Returning after sharing her recurrent pregnancy loss journey with us in episode 83, Xenia shares pregnancy after loss and the emotional and physical complications of that pregnancy.

The Miscarriage Doula is an online service and resource for people who are navigating pregnancy loss. Learn more at themiscarriagedoula.co

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Since we last spoke with her, she worked on processing her recurrent pregnancy loss experience and took a break from trying to conceive. She also named the two babies and purchased tangible artwork to hang in her home.

Other life events that have happened; moving, trouble with her job, in the UK the government now issues certificates for losses before 20 weeks (they previously didn’t).

In the Summer, she learned that she was pregnant again and was visiting her family in Eastern Europe where she had access to early pregnancy care. She had to go on a diabetic diet early in the first trimester, and watched her thyroid, as well as adding in a blood thinner due to a blood clotting concern.

Around 11 weeks, she woke up covered in blood which was triggering so she called an ambulance to take her to the emergency room. A male OB immediately says that it’s a miscarriage but an ultrasound (and other care in the hospital) confirms that the baby has a heartbeat but they see a large bleed. She’s then admitted to the hospital for care.

In the hospital, she learned that she had a low-lying placenta which was causing the bleeding and the hope was the placenta would move up as she progressed in her pregnancy. She had to stay at her parent’s house (hours and hours of flights away) for many weeks without her husband.

The rest of pregnancy was mostly smooth sailing and her baby (a boy!) was breech. Her birth was a planned/scheduled cesarean and her son is 8 months old at the time of recording.

In this episode, Andrea details her fertility experiences with pregnancy loss, living children, and the loss of her son during the second trimester that was unexpected and traumatic. Thank you, Andrea for talking about second trimester loss so openly and for discussing saline baths!

Some helpful books have been:

- Just be Honest : Clint Watkins 

- Dark cloud deep mercy :  Mark Vroegop 

- Grieving the child I never knew : Kathe Wunnenberg

- Holding on to love after you’ve lost a baby : Gary Chapman and Candy McVicar 

- Chasing light : Stephanie Tong

- Sunlight in December : Kristin Hernandez 

BLOG POST ON SALINE BATH : https://cafemom.com/news/miscarriage-photography-salt-water-bath-underwater-phot?pubdate=1637587380000&utm_content=beingamom_fbpage&utm_term=new&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=sm

RESOURCE - HOPE MOMMIES : https://hopemommies.org/hope-boxes

Natori join Arden on the Miscarriage Stories Podcast to discuss her pregnancy experience and how traumatic miscarriage can be no matter how "early" in pregnancy you are.

We discuss a difficult encounter with medical staff, things that have helped her cope and grieve, taking time off work after loss, and so much more.

Do you want to share your story? https://TheMiscarriageDoula.as.me/?appointmentType=63230129

Interested in the services of The Miscarriage Doula? Learn more at her website: themiscarriagedoula.co

During this episode of Miscarriage Stories, Denise shares her personal experience with losing her son after passing 12 weeks, which is when she felt safe enough to share the news with family and friends.

This conversation is heavy on discussing what birth looks like in loss and is a vulnerable account of grief, trauma, and the stressors that come up when moving forward.

Plus, we discuss pregnancy after loss and Denise and I had a lot of the same fears and experiences so I know I related to her big time.

Do you want to share your story? https://TheMiscarriageDoula.as.me/?appointmentType=63230129

Interested in the services of The Miscarriage Doula? Learn more at her website: themiscarriagedoula.co

Meaghan joins Arden today to share her experience with pregnancy and loss. River is a child that was wanted and loved from the moment they existed which made their loss all the more devastating for Meaghan and her husband, Tom.

We discuss her experience giving birth at home and the trauma that it brought to her and her partner and how unprepared we often are for pregnancy loss in general.

This conversation is heavy on the experience of miscarriage at home and medical care along with grief, trauma, and difficulties in life after loss. We do also discuss the fact that Meaghan is currently pregnant after loss!

Do you want to share your story? https://TheMiscarriageDoula.as.me/?appointmentType=63230129

Interested in the services of The Miscarriage Doula? Learn more at her website: themiscarriagedoula.co

“My eggs are rotten so we just need better ingredients for the bun”

Lauren comes on to share about her journey with infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss and navigating IVF, fertility testing and treatment.

"Fertility really is like a crap shoot Losing pregnancies, embryos, cycles, feels like cumulative loss"

You can read more about Lauren's journey on her blog PINEAPPLES AND ROTTEN EGGS

Since recording this in early 2024, Lauren has transferred the second donated embryo that unforunately ended in another miscarriage and she had a D&C in June 2024. This was her 6th transfer overall and at this time, she's unsure of her next steps. Let's all send Lauren some love!

Miscarriage Stories is hosted by Arden Cartrette who is a Birth & Bereavement Doula that founded "The Miscarriage Doula" -- an online support service and resource for people who are experiencing or have experienced loss. Support is offered through 1:1 support, group support, blog posts, and Instagram content. Learn more at ⁠themiscarriagedoula.co

On this episode of Miscarriage Stories we hear from Sam who joined us for episode 39 to share her experience with miscarriage. Now she's back to share more about recurrent pregnancy loss, lots and lots of testing, traveling to Mexico for Immunotherapy (and getting stuck at the border), plus IVF, and pregnancy after loss.

Miscarriage Stories is hosted by Arden Cartrette who is a Birth & Bereavement Doula that founded "The Miscarriage Doula" -- an online support service and resource for people who are experiencing or have experienced loss. Support is offered through 1:1 support, group support, blog posts, and Instagram content. Learn more at themiscarriagedoula.co

Rachel from the Hope Again Collective joins Arden to talk about her experience with pregnancy loss and what life after loss looks like for a pastor. She also wrote a book titled Miscarried Hope: Journeying with Jesus through Pregnancy and Infant Loss which is available now!

https://hopeagaincollective.com

Miscarriage Stories is hosted by Arden Cartrette who is a Birth & Bereavement Doula that founded "The Miscarriage Doula" -- an online support service and resource for people who are experiencing or have experienced loss. Support is offered through 1:1 support, group support, blog posts, and Instagram content. Learn more at themiscarriagedoula.co

CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST

Arizona joins Arden to discuss her experience with a miscarriage during her third pregnancy. "Angel" was born in the first trimester and with having two living sons and two step-daughters, going through a miscarriage was difficult to say the least. Hear her story on Miscarriage Stories Podcast.

Miscarriage Stories is hosted by Arden Cartrette who is a Birth & Bereavement Doula that founded "The Miscarriage Doula" -- an online support service and resource for people who are experiencing or have experienced loss. Support is offered through 1:1 support, group support, blog posts, and Instagram content. Learn more at themiscarriagedoula.co