Kathy Hoelscher is an elected official as a Highway Commissioner for a Township. She is a wife, and her greatest joy is being a mom or mama as her daughter calls her. Kathy's path to be a mom was lengthy and full of struggles. She shared about experiencing a couple medical conditions and a miscarriage. She remembers going to the doctor and telling him, I'm pretty happy at this point with just resigning to the fact that I probably wasn't going to be a mother. Her husband on the other hand said "let's try to do everything we can to be parents, then if we can't, then we can't, but let's try it all".

She agreed and infertility treatment began. She eventually became pregnant with their first IVF transfer. She shared that they transferred the best 5 embryos and she was instructed to talk to those babies. With lots of prayer and support along the way one stuck and they have a beautiful daughter named Faith.

The journey was long and she didn't realize the pain of the miscarriage until someone said something and she said I started crying and I couldn't stop. I have never cried like that before. The pain of that miscarriage was different than even the pain from losing her dad.

Kathy's words of Encouragement and Hope: You have to put faith in God and keep as much of a positive attitude as you can. If you are not comfortable with your doctor or the office staff, there are others out there. It costs a lot, so go to an office where you are not a number.

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://calendly.com/teresa-reiniger/podcast-discovery-call

Jackie Duty shared that it was not her ambition to be a mother. She wanted a career and the glory of fame, one of the rich and famous. When she unexpectedly found out she was pregnant she shared that she wanted to have an abortion and her mom insisted that she not kill her grandchild. Shortly after the news of an unwanted pregnancy she had a miscarriage and was then told she was carrying twins. The second baby was still alive and was told it would have Down Syndrome. She described being completely broken and had thoughts of suicide. Being a believer and having many people praying for her and the baby, he was born happy and healthy.

Jackie did have a second miscarriage that she never told anyone about for a long time. The grief from her losses she pushed down and buried for decades. The healing began when she was at church one Sunday and felt the minister was talking directly to her and she vividly remembers more healing at a trip to Disney. Jackie knows now that when you bury grief it will resurface and it is very difficult to live a full life until that buried grief is released.

Jackie's words of encouragement and hope: In those moments when I was at my lowest, there was something that showed up to bring me hope. And I think that when anyone is at that point of giving up, feeling that there is nothing else I can do, when you are tired, weary and feeling so broken, remember about the Japanese art called Kintsugi. (Jackie gave a great description of this in the episode) Those things that are broken should never be discarded.

You have value, you may have been through situations that have brought brokenness, that has brought pain and it doesn't mean you are less valuable. You are merely on your journey to step into your purpose and the bad things that are happening are just a part of that journey. They will help you as you continue to move forward, as well as giving hope and inspiration to others.  Others may need to hear your story to bring them a moment of hope. 

Connect with Jackie: 

[email protected] or [email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/collinsvilledailynews,  https://www.instagram.com/collinsvilledailynews/, https://www.instagram.com/beyondcreativemarketingllc/, https://twitter.com/CDNOfficialNews, 

Read the Collinsville Daily News for local information and please send us your story to share with our readers

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://calendly.com/teresa-reiniger/podcast-discovery-call

Dr. Lindsey Langendorf is a chiropractor in the St. Louis area that specializes in Holistic fertility, prenatal, perinatal and postpartum care and pediatrics. Her journey to this specialty was definitely a crazy ride, and she has learned that God’s plan isn’t always a straight and easy path. However, she loves what she is doing and knows it’s what she was destined to do. In her practice she focuses on helping people grow their families and keeping them healthy.

Her program supports her patients in finding answers to avoid pregnancy or infant loss. She guides them at their pace to make some changes to improve their chances of getting pregnant and staying pregnant. She stated there is not a more motivated group of people than those trying to get pregnant. They are very open to gaining knowledge, understanding and information so they can become pregnant. The journey to a healthy pregnancy does involve both partners and she encourages them to become healthy and pregnant together.

She indicated that in her opinion it is a failure in our health system to not prepare women to have a healthy lifestyle that is manageable so they can have a better pregnancy, easier labor and delivery, and an easier recovery and postpartum.

Connect with Dr. Lindsey:

https://vitalperformance.life/

Instagram:  Vitalperformance.hw  Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/VPChiro/ 

Book a free consult: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/1ZqHWlYIt24va7aOWPxe

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://calendly.com/teresa-reiniger/podcast-discovery-call

Beth Frattura is founder of The Stork Foundation and it was founded due to her infertility journey. It is an organization that gives hope and opportunity to those suffering from infertility and fighting for their dream of parenthood. They provide financial assistance to low resource individuals who require costly medical infertility treatments that would otherwise be out of financial reach.

Infertility is not just a medical issue, but a fight for a dream. Even though it is recognized as a disease, there are only 13 states that have infertility insurance laws. 1 in 8 battle infertility and the wounds of infertility extend to hopeful and waiting grandparents, aunts, uncles. cousins and friends. The grants are not just treating a medical diagnosis, they are gifting the opportunity for all the experiences of over a lifetime of being a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle and the positive ripple effect is amazing. Beth said with giving sizable grants it turns a no into a yes to having the chance to be a parent.

The Stork Foundation has given out 13 grants thus far and will be accepting more applications September 1st - November 31st. Grants are used for Surrogacy, Donor Eggs, Donor Sperm, IUI or IVF. Visit the website for the application and all grant eligibility requirements.

https://www.storkfoundation.org/

Donation and Corporate Sponsorships https://www.storkfoundation.org/donate.html

Grant Application and requirements: https://www.storkfoundation.org/grants.html

Hope Necklace: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTExOTM1

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/storkfoundationforinfertility  Instagram: @storkfoundationforinfertility

email: [email protected]

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://calendly.com/teresa-reiniger/podcast-discovery-call

Theresa Lear Levine struggles as a successful mompreneur with trauma, ADHD and high functioning anxiety escalated into chaos, stuckness and self doubt and led her on a journey to regain inner peace, confidence and self love. She learned effective ways to get unstuck and release pain, self sabotage and unwanted feelings with processes that cultivated desired emotions and created a totally different outcome that previously seemed impossible to attain.  

Theresa shared about Emotional Freedom Technique (also known as EFT Tapping), and how it is the most gentle and effective way to work through grief. She shared that there is tons of science and studies behind this modality. Theresa said tapping can release anything you can feel and it is effective with physical pain, emotional pain, past traumas like grief and future anxiety and worries about things that may or may not even happen.   

Tapping is effective on past, present, future, physical, emotions, mental, and spiritual things. It's effective on all of those things which makes it a power house technique to understand and have in your tool box. This is definitely a great tool for those going through infertility and loss.

Email Theresa at [email protected] to receive the private session that we recorded after the show. Just put "Labor Pains" in the Subject line and she will send it to you asap!  

Connect with Theresa Lear Levine:

www.theresalearlevine.com  

www.theresasfreegift.com  

@theresalearlevine IG,   

FB Community Hub  https://www.facebook.com/groups/bmmweft.communityhub

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://calendly.com/teresa-reiniger/podcast-discovery-call

On this episode I shared some of the things I have learned from my guest over the past 99 episodes. There have been so many things that were not expected when I started this podcast over 2 years ago. I am so honored and humbled to be able to allow so many to share their journey, to feel the healing from sharing their story to help others.

I answer questions from Family, Friends and Past Podcast Guests. Here are just a few of the questions that were asked.

What inspired you to begin your journey to helping parents in the way you do?

How do you, personally, deal with the emotions associated with people being so raw and vulnerable?

How do you balance the reality of pain & grief, while still maintaining hope and positivity?

What is the best thing about the podcast that you didn't expect?

What is mom's greatest need after loss and how can you best help and support them?

What is the most rewarding thing you have learned from the podcast?

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: [email protected]

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

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

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

Lauren Turley said her, and her husband felt compelled to do something shortly after Catherine's life limiting diagnosis. She said when you are a bereaved parent you don't want anyone to forget your baby. We wanted people to know about her and for her life to mean something. Catherine Cares is where we channeled our grief.

Catherine Cares provides heartbeat bears, restaurant, fuel and grocery gift cards to families of babies who receive prenatal or newborn life-threatening diagnosis. We believe these small gestures centered on taking care of basic everyday needs help families in the midst of a difficult struggle. Catherine Cares provides services directly to hospitals, Maternal and Fetal Centers and doctor’s offices throughout the United States and Europe.

Heartbeat Bears, designed by Build-A-Bear Workshop and Catherine Cares, are provided to families of babies and children who receive a life-threatening diagnosis. Our bears come with a recording device within a pocket on the side of the bear. For babies, when a life threatening prenatal or newborn diagnosis is given, our hospital partners record the baby’s heartbeat on the device during an ultrasound. For older children, a sweet message, the sound of laughter or other comforting messages can be recorded to give the family hope and comfort through a difficult journey. Catherine Cares Heartbeat Bears are a cherished treasure for families.

Website: https://www.catherinecares.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatherineCares

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinecares/

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://calendly.com/teresa-reiniger/podcast-discovery-call

In this episode Lauren Turley shares her story about her daughter Catherine who is in heaven. At times she became very emotional remembering the hardest parts of their journey which started at the 20 week anatomy ultrasound. At that appointment she remembered it took a long time and then the sonographer said "The doctor is going to come in and we are going to take care of you. The doctor shared with us a very long list of what was wrong. Lauren said I just cried and was trying to figure out how I was going to take care of my 18 month old daughter when my heart is breaking? How am I going to be a good mom when my life has just stopped?

We went from figuring out a nursery and clothes to planning a funeral. It was very important to us to start sharing our story to help others right away. Their story has touched my heart just like every story I have heard and several moments and things that Lauren shared brought tears to my eyes. As a grief coach, I love hearing when there is joy and happiness that is found in such a very difficult and heart breaking story. When those things can be found and shared, healing is there. Lauren shared many sad and hard moments in their story and also many beautiful and joyful times. So I encourage you to be open to feeling the sadness and joy while listening to her share to support others.

Lauren's insight and encouragement: The biggest thing for caregivers or support people and the family to know is. It is OK and important to feel your feelings. There is no right or wrong way and you need to do what is best for you. Lauren said what works for me may not work for others and that is OK. There is no outline for how this works and that is probably what makes it so hard.

· Feel your feelings

· Give yourself permission to protect yourself and your family

· Do what is best for you and do not feel bad about that

· This is your time to take care of yourself and your family

· This is the beginning of a tough journey

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL teresa.livingaftergrief.com

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

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

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

Anita Doermann said it was like a stab to the heart when people asked if I had children. She shared about never having any biological children and suffering in silence while others shared about their pregnancies, deliveries and raising their children. For a long time she felt emptiness and disappointment in herself.

She said due to her infertility and other life experiences she did a lot of self discovery which has helped her to be a better listener and to share her experiences. It has given her strength and hope to not chastise others or make them feel belittled because we have all gone through good things and bad things. Hopefully what I and others have gone through, will strengthen us in whatever the next thing is in our lives.

Anita talked about the joy of becoming a mom at age 41 when she married her 2nd husband who had twin boys. It will bring tears to your eyes to hear her talk about her infant grandson which for many years she thought she would never have.

Anita's encouragement for you: I have not pursued this but I believe it could help to volunteer in a hospital or church to rock babies to fill that emptiness and close that gap a little. The pain can be great and I recognize that and respect it because I have been through it. There maybe a bigger plan and you may cross paths with someone that needs your help, love and support. Looking back most often gives us more clarity and the struggle is real when you are in it.

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL teresa.livingaftergrief.com

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

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

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

I am so very excited to have achieved the milestone of 2 years.  Being the host of Labor Pains Podcast has been both a humbling and educational experience this past year. As I reflect back, WOW I have met so many amazingly strong women and men over this past year that I will be in awe of for the rest of my life. As I talked about in this episode I have learned so much from all of my guest and those that have reached out for support this past year.

As I look forward to year 3, I will continue to have my guest share their stories due to the benefits it has proven to give to the guest and the listeners. There will be more episodes with guest experts to guide and help you the listeners and my clients in the many aspects of infertility and loss. Also, I will continue to share guidance and support to navigate the grief that is experienced with every infertility and loss journey.

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL teresa.livingaftergrief.com

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

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

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