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I sit down with grief educator and author Melissa Hull, who shares the unimaginable story of losing her 4-year-old son, Drew, in a tragic accident. Melissa takes us back to that devastating day and opens up about the shame, guilt, and heartbreak that followed. Through her story, she shows us how grief can become a catalyst for growth, and how one letter from a stranger changed the course of her life.

Melissa also shares the heartbreaking journey through multiple pregnancy losses, her struggle to believe in herself as a mother again, and how she rebuilt her life, her identity, and her relationship with grief. She’s now helping others do the same through her books, her voice, and her mission to show that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. This episode is full of truth, tenderness, and hope for any mom navigating life after loss.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• The morning of Drew’s accident and how it changed everything
• Living with overwhelming guilt, shame, and self-blame
• The unexpected letter that saved Melissa’s life
• Her heartbreaking journey through IVF and pregnancy loss
• Why she believed she didn’t deserve happiness
• The moment she decided to see herself with compassion
• Learning how to talk to herself like someone she loved
• How writing helped her process and heal
• What post-traumatic growth really looks like
• Rebuilding her identity and relationship with grief
• Finding friendship again with her ex-husband
• Why she doesn’t believe in apologizing for honoring your child
• The message she wants every grieving mom to hear

Resources Mentioned:

• Melissa's Website: https://melissahull.com
• Her book: "Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief"
• Follow her on Instagram at: @melissa_hull_

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA

Send Jen a Text Message

We say "I'm fine" because it feels easier than explaining the truth. But what happens when you're not okay—and you keep pretending that you are? In this episode, I’m talking about what it really costs us when we hide our pain, especially around the holidays, and how we can start being more honest about what grief really looks like.

I share my own Thanksgiving story after losing my daughters and the moment I realized I was shortchanging my grief by trying to make everyone else comfortable. If you’re tired of putting on a brave face, this episode will help you feel seen and remind you that it’s okay to stop performing.

We talk about the disconnect between what people see and what you’re actually going through. The exhaustion of keeping it together. The fear of what might happen if you actually tell the truth. And why being honest about where you are is not only okay—but necessary.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• What pretending to be fine actually costs you
• Why people believe you're "doing better"
• How grief shows up behind closed doors
• The fear of judgment, breakdowns, and being seen as weak
• Why it's not your job to make everyone else comfortable
• How to start being more honest, even if it feels scary
• What happened when I finally shared how I really felt
• A gentle invitation to stop performing and let people in

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Always Loved Club: https://navigatingbabyloss.com/club

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA

Send Jen a Text Message

There are many ways to lose a baby, and today’s guest Sarah Osborne shares a rarely-talked-about story of IVF loss—and what it was like to go from a mom of three teenagers to deciding to start over again. As a seasoned doula with years of experience supporting others through pregnancy, birth, and loss, Sarah found herself on the other side of the story when her own fertility journey didn’t go as planned.

In this honest and emotional episode, Sarah and I talk about what happens when you follow your heart, take a leap of faith, and still don’t get the outcome you hoped for. From IVF shots and hormone chaos, to grief, healing, and the unexpected way our work and purpose can shift after loss, this is a powerful conversation for anyone who's experienced disappointment, hope, and heartbreak all wrapped up together.

You’ll hear how Sarah coped with the grief of losing her only embryo, how she found meaning even without a baby in her arms, and how she continues to show up in the birth space with compassion and resilience.

Whether you’ve experienced IVF loss, pregnancy loss, or any other dream-that-didn’t-happen kind of heartbreak—this one will speak to your soul.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How it feels to go through IVF after a full family and a vasectomy reversal
• The reality of having "just one" embryo and the pressure that puts on hope
• Why IVF loss is often overlooked—and why it still counts as real grief
• How Sarah held space for her own heartbreak while still supporting others in birth
• Why grief doesn’t always make you quit—and how it can actually deepen your purpose
• The unexpected ways her children and marriage were impacted by the journey
• The difference between a doula and a midwife
• What Sarah wishes more people knew about doulas and pregnancy loss

Resources & Links:

• Find Sarah at: https://www.instagram.com/theexpertdoula
• Birth Collective PNW: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthcollectivepnw

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA

Send Jen a Text Message

In this second episode of the "Breaking the Silence of Stillbirth Guilt" series, I'm sharing something I struggled with deeply myself—those relentless 3:00 AM thoughts that make you feel like it's all your fault. If you ever find yourself retracing every moment of your pregnancy looking for what you missed, or blaming yourself for things that felt out of your control, this episode is for you.

We'll talk about how trauma brain operates differently from logical brain, why it fixates on blame, and how you can break free from its grip. I’ll share practical steps you can take the next time those "what if" thoughts spiral out of control and how to stop letting guilt steal your memories.

You don’t need to carry the weight of this alone. Let’s sort out the truth together.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why trauma brain always looks for someone to blame (usually you)
• The difference between logical thinking and trauma responses
• Common guilt stories many loss moms replay
• How to spot the physical signs of trauma in your body
• A 3-step process to interrupt guilt spirals and reclaim peace
• How holding onto guilt prevents you from honoring your baby
• The hidden physical toll of carrying emotional blame

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Life Beyond Loss free workshop series: https://navigatingbabyloss.com/october
• Watch the workshop replay: https://navigatingbabyloss.com/replay
• Learn more about the Always Loved Club: https://navigatingbabyloss.com/club

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA

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Erin Maroon, the founder of Ashlie’s Embrace, a nonprofit that donates Cuddle Cots to hospitals across the U.S. Erin shares the heartbreaking story of losing her daughter Ashlie to stillbirth in 2015 after what was considered a healthy pregnancy. From the shock of those devastating words “Your daughter is dead,” to the raw, confusing hours that followed, Erin opens up about what it was like to hold her baby—and then be told that time was up.

Through her own grief, Erin discovered the Cuddle Cot, a simple but powerful device that helps families spend more time with their babies after stillbirth. What started as a way to see Ashlie's name on something meaningful has grown into a mission that has placed nearly 400 Cuddle Cots in hospitals across the country.

If you've ever wished for more time, or wondered how you could make a difference after your loss, this conversation is for you. It’s honest, emotional, and filled with purpose.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What a Cuddle Cot is and why it matters
• Erin’s personal stillbirth story and the heartbreak of not having enough time
• How Ashlie’s Embrace started (and exploded)
• Why giving parents time can change the trajectory of their grief
• The role of partners, grandparents, and even hospital staff in the grief journey
• How you can support families and hospitals through advocacy and donations

Resources Mentioned:

• Ashlie’s Embrace: https://ashleysembrace.org
• Connect with Ashlie’s Embrace on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn
• Cuddle Cot information: https://www.ashliesembrace.org/

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA

Send Jen a Text Message

Have you ever felt guilty… and couldn’t even explain why? That quiet heaviness in your chest, the weight behind your shoulders, the phrases you’d never say out loud:

• “I should’ve known…”
• “My body failed.”
• “What if I had done something differently?”

In this episode, I’m peeling back the layers of the silent, suffocating guilt that so many stillbirth moms carry. Not the kind of guilt you can rationalize or even name out loud — but the emotional kind that sneaks in during the quiet moments, especially when the world has moved on but you haven’t.

This episode is for the mom who blames herself even though no one else is pointing fingers.
 It’s for the mom who punishes her body, replays every moment, and feels ashamed just for laughing again.
 It’s for you — if you’ve ever wondered whether peace is possible without forgetting your baby.

Let’s talk about the guilt that lives in your bones… and how you can begin to set it down.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through:

• Why stillbirth guilt isn’t logical — and why it sticks around anyway
• What emotional guilt does to your body, your mind, and your relationships
• The 5 types of guilt stillbirth moms silently carry
• Why joy, laughter, and even rest can trigger feelings of betrayal
• How guilt hides behind “I should have known” or “What if…”
• Practical ways to question guilt and speak truth to it
• Rituals that connect you to your baby — instead of punishing yourself
• The one truth every loss mom needs to hear today

Mentioned in this episode:

• Join the Always Loved Club for support and connection:
   https://programs.jennifersenn.com/club
• Follow me on social:
   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
  
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss
  
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557920196554
  
  

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA

Send Jen a Text Message

In this episode, I'm joined by Lauren Murdock, a labor and delivery nurse with over 10 years of experience, childbirth educator, and the creator of the Rooted Birth Method. Lauren brings both professional wisdom and deeply personal experience as she shares her own journey with infertility and miscarriage.

We dive into the unique grief that comes with being a nurse supporting families through stillbirth and what it looks like to walk with God through pregnancy after loss. We talk about faith, surrender, and what it means to create a birth plan that includes your grief, your baby, and your hope.

Lauren’s story is tender and powerful. She opens up about the pain of miscarriage after years of infertility, her faith journey, and how she now equips women to walk into their births with peace and preparation—even when they’re holding grief too.

If you're facing another pregnancy after loss, or you're terrified to even consider it, this conversation is for you.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What labor nurses wish they could say about supporting grieving mothers
• How silence can be the most healing response in the hospital
• Why it's okay to wrestle with your faith after baby loss
• Lauren's story of infertility, miscarriage, and motherhood
• How Rooted Birth helps you plan with your faith at the center
• Creating a birth plan after loss: where to start
• Tips for communicating with hospital staff to protect your heart
• How to invite God into your next birth story

Resources Mentioned:

• Faith > Fear Birth: https://www.laborlauren.com/fgtfbirth    Use code NBL50 to take $50 off!
• Free 5-Day Prayer Journal: https://www.laborlauren.com/prayerjournal
• Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labor.lauren

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA

Send Jen a Text Message

When someone you love loses a baby, your instinct is to help—but what if the things you're doing to comfort them are actually making things harder?

In this episode, I walk you through the 3 most common mistakes people make when trying to support a grieving mom after stillbirth or pregnancy loss—and what to do instead.

I share real stories from my own loss and from moms I’ve supported, including what it really feels like when someone says "Let me know if you need anything," or calls you "so strong" when you’re barely holding it together.

Whether you're the grieving mom who wants others to understand, or you're someone who wants to support her but feels totally unsure how—this episode is your guide.

You’ll learn:

• The 3 phrases that do more harm than good (and what to say instead)
• Why "just showing up" means more than saying the perfect thing
• How to take helpful action without overwhelming her
• What she hears when you say "You're so strong"
• How to support her partner (they're grieving too!)
• The single most powerful way to show you care

Resources Mentioned:

• Learn more about the Always Loved Club: https://programs.jennifersenn.com/club
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss
• Get support: https://jennifersenn.com

Share this episode with anyone who wants to better support a grieving parent.

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA

Send Jen a Text Message

After stillbirth, grief finds its way into every corner of your life. And one of the first places it often shows up? Your relationship. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kimberly Flemke, a licensed couple and family therapist, trauma expert, and energy psychology practitioner. With nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Kimberly brings a holistic lens to healing and connection, especially for couples navigating heartbreak.

We dive into what really happens in a relationship after baby loss, how resentment grows, why communication breaks down, and what to do when grief makes you feel like you’re living with a stranger.

Dr. Kimberly also shares tools you can use today to break through disconnection and begin to feel safe, seen, and supported again. Whether you're a mom feeling stuck in your pain or a partner trying to reach across the emotional distance, this episode will help you feel less alone and more equipped.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why resentment is one of the biggest blocks to intimacy after stillbirth
• The first step to repairing emotional connection
• How childhood patterns influence conflict with your partner
• What to do when you grieve differently from your partner
• How to know when to seek couples therapy or additional support
• Why communication shuts down (and how to gently open it back up)
• Tools for creating emotional safety in your relationship
• How EMDR and energy psychology can help with trauma and guilt
• What keeps couples stuck and how to shift the patterns
• How to help children understand and talk about their sibling who died

Resources Mentioned: Coming soon: Dr. Kimberly Flemke's new course for couples- "Transforming Conflict into CONNECTION protocol". Register at https://www.sacredjourneysfortransformation.com/

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA

Send Jen a Text Message

When your baby dies, it’s not just them you lose—it’s the version of you that was going to be their mom. So what happens when the path you were on suddenly disappears?

In today’s episode, I’m sharing something that so many of us loss moms silently struggle with—the deep, aching question of purpose. Who am I now that I’m no longer the mom I was becoming? What do I even care about anymore?

Whether you feel like you’re just going through the motions or you’ve completely lost your spark, I want you to know this: You are not broken—you’re becoming. And the fact that nothing feels meaningful right now? That makes perfect sense.

In this solo episode, I open up about what happened after I lost my twin girls at 32 weeks—the grief, the guilt, the chaos I tried to out-busy—and how I slowly started finding my way back to a purpose that honored them, without burying myself.

This isn’t about building a brand-new life overnight. It’s about letting the tiniest spark guide you. It’s about asking softer questions, noticing what lights you up (even a little), and allowing space for purpose to return in a new way… one that makes space for both your grief and your growth.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why it’s normal to feel like your purpose disappeared after your baby died
• How identity and direction get shattered after loss—and how to begin rebuilding
• What purpose can look like (spoiler: it doesn’t have to be big, shiny, or loud)
• How to start asking the right questions when you don’t know what’s next
• Why honoring your baby might be the key to rediscovering yourself
• A client story that shows how purpose can come in quiet, unexpected ways

Resources & Mentions:

• Join the Always Loved Club — My gentle support membership for loss moms: https://programs.jennifersenn.com/club
• DM me on Instagram to share what this episode brought up for you: https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss
• More free resources and coaching info: https://jennifersenn.com

Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!

• Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com
• Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss
• Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/
• You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA