Navigating Baby Loss

119: When IVF Doesn’t Work: Grieving the Loss of Hope


Listen Later

Send Jen a Text Message

There are many ways to lose a baby, and today’s guest Sarah Osborne shares a rarely-talked-about story of IVF loss—and what it was like to go from a mom of three teenagers to deciding to start over again. As a seasoned doula with years of experience supporting others through pregnancy, birth, and loss, Sarah found herself on the other side of the story when her own fertility journey didn’t go as planned.

In this honest and emotional episode, Sarah and I talk about what happens when you follow your heart, take a leap of faith, and still don’t get the outcome you hoped for. From IVF shots and hormone chaos, to grief, healing, and the unexpected way our work and purpose can shift after loss, this is a powerful conversation for anyone who's experienced disappointment, hope, and heartbreak all wrapped up together.

You’ll hear how Sarah coped with the grief of losing her only embryo, how she found meaning even without a baby in her arms, and how she continues to show up in the birth space with compassion and resilience.

Whether you’ve experienced IVF loss, pregnancy loss, or any other dream-that-didn’t-happen kind of heartbreak—this one will speak to your soul.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • How it feels to go through IVF after a full family and a vasectomy reversal
  • The reality of having "just one" embryo and the pressure that puts on hope
  • Why IVF loss is often overlooked—and why it still counts as real grief
  • How Sarah held space for her own heartbreak while still supporting others in birth
  • Why grief doesn’t always make you quit—and how it can actually deepen your purpose
  • The unexpected ways her children and marriage were impacted by the journey
  • The difference between a doula and a midwife
  • What Sarah wishes more people knew about doulas and pregnancy loss

Resources & Links:

  • Find Sarah at: https://www.instagram.com/theexpertdoula
  • Birth Collective PNW: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthcollectivepnw

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

  • Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
  • Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
  • Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
  • You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA



...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Navigating Baby LossBy Jennifer Senn

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

18 ratings


More shows like Navigating Baby Loss

View all
Still A Part of Us by Winter Redd and Lee Redd

Still A Part of Us

66 Listeners

The Cosmic Womb with Emily the Medium by Emily Greene

The Cosmic Womb with Emily the Medium

96 Listeners