Finding Hope After Loss | Hope in Infertility and Pregnancy Loss

In this deeply emotional episode, Shannon and Andrew share their powerful story of grief, love, and unwavering resilience as they open up about twin loss, NICU trauma, multiple miscarriages, and welcoming their rainbow baby after profound heartbreak. Their journey began with long-awaited joy when Clomid finally led to a pregnancy with twins—Lucas and Sophia—but early ultrasounds revealed complications for Baby A. Despite countless high-risk appointments, Lucas passed away in utero before 31 weeks, leaving Shannon to deliver both babies: Lucas, born still, and Sophia, born premature and immediately admitted to the NICU.

The couple speaks openly about the raw intensity of grief and loss—holding Lucas in their arms for the first and last time, memorizing every feature, and navigating the impossible shift from saying goodbye to fighting for Sophia’s survival. They describe the emotional whiplash of making funeral decisions while being told their daughter was stable “for now,” and how this trauma deeply affected their mental health.

Shannon and Andrew also reflect on how families often struggle to understand the depth of loss parents’ grief, unintentionally overlooking Lucas. They share the painful but beautiful ways they keep his memory alive through traditions, photos, and educating their living children about their brother.

Their story continues through multiple miscarriages that followed Sophia’s birth—each one reopening wounds and forcing them to confront the long, complicated process of healing after miscarriage. Shannon describes the fear and anxiety of pregnancy after loss, the triggers in every appointment, and the slow, fragile rebuilding of hope. She explains how healing after miscarriage requires emotional support, time, compassion, and community, and how she had to learn to trust her body again after so much pregnancy loss.

Even during her successful pregnancy with Athena, their rainbow baby, Shannon carried the weight of trauma and the constant fear of history repeating itself. Their experience shows how healing after miscarriage and stillbirth is nonlinear and lifelong. They remind listeners that life after loss is not about “getting over it,” but about carrying your child with you in every step forward.

This episode is a testament to the resilience of loss parents, the courage required when coping with loss, and the delicate balance of holding grief in one hand and joy in the other. Their honesty offers comfort to loss moms and families seeking grief and healing, resources for support, and reassurance that they are not alone.

For anyone navigating grief and loss, baby loss, miscarriage, NICU trauma, pregnancy after loss, or the search for life after loss, Shannon and Andrew’s story provides compassion, connection, and profound hope.

In this episode of the Finding Hope After Loss show, part of a compassionate infertility podcast for grieving parents, Hayley opens up about years of infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and the heartbreak of saying goodbye to her daughter, Skylar Hope, who was stillborn at 20 weeks. She shares the highs of positive pregnancy tests after ivf and infertility treatment and the crushing lows of missed miscarriages at Christmas, losses tied to important dates, and finally the devastation of stillbirth. Through her words, you’re invited into the very real emotional and physical toll that ivf and infertility can take on your body, your relationships, and your mental health.

Hayley talks about being diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome after her daughter’s death and how deeply she wishes her concerns had been taken seriously sooner. Her story is a powerful reminder to advocate for yourself, ask questions, and keep pushing when something doesn’t feel right. We discuss what infertility support has looked like for her—from kind midwives who honored Skylar’s short life, to therapy, to the online baby loss community that rallied around her. This episode offers a raw, honest look at what it’s like to keep going when coping with infertility and repeated pregnancy loss feels like too much.

We also talk about everyday life after loss as a nanny caring for other people’s children, the complicated emotions that come with birthdays, milestones, and triggers, and how grief shows up in ordinary moments. Hayley shares how writing letters to Skylar, fundraising for cooling cots, and planning a skydive on her first birthday have become part of her ongoing journey through loss. Her story shows that healing after miscarriage and stillbirth isn’t about “moving on,” but about learning to live for and with your baby in a world that doesn’t always understand.

If you’re looking for gentle infertility support, a space where loss parents are seen and believed, and real talk about the realities of ivf and infertility, this conversation is for you. Whether you’re in the middle of your own journey through loss, navigating healing after miscarriage, or simply searching for an infertility podcast that doesn’t shy away from the hard parts, we hope Hayley’s story helps you feel less alone and more understood.

In this episode, Courtney shares her journey through infertility, four IUIs, and welcoming twins born at 29 weeks who spent time in the NICU. She later faced a miscarriage at 10 weeks due to chromosomal issues. Courtney opens up about grief, perinatal mental health, postpartum anxiety, and the isolation that often follows pregnancy loss.

In this episode, Amy Joy, founder of Sync Botanicals, shares how her herbal tea blends are designed to support women’s cycles, balance hormones, and promote overall health and wellness. She explains the benefits of syncing your cycle with the moon, how herbs can help regulate irregular cycles, and why understanding our hormonal changes is so vital for women’s health.

Amy also talks about the emotional and physical challenges women face when cycles, hormones, and energy are dismissed or misunderstood, and why it’s important to create holistic tools that honor these shifts instead of ignoring them.

From fertility and pregnancy to postpartum recovery and mental health, Amy emphasizes that our cycles touch every part of life.

In this episode, Elle shares her journey through infertility,PCOS, and a triplet pregnancy after fertility treatment. She talks about the heartbreaking neonatal loss of all three of her children due to pregnancy complications, premature birth, and NICU struggles.

Ashley shares her journey through IVF, and the child loss of her son, Luke, due to unexpected heart surgery complications. She also opens up about grief, mental health, parenting after loss, and how her organization, Luke’s Purpose, supports other loss families. Ashley reflects on life after loss, the importance of a strong support system, and finding joy and resilience while coping with loss.

Licensed therapists Mahaley Patel and Emily Souder share their personal and professional insights on NICU trauma, infant loss, and healing through writing and storytelling. Learn about their upcoming book Your NICU Story and how it helps families process grief and trauma after the NICU experience.

In this episode, Karen shares her journey through recurrent miscarriage and infertility, shedding light on the challenges posed by a hidden blood clotting disorder. She candidly discusses the emotional toll of baby loss and the importance of self-advocacy in navigating fertility care. Discover how art and writing have been vital in her process of grief and healing.

In this episode, Texas State Representative Mihaela Plesa joins us to discuss House Bill 37 – Everly’s Law, a groundbreaking step in baby loss legislation. Named in honor of Everly, this law ensures trauma-informed bereavement care in Texas maternity wards, giving grieving families the respect and dignity they deserve. We talk about how this bill became law, the personal stories behind it, and why Texas is the first state to launch a statewide bereavement grant program.

In this episode, Jocelyn opens up about her journey through seven pregnancies, including a missed miscarriage, twin loss, chemical pregnancy, blighted ovum, and secondary infertility. After welcoming her son in 2021, she faced the challenges of four back-to-back losses and was informed that IVF would be her only path forward—until a miracle natural pregnancy reignited her hope. Jocelyn shares how she supports other loss moms through online communities, local support meetings, and photography giveaways, all while navigating her own grief and experiences of pregnancy after loss. We talk openly about miscarriage, infertility, grief, and the emotional toll of working in a field that celebrates life amidst private mourning. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that you are not alone—and that hope can prevail even after unimaginable grief.