laura Foote. She is a full time professional photographer who also volunteers as a photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep is a non-profit organization that provides beautiful, professional photography for families who are experiencing or expecting the death of their baby. Laura voluntarily walks into hospital rooms where mamas are saying goodbye to their babies. She documents these moments, the details, tiny fingers and toes and desperate embraces. If you are listening and have not gone through the loss of a baby, this may sound incredibly strange -- who wants images of the worst, most tragic moment of your life -- and yet, while it is a tragic moment, photographs capture the life that was lived. A baby we love. A baby we will never forget. Images catch details we might forget. Details we want to remember but may become hazy over time. And while photographing a moment like this may feel impossible, even looking at the photographs may feel impossible for a time, having them is not something a grieving mom will ever regret. Unfortunately during this time of Covid-19 with restrictions and limitations placed on hospitals it is very likely that having a professional photographer with you when your baby is born will not be possible. And as a mom who has buried a baby, as a mom who has only a handful of photographs to remember him by, that feels devastating to me -- all you have when you leave the hospital are the photos and in a moment of such loss and such grief capturing images is most likely the furthest thing from your mind. So, in this episode I asked Laura to walk us through how to take photos of our baby even in an unthinkable moment and to make it is as simple as possible. She does that and more. Stay tuned to the end to hear the details about Laura is currently offering a service to professionally edit any photographs you take absolutely free. As a gift because she cares so deeply about you. Throughout the episode we discuss what tools you will need, what items you should bring with you to the hospital to photograph your baby, a few simple tips for getting better photos as well a list of images you will want to take. We have put all of this together in a pdf that you can download and take with you to the hospital so you don’t even have to think about it. When the time comes, ask one of your nurses if they might be able to help you with this list. You can find that resource in the show notes for this episode, simply head to themorning.com/episode076 --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning | |||
| 09 Jun 2022 | 166. Marriage After Stillbirth & How the 5 Love Languages Can Help with Author Candy McVicar | 01:09:41 | |
This week on the podcast I am honored to be talking with Candy McVicar, author, speaker, and devoted advocate for families who are grieving a baby or child. After experiencing the stillbirth of her daughter Grace, she founded and became Executive Director of Missing GRACE Foundation, whose mission is to provide support, resources, and education for families and professional care providers when there is loss of a baby, infertility, or adoption challenges.
Candy is joining us today to share her motherhood journey with us and also to talk about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby. Candy is the author of the book: Holding on to Love After You've Lost a Baby: The 5 Love Languages® for Grieving Parents and during our time together she explains what the 5 love languages are and how knowing them and implementing that knowledge into your marriage after loss can help you grieve with your spouse or partner, find healing and be stronger as a unit.
Candy not only shares her personal experience of navigating marriage after the loss of her baby, experience that will remind you that you are not alone in the difficulty of grieving with your spouse or partner but she also shares incredibly practical and helpful wisdom about how to grieve and grow together – I am sure it is going to bless you. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS
FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS For more resources about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby, check out our complete Resource Bundle. You can access that bundle instantly and all the marriage related resources including quick links to our favorite episodes about marriage and a date night idea list for when dating your spouse feels really hard. To get instant access to that bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle
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| 16 May 2023 | 11. Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose Miscarriage Still Matters | 00:04:53 | |
Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose Miscarriage Still Matters by Shareya Holm. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother. A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-whose-miscarriage-still-matters FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
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| 11 Mar 2021 | 112. Finding Answers & Hope After Recurring Miscarriage with Allison Schaaf | 00:53:29 | |
Today I am talking with Allison Schaaf, founder of Miscarriage Hopedesk -- a resource for women who are experiencing recurring pregnancy loss. Allison walked through many miscarriages with no real clear answers as to why this was happening and today we are talking about that journey. We talk about adoption and IVF and pregnancy after so much loss -- I ask her “how did you not give up hope?” Her answers to that question were really helpful and I think her daily mantra will be helpful to you if you are considering pregnancy after loss or are currently pregnant after loss. We talk about marriage amidst loss and after loss and I agreed wholeheartedly when she said “It isn’t talked about enough how difficult the fertility journey is on a marriage.” That’s why we’re here and we are talking about; because your marriage matters and we know how difficult it can be to navigate such an important relationship amidst pregnancy or infant loss. That’s why we created a free Date Night Idea Guide just for you. A resource to help you reconnect and give your hearts a break from the heavy and hard and intense moments of grief. Head to themorning.com/marriage, to download 29 date night ideas that will help you connect with your spouse or partner even in the midst of grief. During our time together Allison shares about what it looked like for her to advocate for herself and to find answers about why she was experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss. She gives a really practical tip for how to do that, to advocate for yourself, and even if you have not experienced recurrent pregnancy loss I think this tip will be really helpful for you and the way you interact with your doctors moving forward. And lastly as a registered dietician and chef Allison talks about the role food plays in our maternal health; her thoughts on this might surprise you and I think will offer you freedom in this area. I loved getting to talk with Allison about her journey and I am so grateful for the practical wisdom she offers in this interview -- to check out all the resources we chat about in this episode make sure to check out the show notes at themorning.com/episode112. I think it’s going to be really helpful to you. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE
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| 27 Nov 2023 | 211. 5 Ways to Love a Grieving Mom Through the Holidays | 00:22:49 | |
In this episode I’m sharing with you 5 simple ways to love a grieving mom through the holidays – 5 things to know about what it’s like to be a grieving mom during the holidays and how you can meet her in those things, showing up for her in very simple ways this holiday season. This episode is about simple acts of understanding, giving space, and simply showing up in the tender, challenging spaces of grief for the ones you love. I pray the words I share with you today offer you the encouragement you may have needed to reach out and show up for a grieving mom this season. I pray these words remind you that you don’t have to show up perfectly for it to matter so much.
> If you love a grieving mom, download the How to Love a Grieving Mom free guide: themorning.com/friendsandfamily > Gift Guide for Grieving Moms: www.themorning.com/giftguide WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox. FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCE LIBRARY: www.themorning.com/holidays
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| 12 Mar 2020 | 072 Returning to Work After Stillbirth with Michelle Gutierrez | 00:33:37 | |
Returning to normalcy and routine and responsibilities can be incredibly difficult after the loss of a baby, especially the responsibility of work. Having to face co-workers and bosses and having to complete tasks and perform even the smallest of jobs can be so hard for a grieving mom. Knowing how difficult the return to work can be, I have brought 4 women on the podcast to share their personal experience of going back to work after experiencing the loss of a baby, asking them questions about the challenges they faced and what advice they would give to a mom returning work. Make sure to tune in to each of those 4 interviews, episodes 71-74.
In today’s episode I am talking with Michelle Gutierrez about her experience returning to work as an accountant just 8 weeks after losing her son Evan. Michelle shares openly about the challenges she faced upon her return as well as the very practical steps she took to help with the transition of going back to work. And even if you are not returning to work I am sure you will be able to identify with Michelle when she talks about how returning to routine and normal made her feel guilty, like she was forgetting her son when she should just be grieving him. She shares honestly about how emotional those first few weeks were and how it’s ok to just cry if you need to. She shares about why going back to work was helpful, giving hope to those in that situation as well as what she would have done differently if she could do it over, giving practical advice for those listening who are preparing to go back to work.
If you are listening as a friend or coworker of someone who has lost a baby, Michelle offers very tangible wisdom for you as well about how to love and support a grieving mama who is heading back to work, when she answers the question “what would you say to your coworkers if they were listening in?”
Michelle is tender and gracious and I think this episode will leave all grieving mamas feeling known, understood and very hopeful. --- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning | |||
| 25 Mar 2021 | 114. Navigating Marriage & Faith After A Life-Limiting Diagnosis with Sarah Westfall | 01:11:10 | |
This week I am talking with Sarah Westfall about her son Carter and her experience with grief over the past 10 years. Carter was diagnosed with a prenatal life-limiting condition and during our time together she talks about what it was like to make the decision to continue carrying a baby that would not live long outside the womb, what she would tell a mom who has recently received a life-limiting diagnosis for her baby and what she wishes she had known about carrying and delivering a baby with a life-limiting diagnosis. Sarah also talks about navigating marriage over the past 10 years of life after loss and the two specific things that her and husband did to navigate the challenges that exist in a marriage after the loss of a baby. Sarah also shares candidly about her faith amidst her journey of loss and she talks about what it was like to be at a different place spiritually than her husband in the years following their son’s death. Sarah is really open in this interview about her faith journey and if you have ever asked questions like “Could God have healed my baby? If so, why didn’t he? Did he plan this? Could He have stopped it? Why didn’t He?” Sarah’s words are going to bring you a lot of comfort and hope. And if you are curious or interested about God, Sarah gives her thoughts on a good place to start on learning more. We cover so much in this episode about loss and grief and marriage and spirituality, I love that Sarah shares from a perspective of having walked this journey for many years now. She brings encouragement and reminders of hope as someone who has been there and knows. I think her words and insights are going to really be a blessing to you. EPISODE 114 SHOW NOTES MARRIAGE RESOURCES FAITH RESOURCES SUBMIT YOUR MOTHERHOOD STORY
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| 25 May 2023 | 202. 5 Ways to Honor Your Baby & Find Joy this Summer | 00:20:12 | |
As we head into summer I wanted to share with you 5 simple activities you could do this summer to honor your baby and bring you joy. SHOW NOTES for Printable Summer Joy Bucket List, Journal Prompts, & More
As we end this season of the podcast, I wanted to remind you of all the ways that you can find us and continue to find helpful and hopeful support as you navigate loss and grief.
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START HERE > Episode 200: 20 Episodes to bring you joy, hope & help.
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RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS If you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. | |||
| 15 May 2023 | 10. Letter to the Grieving Mom, 6 Months After Her Baby Died | 00:07:41 | |
Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom, 6 Months After Her Baby Died by Crystal Midlik. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother. A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-6-months-after-her-baby-died FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
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| 10 May 2023 | 07. Letter to the Grieving Mom Years After Her Baby Died | 00:07:47 | |
Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Years After Her Baby Died by Marisa Baese. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother. A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-years-after-her-baby-died For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday. THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF GREYSON & NATHAN BAGLEY. Greyson and Nathan Bagley. Greyson was born on October 4, 2012, and Nathan was born on March 6, 2014. A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church. We love you, Greyson and Nathan! We are eagerly waiting with Greyson and Nathan's family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember Greyson and Nathan with you. FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
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| 28 Apr 2022 | 160. This Mother's Day We Want You to Know... A message of hope from 11 mothers like you. | 00:17:55 | |
Listen into this very, very special episode, made up of 11 different women with different stories of loss, all sharing a message of hope for you as we prepare our hearts for Mother’s Day. Their words of encouragement and honesty are sure to remind you that you are not alone as they are words that come from a place of true knowing and understanding.
I am incredibly thankful to the women who so beautifully and courageously shared their stories and words of hope on this episode. Thank you to Amanda Gilmore, Amber Hanson, Halie Clark, Kara Mullen, Kayla Wasielewski, Kristyn Szala, Mary Margaret Powitz, Meg Walker, Melody Joseph, Nicole Gardner, and Olivia Mueller. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was my joy to listen and be encouraged by you. For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.
A safe space to celebrate, to grieve, and to honor your motherhood.
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| 13 Oct 2022 | 179. Hope & Healing After a Stillbirth (30 weeks) with Tori Underwood | 00:42:56 | |
This week on the podcast I am interviewing Tori Underwood. A mama to a precious daughter in heaven. Listen in as she shares her story of losing her daughter at 30 weeks with no real answers as to why – I know many of you will be able to relate to her story of being an invisible mother.
We discuss what it was like for Tori to pursue answers and solutions from her medical team to hopefully prevent a similar loss in the future, specifically as it related to her having a uterine septum. Tori shares with me the challenges she faced in taking care of herself after her daughter died, feeling like her body had failed her and made even the simplest things like eating feel impossible. She shares how she navigated that challenge and gives practical advice for anyone who may be facing a similar challenge.
We talk about how she has found healing, the role that therapy and specifically emdr therapy has had in that healing process and why it was important to her to finish her daughter’s nursery even though she would never use it. Tori shares with me what it looks like to mother her daughter in heaven, the practical, simple and beautiful ways she honors and remembers her today.
No matter what your story of loss is – Tori’s story, how she has found healing and the wisdom she has gained in this season will remind you that you are not alone.
QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO. 179
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| 15 Oct 2020 | 098 Infant Loss, Stillbirth, Hysterectomy & Hope After Loss with Erica McAfee | 00:55:46 | |
Listen in as I chat with Erica McAfee. Erica’s story of motherhood is incredibly difficult, she has experienced significant loss and yet she speaks with such hope and joy. Erica shares honestly about what someone who is new to this grief journey can expect, what she wishes she had known about grief and what misconceptions exist about life after loss. She also shares about the work she does for an organization she founded called Sisters in Loss, why she is passionate about doulas, what role they serve and why they are important. We also spend some time talking about the disparities that exist for women of color in regards to maternal health care -- she helps me understand how we can raise awareness about the staggering numbers that exist and what we can do to become advocates for these women. This episode is incredibly helpful and eye opening and full of so much hope as Erica finishes out our time together by saying “God has not forgotten you.” -- QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS
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| 19 Aug 2021 | 126. Birthdays, Anniversaries & Milestones After a Life-Limiting Diagnosis | 01:02:03 | |
Meg Walker joins me to talk about navigating milestones and important dates after the loss of a baby due to a life-limiting diagnosis. She shares with us what those milestone and important or difficult dates are for her. Specifically we spend some time talking about her son’s diagnosis day and what that looks like for her every year -- as Meg says “that’s the before and after for me -- the day everything changed.” Meg talks about what has surprised her about navigating those milestone days, how she plans for those days and how she cares for herself amidst the more difficult seasons in her calendar year and practically what those days look like for her. How she celebrates her son’s birthday, why she doesn’t sing happy birthday and how she grieves on the anniversary of his diagnosis. She also shares helpful wisdom about knowing when to include others and inviting them into these days. And as you heard at the beginning of this episode, my favorite part of this episode is when Meg reminded all of that no matter what we as grieving moms do, whether we plan elaborate events or cry in our bed or do nothing out of the ordinary at all on those milestone or important days, what we do or don’t do doesn’t take away from how important and meaningful our babies are. This conversation is honest and candid and very tender to both of us as you will hear -- we both share what we have learned over the past few years and how our view of milestone days have changed, mistakes we have made, false pressures we have put on ourselves, what still feels hard but also the beautiful moments we have experienced.
FREE GUIDE Last week, in episode 125, Erica McAfee talked about how she writes her son a letter on his birthday as a tangible way to mother him and celebrate him and also to grieve on that day. This was such practically helpful and tangible advice that I wanted you to be able to incorporate it into your milestones and important dates too. I created a writing guide for you that you can download and use on days that feel particularly important -- this is not just for birthdays but for any date where you want to intentionally spend time reflecting on your baby or processing your grief or simply to spend time tangibly mothering your baby. Download the guide here: www.themorning.com/letter
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