Aspen Wood remembers wanting to be a mom from a very young age. She was told as a teenager that it was unlikely that she would ever become pregnant due to scar tissue left from being sexually abused at a very young age. During her teenage years she was admitted to the hospital due to a suicide attempt and later went through a program to help her work through the sexual abuse trauma.

Things you will learn about in this episode:

Aspen used breast milk to create a keepsake for herself to remember her breastfeeding journey and shared how she is creating keepsake jewelry for others.

"Take it one minute at a time, don't take it a day at a time, or an hour at a time. For months, take it a minute at a time and tell yourself, okay I got through that. That is the way I made it through my hardest days because if I thought okay tomorrow will be better, then the day just drug on so long and it was just so much harder. So if you just say a minute at a time, you can do a minute." ~~ Aspen Wood

Little Milky Way Creations

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complementary time to talk: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/grief-discovery-call 

Podcast Guest:                         https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/podcast-interview-call

Carissa Hess and her husband discovered after not getting pregnant on their own, that they had both female and male infertility factors. Carissa's doctor told her that she had a greater chance of getting mauled by a bear, being struke by lightning, and winning the lottery all on the same day, then getting pregnant on their own. This was hard news to hear and with this news they did not follow the "normal" infertility steps to become pregnant.

Inside this episode you will learn:

"I wish I had been open about my emotions, especially with my spouse earlier. We were protecting each other. Pre-conversations about how each of us handle emotions would have been helpful." ~~ Carissa Hess

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complementary time

 Podcast Guest:  https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/podcast-interview-call

Traci Daniels struggled with abnormal female cycles for years, bleeding for over one hundred days at times. She would take birth control and had several D&C's to help with the bleeding. After marrying, she took fertility drugs in hopes to become pregnant with no success. She wanted to be a mom. Her and her husband talked about adoption and surrogacy, they had agreed that they would only proceed if both were 100% sure. They never got there. Being a woman of strong faith, Traci said multiple times that she believes that everything that happens is for her good.

Inside this episode you will learn:

I can not begin to explain here how a DNA Genetic test can show that a woman was pregnant and unaware of it. Listen to this entire episode to hear most probably, something you have NEVER heard of before.

"My story is not just for me, it is for other women who might be going through the same thing and are seeking answers." ~~ Traci Daniels

EMAIL: teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complementary time to talk: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/grief-discovery-call

 Podcast Guest:  https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/podcast-interview-call

It is so important to give yourself grace and space as you navigate both Bereaved Mother's Day and Mother's Day whether you have lost a child or lost your mom. As these days become closer, can you feel your emotional state changing? Is your mind wondering? Are you feeling some anxiety and maybe worried?

It's your day to remember, celebrate and honor your child, your mother and most importantly yourself.

Inside this episode you will hear 4 tips to navigate both Mother's Days:

During this episode I read a beautiful Poem titled; This is Motherhood, too

Here is a few lines from the poem written by Meg Walker

And you aren’t alone.

Your story matters.

You’re a mother.

Revel in the Master Gardener’s nurture

Embrace the storms and beauty.

Look around at this garden and find your place here,

Among the flowers

And stand tall.

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complementary time

Terry Kitzmiller was told due to a birth defect she may not be able to carry a pregnancy to full term. After experiencing several traumatic miscarriages and almost losing her life, the decision was made to not try again. Terry became focused on her career. The miscarriages and the loss of never having children would surface in many ways for years. Until it surfaced, big time in a class. During this class she learned tools and new strategies to work through the losses she experienced.

Inside this episode you will learn how Terry:

"What you choose in this moment isn't your choice forever. Don't second guess yourself and give yourself grace to heal. You are not defined by your choice. Surround yourself with positivity and take time to sit in your grief." ~~ Terry Kitzmiller

EMAIL: teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complementary time

Betty Mertens is a speaker, author, and co-founder of the non-profit Ella's Umbrella. She is mother to three children. Her oldest daughter, Ella passed away at the age of one in 2017 due to an undiagnosed heart defect. After her tragedy, she and her husband Kyle realized that they had a unique ability to support others through grief. Since then, they have taken what they learned from their experience and using it to help others. Betty has a B.A. in Communications and a Master of Organization Leadership from the University of Northwestern, MN, and an M.B.A. from the University of MO – St. Louis. She currently works in Marketing.

Her and her husband's vision with Ella's Umbrella is to provide knowledge, resources and tools that will help save other children's lives, and bring hope and healing to their families.

Inside this episode you will learn:

Ella's Umbrella Nonprofit Support Pillars:

" When you look at all the miles you've traveled, may you never forget the brokenness that has given you strength. And perhaps above all, we hope you may truly be able to appreciate the beauty in the threads of gold that hold all the pieces together." ~~ Betty Mertens

Adult book on grief called Unraveled: When Loss Changes Everything:

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Far-Apart-Betty-Mertens/dp/B0BXN99X3M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NMEJUG2135TI&keywords=Never+far+apart&qid=1679939937&sprefix=never+far%2Caps%2C454&sr=8-1Connect with Betty:

Connect with Betty:

Facebook: @kyleandbettymertens Instagram: @kyleandbetty Linkedin: @kyle-and-betty-mertens

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complementary time

Betty Mertens is mother to three children. Her oldest daughter, Ella passed away at the age of one in 2017 due to an undiagnosed heart defect. As you can only imagine this experience changed the course of their lives completely. After being told that this type of tragedy rips marriages apart. Betty said, "I hope our daughter's legacy doesn't rip us apart so we are going to figure this out."

Inside this episode you will learn:

She and her husband Kyle realized that they had a unique ability to support others through grief. Since then, they have taken what they learned from their experience and are using it to help others.

"I would encourage others to write things down and know that when you're walking through something awful, it is sort of equipping you to show up for other people down the road. If that's the only Silver Lining you can find from it, count it. The reality is you're going through something which has now expanded your frame of reference." ~~ Betty Mertens

**Betty and I will continue our conversation in the next episode. We will talk more about her being a speaker, author, and co-founder of the non-profit Ella's Umbrella. 

Connect with Betty:

Facebook: @kyleandbettymertens Instagram: @kyleandbetty Linkedin: @kyle-and-betty-mertens

EMAIL: teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complementary time

David and Victoria talked and planned to have a family. Less than a year after they were married, Victoria started to have some weird illnesses. After lots of tests they found that it was all related to a weak heart valve that she was born with. She went through antibiotic therapy for the infections and thought she was in the clear. Open heart surgery was performed in November 2020.

They were then told, due to the strain on her heart, the mechanic heart valve, and the medication she was taking to keep the valve functioning, pregnancy was not an option for them.

Inside this episode, you will learn:

David and Victoria talked about meeting the gestational carrier in person the day before transfer day and I could feel the emotion in their voices. And gave several amazingly thoughtful things that she has done for them. David and Victoria's little girl is due in July of 2023.

"Throughout the process I realized that it's not going to become normalized and more mainstream in less people like myself talk about it." ~~ Victoria Schmoll

"The one thing that we have to keep reminding ourselves is, that there are a lot of things that we are missing and we look at some of the positives and one of those is that we knew that we were having a girl three weeks in when most people don't even know they’re pregnant." ~~ David Schmoll

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complementary time

Jenn Cobbel and her husband, a US Navy Seabees, struggled with secondary infertility. They had testing done which found nothing and three rounds of clomid. The military coverage of infertility treatment is very limited. After trying for 6 years, they decided to get rid of all the baby things, after saving them for 11 years.

Jenn had decided to start focusing on herself. She was ready to go in for breast reduction surgery when the surgeon informed her the surgery would be cancelled due to her being pregnant. SURPRISE!!

Secondary infertility plus military life topics:

·        After six years we were at peace with not having more children

·        We wanted our parents to have more grandchildren

·        Behind closed doors there was anger

·        Questioning WHY

·       Military life made it more difficult.

“Let yourself have hard days, if not it is like dropping a Mentos in a bottle of diet coke when you release the anger.

Let yourself have the bad days.” ~~ Jenn Cobbel

EMAIL: teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complementary time

Nick and Sabrina Kohlberg were told at their 20-week anatomy scan that their daughter Collins had anencephaly. This condition is not compatible with life. They were given a couple weeks to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy or continue with the expectation that she could pass at any time. They were told if she made it to delivery, she could live a few minutes or a few hours. Sabrina said, " I could not make the decision to terminate her life, so we put it in God's hands, and we hoped to get some time with our daughter alive.

Nick & Sabrina Shared about:

·      The next 4 months of pregnancy

·      Strangers asked if it was a boy or girl?

·      Co-workers that would just sit and cry with Sabrina.

·      The high-risk doctors support.

·      The amazing 11 hours that Collins lived and the 2 days they were able to spend with her.

·      Creating memories, mementos and ways to honor Collins life.

“Don't worry about making others uncomfortable when talking about your child. This is your life, and your child deserves to be talked about. Don't be scared to mention your baby.” ~~ Nick

“I learned that grief could look very different even with spouses. We both lost Collins and the path we went through was very different.” ~~ Sabrina

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL [email protected] or teresa.livingaftergrief.com

Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/.womenconnectsupport/⁠. and ⁠https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/⁠.

Instagram: @womenconnectandsupport or @livingaftergrief

Website: ⁠www.livingaftergrief.com⁠

click and schedule a time to talk: ⁠https://calendly.com/teresa-reiniger/podcast-discovery-call