Cradled in Hope | Podcast for Grieving Moms | Biblical Hope for Miscarriage, Stillbirth, & Infant Loss

Join us for a conversation with Amy Balentine about her story of receiving a life-limiting diagnosis for her son, Simon. Amy shares her journey of walking through Simon's pregnancy and the seven days he lived on earth before going to Heaven.

After grieving Simon's death, Amy and her husband also lost three other babies early in pregnancy. Amy discusses with Ashley how this shaped her faith journey and why she has chosen to look for blessings in the middle of her suffering. She encourages grieving moms to lean on Jesus in the darkness of grief.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Navigating a life-limiting diagnosis in pregnancy 
• How to handle people who encourage you to "end the suffering"
• Choosing life and letting the Lord decide when Simon would pass away
• Why it's important to trust God to lead and carry you through this difficult season
• The difference between miracles and tragedies
• Finding blessings in the midst of suffering
• How to surrender control and choose our reactions to unwanted circumstances
• Faith statements and how we can teach our heart to feel what our brain knows to be true: "God is good even when my baby dies."
• How to handle lonely, dark nights filled with worry when carrying a baby who is expected to pass away 
• Celebrating your baby's life even when you're sad
• Ways to connect with and cherish your baby in your pregnancy
• Amy's ministry You Made Me Mom and the importance of hospitality in pregnancy loss support groups

Guest Info | Amy Balentine
Amy is the founder of You Made Me Mom, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports grieving mothers.
www.youmadememom.com

EPISODE SHOW NOTES, FULL TRANSCRIPT, & FREE PDF HOPE GUIDE:
www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode4

CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast

CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope

FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles
www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles
www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles

CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
www.ashleyopliger.com
www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger
www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

Join us for a conversation with Sarah Philpott, author of Loved Baby, about how to navigate the painful journey of grief after pregnancy loss. Sarah shares her story of growing up as a rainbow baby herself and then experiencing multiple miscarriages while trying to grow her own family. 

Living a life acquainted with loss, Sarah discusses with Ashley how she grieved with hope and found joy in the perfection of Heaven. She encourages grieving moms to embrace Christ and use their spiritual gifts to shine His light after pregnancy loss.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Why you shouldn't feel guilty for grieving losses early in pregnancy
• Practical ways to navigate triggers such as baby registry emails in your inbox, formula packets coming in the mail, and invitations to baby showers
• How to protect your heart while you're grieving by putting up boundaries with social media and friends or family who are pregnant
• Breakdowns in marriage after loss and how to reconnect with your spouse
• Why our spouse cannot be our source of healing and how to rely on Christ instead (and give our spouses grace in the process)
• How to choose faith over fear when trying to conceive again
• Honoring our babies and our Father in Heaven by rejoicing in our suffering, shining the light of Jesus, and being sanctified to be more like Him
• Sarah's healing process of writing Loved Baby and how God used her spiritual gifts to comfort other grieving moms

Guest Info | Sarah Philpott
Sarah is the author of Loved Baby: 31 Devotions Helping You Grieve and Cherish Your Child After Pregnancy Loss.
www.allamericanmom.net

EPISODE SHOW NOTES, FULL TRANSCRIPT, & FREE PDF HOPE GUIDE:
www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode3

CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast

CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope

FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles
www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles
www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles

CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
www.ashleyopliger.com
www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger
www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

Join us for a conversation with Alisha Illian about how to find peace after miscarriage. Alisha shares her story of finding out that her second baby had no heartbeat while she was all alone at a routine doctor's appointment. 

Blindsighted by grief, Alisha discusses with Ashley how she learned to rely on God and surrender her plans for her life. She encourages grieving moms to stay in Scripture and fixate on Jesus in order to find peace after pregnancy loss.

In this episode, we discussed:

• How God stretches us when life doesn't go as planned so that we can learn to depend on Him
• Why are we not talking about pregnancy loss more?
• Feelings of guilt after losing a baby 
• How God gave us a motherly instinct to bond with our baby right from the start
• Why nothing can satisfy or comfort us like God can
• Learning to surrender control and not depend on our own adequacy
• Scripture memory and why it's a powerful healing tool during grief
• The perfection of Jesus and how amazing Heaven will be with Him and our babies for all of eternity
• The fact that our babies didn't have to suffer on earth
• How hustle culture and staying busy can negatively impact our grief
• Why it's important to get in our Bibles and read Truth
• Alisha's ministry Women (re)Purposed and her book Chasing Perfect and how they can help you grow closer to God in grief

Guest Info | Alisha Illian
Alisha is the founder of Women (re)Purposed, the author of Chasing Perfect, and an avid teacher and student of the Bible.
www.womenrepurposed.com

EPISODE SHOW NOTES, FULL TRANSCRIPT, & FREE PDF HOPE GUIDE:
www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode2

CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast

CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope

FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles
www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles
www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles

CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
www.ashleyopliger.com
www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger
www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

This first episode is an opening message from our Founder and Bridget's mom, Ashley Opliger. Ashley shares her heart behind starting the Cradled in Hope podcast and welcomes grieving moms to this sacred space.

She reads the first chapter of the book she is writing which is also titled Cradled in Hope. This chapter is a letter to grieving moms letting them know they are loved and not alone in their grief. Ashley welcomes brokenhearted moms to meet her in spirit at the blue barn building that Bridget's Cradles calls their headquarters. Here, she wants to sit in your sadness with you and hear your baby's story. Together, we will find hope and healing through faith in Jesus.

This is the heart behind the podcast, and we pray this first episode points you to our hope in Jesus! We have many more wonderful episodes to come, so we hope you'll sign up for updates and stay awhile. Come as you are. Your grief is welcome here. Though we may grieve, we do not grieve without hope. Welcome to Cradled in Hope!

EPISODE SHOW NOTES, FULL TRANSCRIPT, & FREE PDF HOPE GUIDE:
www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode1

CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast

CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope

FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles
www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles
www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles

CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
www.ashleyopliger.com
www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger
www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles