Sisters in Loss Podcast: Miscarriage, Pregnancy Loss, & Infertility Stories

Hydrosalpinx is the blockage of a woman's fallopian tube caused by a fluid buildup and dilation of the tube at its end. Most often it occurs at the fimbrial end of the tube next to the ovary, but it can also occur at the other end of the tube that attaches to the uterus.

Today's guest was diagnosed with infertility after trying to conceive for a year. She underwent surgery for hydrosalpinx and possible endometriosis which resulted in removal of both her fallopian tubes due to damage caused by endometriosis. Sherelle Gilbert was faced with IVF being her only option for conceiving. She went through her first round of IVF that resulted in one normal PGS tested embryo. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancellations delayed the transfer of her embryo. Sherelle had a successful transfer and was excited, until she experienced a miscarriage at 7 weeks. In this episode, Sherelle takes us back on her journey through endometriosis, IVF and the costs, and her preparing for another round of IVF in hopes of bringing home her miracle.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, experienced IVF loss, or have had blocked fallopian tubes.

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Cervical insufficiency (also called incompetent cervix) means your cervix opens (dilates) too early during pregnancy, usually without pain or contractions. Contractions are when the muscles of your uterus get tight and then relax. They help push your baby out of your uterus during labor and birth.

Today's guest experienced 3 second trimester losses due to cervical insufficiency or cervical incompetence. She experienced her first loss at 6 weeks, another at 18 weeks, then another one at 6 weeks. Nae Watson wasn't sure if she would ever get pregnant again and if she did she was hopeful she would bring a baby home. She was able to conceive again and was put on baby aspirin, progesterone, and had a preventative cerclage (cervical stitch) at 14 weeks. Nae's cerclage was taken out at 36 weeks and her baby boy was born the next day. In this episode, Nae shares how she coped with experiencing multiple miscarriages, how the cerclage saved her son's life, and how she is blogging about her journey to motherhood.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced miscarriage or cervical insuffiency and are interested in hearing more about cerclage.

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COVID-19 has brought about a loneliness in pregnancy that has yet to be measured. Going to doctors appointments alone, via Zoom, and not receiving the same care priorto COVID has made navigating pregnancy difficult.

Today's guest got pregnant with twins in Summer 2019 and had a healthy pregnancy until the 3rd trimester. They began telling her that Baby B was smaller than Baby A, but nothing to be concerned about as they were in two separate placentas and not sharing nutrition. Dominique Timmons had her 34th week appointment with the Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist and they suggested that she schedule her C-section for April 1, 2020. Then COVID happened and shut down everything where she had to go to doctors appointments alone. She went to her 35th week appointment and the doctor suggested steroid shots to strengthen the baby's lungs and to come back the next day for another round of shots. The doctor fell silent during the ultrasound and her husband was on facetime in the lobby knowing something was wrong. He asked the doctor if he could come back and the doctor said yes. The doctor broke the news that Baby B, their daughter Drew, heart stopped beating and she died. In this episode, Dominique takes us on the journey of extreme grief and extreme joy while she celebrates one baby and loses another on the same day.

This episode is for you to listen to if you want to know how it was being pregnant and losing a baby during COVID-19.

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A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the womb (uterus). You'll no longer be able to get pregnant after the operation. If you have not already gone through the menopause, you'll no longer have periods, regardless of your age. Many women have a hysterectomy. It's more common for women aged 40 to 50.

Today's guest struggled with fibroids in her early 20s and had her first myomectomy, the removal of fibroids at 26. Dr. Katashia Kendrick quickly found out that fibroids could grow back and had another myomectomy at 36. Two years later her fibroids came back and she was diagnosed with endometriosis where she was always in severe, debilitating pain, blood transfusions, iron infusions (severe anemic) and no quality of life. At age 38 Dr. Katashia decided to undergo a hysterectomy and not have children naturally, but rather through adoption. In this episode, she shares how she made the decision to remove her uterus, the relief after, and her decision to grow her family through adoption.

This episode is for you to listen to and understand how someone would wrestle with the decision of not being able to get pregnant, and how fibroids and endometriosis does not define who you are.

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A stillbirth is the death or loss of a baby before or during delivery. Both miscarriage and stillbirth describe pregnancy loss, but they differ according to when the loss occurs.

Today's guest experienced a stillbirth at 21 weeks followed by a missed miscarriage at 9 weeks. She became pregnant again and experienced anxiety, had an upsetting birth experience with her son and developed postpartum depression. Shanna Williams continued to grow her family by having another baby while her son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorder at age 2. During that birth she secured a doula and midwife in an attempt to have a home birth, but had to be transferred to hospital care due to preeclampsia. Shanna focused on therapy work on maternal health and became a Doula and Lactation consultant to serve families in pregnancy and parenting after loss. In this episode, she takes us back to that moment when she heard her son didn't have a heartbeat and what inspired her PhD studies focusing on Historical trauma, Black Maternal Health Outcomes and Pregnancy after loss.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, postpartum depression, pre-eclampisa, or any trauma during childbirth.

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Have you heard of Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project?

Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project (DSMAP) is an Atlanta-based nonprofit created in honor of Dr. Shalon Irving, who passed away from complications due to childbirth and was a fierce health equity advocate. Our mission is to increase awareness of the Black maternal health crisis and develop and promote evidence-based strategies that improve health outcomes for Black birthing people and families.

Today's podcast episode is in honor of Dr. Shalon Irving who died due to complications of childbirth told in memory of her best friend Bianca Pryor. Bianca has a passion for fighting equity and inclusion and has turned her pain into purpose after losing her best friend while giving birth to her daughter Soleil. Bianca takes us back to her own journey to motherhood and how she and Dr. Shalon was pregnant at the same time as she was 10 weeks ahead in pregnancy with her bestie. She shares in this episode her journey of delivering a 24 weeker, his NICU stay, and her getting that call that her bestie Dr. Shalon was rushed to the emergency room from complications after delivering her daughter Soleil.

This episode is for you to listen to if you are passionate about infant and maternal health. This episode is for you to listen to for you to hear the grief of a best friend and her fight to save other mothers from pregnancy related complications and death.

Listen to this episode here: sistersinloss.com/ep221

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Today's guest feels like she has faced it all. From being diagnosed with Endometriosis and Fibroids. To battling this infertility with fertility treatments including 9 failed IVF cycles, two surgeries, multiple miscarriages, a failed attempt at surrogacy, one egg donor, and a successful adoption of a son. Candace Clark Trinicheri had many setbacks on her journey to motherhood, but she kept persevering. In this episode she takes us on her motherhood journey including surgical set backs, financial hardships, a non-responsiveness to stimulation drugs to the hardships of trying to find an egg donor of color all while dealing with the trauma of pregnancy loss.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have given up on hope on your journey. This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced endometriosis, fibroids, failed IVF cycles, and want to learn about adoption.

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After experiencing a spontaneous abortion and six months later being faced with another loss that resulted from a ectopic pregnancy and one less fallopian tube today's guest was shattered and disappointed. Tiana Rogers grieved her losses and five months later after her ectopic loss she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. There were no words to describe the utter devastation of being met with a cancer diagnosis in her early 30s with no family history and she continuously prayed and hoped for a baby. Cancer treatment and fertility treatments consumed her and her husband's lives as the doctors were not sure whether she would need chemotherapy initially. In this episode Tiana shares how she grieved and turned to her faith to get her through fertility treatments and cancer. She shares how she did not want to risk missing the window to preserve any chances to have biological children so IVF was the natural next step before undergoing cancer treatments.

This episode is for you to listen to encourage you to continue your journey to building the family of your dreams through faith and with mended hope. This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced ectopic pregnancy loss or a cancer diagnosis.

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Do you know what a missed miscarriage is?

A missed (or silent) miscarriage is one where the baby has died or not developed, but has not been physically miscarried. In many cases, there has been no sign that anything was wrong, so the news can come as a complete shock.

Today's guest experienced a missed miscarriage with twins after having three daughters. Sibyl Lilly has 6 children here on earth and 4 angels in heaven. After losing her twins to a missed miscarriage she became pregnant with a boy who was stillborn at 32 weeks. She was broken, angry, sad, and felt guilty as her faith was pushed to the limits. In this episode Sibyl shares how she conceived again and had her rainbow baby boy, after that pregnancy she suffered another miscarriage, and went onto having her final two rainbow twin girls.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced missed miscarriage or stillbirth. This episode is for you to listen to what it means to stay resilient on the journey to motherhood.

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Do you know the symptoms of stillbirth?

• Stopping of fetal movement and kicks.
• Spotting or bleeding.
• No fetal heartbeat heard with a stethoscope or Doppler.
• No fetal movement or heartbeat seen on ultrasound, which makes the definitive diagnosis that a baby is stillborn.

Today's guest experienced some of these symptoms going into her 7 month of pregnancy. Angela Hampton found out she was pregnant and that she needed to take supplements. She then started to celebrate her pregnancy by preparing for her baby. During her 7 month she became ill and took a few days off of work to rest. She went back to work and was talking with a coworker that she had not felt the baby move as much. The coworker recommended that she go to the OB/GYN to get checked out. Angela was sent straight to the hospital after that OBGYN appointment and they told her then that her baby had died and she would have to be induced. In this episode Angela takes us back to the moment she was told her baby died and she would have to labor and deliver them. She shares how she has started living life after loss healthy and abundantly.

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