Type of Loss: Stillbirth, Multiple Losses

More about Jade's Story: In this episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother, Jade Buckley shares the story of her children, Arlo and Emmie, and the profound losses her family has endured.

After welcoming her son Lucas in 2020, Jade and her partner decided to grow their family again, knowing pregnancy is physically challenging for her. Her pregnancy with Arlo was complicated, and at 37 weeks, Jade went to the hospital expecting monitoring and answers. Instead, she learned that Arlo no longer had a heartbeat. He was stillborn in February 2024 due to a true knot in his umbilical cord.

Still longing to add to their family, Jade became pregnant again with Emmie. During an 18-week appointment, Emmie’s heartbeat could not be found, and Jade later learned her daughter died of heart failure.

As one year comes to a close and another begins, this final episode of our holiday series offers space to reflect, breathe, and look forward with gentle hope. Together, we recap the moments, themes, and lessons of 2025—both the heavy and the meaningful—while creating space to acknowledge the continued presence of grief alongside growth.

We also look ahead to 2026 with intention, discussing how to carry our babies with us into a new year, set realistic expectations, and find grace for whatever comes. This episode is an invitation to reflect without pressure and to step forward with tenderness and courage.

Grief changes us—and often, it deepens our compassion in ways we never expected. In this episode, we explore intentional acts of kindness as a way to honor our babies and their legacy. Whether it’s paying it forward, serving another grieving family, volunteering, donating in your child’s name, or simply showing up for someone who is hurting, these acts become living tributes to the love we carry.

Together, we reflect on how kindness can be healing, how it connects us to purpose, and how our babies continue to make an impact through our hearts and hands.

Rituals create rhythm, grounding, and special space for remembrance—especially in seasons filled with memory and emotion. In this episode of our holiday series, we talk about what rituals can look like after loss and how families can thoughtfully incorporate them into everyday life and holiday traditions.

From lighting candles and saying names out loud to annual acts of remembrance and quiet moments of reflection, we explore how ritual doesn’t have to be elaborate to be powerful. Join us as we discuss how these sacred practices can help us grieve, remember, and continue carrying our babies with us in intentional ways.

The holidays can make loss feel even heavier—especially when the absence is so deeply felt. In this special holiday series kickoff, we explore the power of physical remembrance and the many ways grieving parents and families honor their babies during this season and beyond. From memory boxes and ornaments to tattoos, journals, and sacred spaces in the home, this episode invites you to reflect on how tangible reminders can hold love, legacy, and connection. Whether you’re just beginning your grief journey or years into it, this conversation offers gentle ideas and heartfelt encouragement to honor your baby in ways that feel meaningful to you.

In this fun and relaxed episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother, Julie, Tracy, and Falon step away from the heavy topics and invite listeners into a lighthearted “get to know us” conversation.

From favorite snacks to go-to activities and small joys that brighten their days, this episode gives you a chance to hear the voices behind the mic in a more personal way. It’s an opportunity to laugh with us, learn something new, and feel a little more connected to the women who show up each week to hold space for grieving families.

Whether you’re a longtime listener or tuning in for the first time, this episode offers a sweet glimpse into who we are beyond our roles and our stories. Grab a snack of your own and join us for something a little lighter.

Type of loss: Twin loss, TTTS Stage 4

More about this episode: In this episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother, we talk with Rachel Badalamenti as she shares the incredible, emotional, and deeply complex journey that brought her both her sons...Dean and Robbie.

After years of infertility, multiple failed IUIs and IVF cycles, and finally finding the right doctor, Rachel learned she was pregnant with twins. What began as overwhelming joy quickly shifted when, at 23 weeks, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). Despite the fear and uncertainty, Rachel and her husband chose laser surgery in hopes of saving both babies.

When Rachel woke from surgery, she learned that her son Dean had passed away due to heart failure. She carried him with his brother, Robbie, all the way to 35 weeks, a gift she calls nothing short of a miracle. On Easter Sunday, Rachel delivered both of her boys, holding the heartbreak of losing Dean alongside the profound gratitude of welcoming her surviving son, Robbie.

Rachel opens up about the grief that resurfaces as Robbie reaches milestones, the strength she found through hope, and the vulnerability she brings in sharing both her love and her loss. Her story is a powerful reminder that no parent walks this journey alone.

Type of Loss: Stillbirth

More about Maggie & Dave's Story:In this episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother, Maggie and Dave Geier share the heartbreaking story of their daughter, Hannah Marie.

After a long journey through infertility and surgeries to restore Maggie’s ability to carry a pregnancy, the couple was overjoyed to be expecting their second child. But at just over 17 weeks, Maggie’s water unexpectedly broke, and their world changed in an instant. Despite their prayers and the small hope that Hannah might survive, Maggie went into labor the following day and delivered their precious daughter.

Maggie opens up about the trauma of her medical experiences, the compassion and challenges they faced in the hospital, and the deep ache of leaving the hospital without their baby. Together, she and Dave share how they’re navigating the grief that comes after such a devastating and complex loss.

Type of Loss: Stillbirth, Life-limiting diagnosis, Multiple losses

More about Michael Ann's story: In this episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother, we talk with Michael Ann Thomas as she shares the story of her daughter, Amelia.

After experiencing an early miscarriage, Michael Ann and her husband were thrilled to be expecting their baby girl. Everything appeared normal until their 20-week anatomy scan revealed anomalies consistent with a lethal form of skeletal dysplasia. Amelia’s diagnosis meant her chest and limbs were too small to support life outside the womb. At 21 weeks and 5 days, Michael Ann was induced and surrounded by family as they welcomed and said goodbye to their daughter.

Michael Ann also reflects on her ongoing journey, now pregnant with a healthy baby boy, and the complex emotions of carrying new life while holding space for grief. Her story is one of love, loss, and the courage to find hope again.

For the month of October, in honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, we will be sharing special interviews with Pamela Presler, LCSW, CPLC.

In this episode, Pam shares an interesting phrase with us 𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚. She shares what it is and how you can have Grief Confidence.