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

Have you experienced a miscarriage after your rainbow baby?

Today's guest experienced a miscarriage in 2015, gave birth to her son in 2016 and he passed away 11 days after his birth due to lack of oxygen and severe brain damage. Siedah Fagan went onto survive pregnancy loss by trying to conceive her rainbow baby and gave birth in 2017 only to be faced with another untimely loss by miscarriage in 2019. In this episode and Surviving Pregnancy Loss series Siedah shares her journey of surviving pregnancy loss and losing an infant, the courage to try again and have her rainbow baby, and experiencing another loss after her rainbow baby.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a miscarriage after your rainbow baby. This episode is for you to listen to on how to survive miscarriage and infant loss.

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How many of us have heard the words "There is nothing we can do?" How do you navigate this journey post loss? Is this journey linear or does it take twists and turns?

Today's guest shares her journey with losing her son due to cervical insufficiency and how she is surviving loss. Xaviera "Zay" Bell shares in our Surviving Pregnancy Loss series her miscarriages, and loss of son Xander at 21 weeks, and how her journey of survival after loss has been intentional and strategic. In this episode she shares how she is navigating this journey after loss by intentionally growing in her purpose, starting her foundation Zeal of Xander in honor of her son, and advocating and supporting other women through this journey.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have heard those words "there is nothing we can do." This episode is for you to listen if you experienced a miscarriage, or 2nd trimester loss, and to how to navigate the waters of loss.

Today's episode is sponsored by Earth Mama Organics. Earth Mama makes clean, safe and effective herbal solutions for the entire journey of motherhood, from pregnancy and breastfeeding to baby care, and even the loss of a baby. Earth Mama's certified organic formulations help mamas and their babies across the globe, by marrying generations of women's wisdom and traditional herbal medicine with modern, evidence-based research. Listeners can save now on their purchase at EarthMama.com with Code SISTERSINLOSS.

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Do you know what a placental abruption is?

A placental abruption is a serious pregnancy complication in which the placenta detaches from the womb (uterus). Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the inner wall of the womb before delivery. The condition can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients.

Today's guest experienced an unexpected placental abruption in her first pregnancy that was otherwise normal and uncomplicated. The abruption led to her baby boy to be born sleeping at 37 weeks and 6 days gestation. Chassis Hawkins-Younger shares in our Surviving Pregnancy Loss series how she survived her stillbirth due to placenta abruption, her rainbow and golden baby pregnancies, and how she honors her son Anthony all year long.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a stillbirth, placenta abruption, or have had a pregnancy after loss. This episode is for you to listen to gain ideas on how to honor you angel all year long.

Today's episode is sponsored by Earth Mama Organics. Earth Mama makes clean, safe and effective herbal solutions for the entire journey of motherhood, from pregnancy and breastfeeding to baby care, and even the loss of a baby. Earth Mama's certified organic formulations help mamas and their babies across the globe, by marrying generations of women's wisdom and traditional herbal medicine with modern, evidence-based research. Listeners can save now on their purchase at EarthMama.com with Code SISTERSINLOSS.

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Why me God? Why did I suffer a miscarriage?

Have you asked yourself those questions after an untimely loss or setback on your fertility journey?

Today's guest had a year long journey to conception and when she received a positive pregnancy test she was so ecstatic. That joy ended at 8 weeks pregnant with a miscarriage of the baby she wanted. Tyneise Seaborough shares in this episode how she had to mentally prepare before she gained the courage to try again. She had to ask God those hard questions like why me? Why did I suffer a miscarriage? This experience led her to write a journal entitled: Journal for the Infertile Woman: Wombs Coming Alive through the Word of God. In this episode Tyneise takes us back to that day she found out she was miscarrying, the moment she knew she conceived her rainbow baby, and how God keeps his promises by blessing her with a baby girl.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever had a miscarriage, or asked God why on this journey. This episode is for you to listen to if you ever had to wait for God's promise.

Today's episode is sponsored by Earth Mama Organics. Earth Mama makes clean, safe and effective herbal solutions for the entire journey of motherhood, from pregnancy and breastfeeding to baby care, and even the loss of a baby. Earth Mama's certified organic formulations help mamas and their babies across the globe, by marrying generations of women's wisdom and traditional herbal medicine with modern, evidence-based research. Listeners can save now on their purchase at EarthMama.com with Code SISTERSINLOSS.

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We are kicking off the new year discussing Fibroids. Do you know what Fibroids are? Do you know anyone who has fibroids or do you have them yourself? Do you know that you can get pregnant and sustain a pregnancy with Fibroids?

Fibroids are Noncancerous growths in the uterus that can develop during a woman's childbearing years. The cause of fibroids isn't well understood. Risk factors include a family history of fibroids, obesity, or early onset of puberty. Symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods, and pelvic pain. In some cases, there are no symptoms. Treatments include medications and removal of the fibroid.

Studies show that African-American women suffer fibroids 2 to 3 times more than white women. Black women tend to experience fibroids at a younger age and often more severely than their white counterparts. One estimate is that 25% of African-American women will suffer from fibroids by the age of 25 and 80% will have them by age 50 (compared with 70% for white females). Because Black women suffer fibroids at an earlier age, they also are 2 to 3 times more likely to undergo surgery.

Today's guest was featured back in Episode 31 of the podcast sharing her journey through miscarriages, a stillbirth, and rainbow baby pregnancy with fibroids. Keanna Barnes updates us on her journey to parenthood and since that episode has since had another baby girl her golden baby. A golden baby is a baby born after a rainbow baby.

In this episode Keanna takes us back on her journey through suffering miscarriages, a stillbirth, getting pregnant with her golden baby and pregnancy with fibroids. Her book Journey to Peace a 31 Day Devotional: Through the Grief of Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Other Pregnancy Loss is a go to in the Sisters in Loss Community for those who have experienced fibroids and loss.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have fibroids, had a miscarriage or had a stillbirth. This episode is for you to listen to if you want to know what a pregnancy after loss entails.

Today's episode is sponsored by Earth Mama Organics. Earth Mama makes clean, safe and effective herbal solutions for the entire journey of motherhood, from pregnancy and breastfeeding to baby care, and even the loss of a baby. Earth Mama's certified organic formulations help mamas and their babies across the globe, by marrying generations of women's wisdom and traditional herbal medicine with modern, evidence-based research. Listeners can save now on their purchase at EarthMama.com with Code SISTERSINLOSS.

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We made it yall! We have made it to the end of the year, and I'm happy to say we made it whole. Many of us started this year with the expectation of greatness. Ambition to take on the world. Start that new business, write that new book, launch that new product, travel to a new country, and just live a life after loss that was unimaginable. Then our world was paused in March as COVID-19 shut down the world, travel, and many businesses especially small businesses. Many of our family and friends have been diagnosed with COVID-19, recovered, or even worse have gone to be angels in heaven. 2020 has been the year of the Unexpected!

In this solo episode I talk about the year in review, my personal and professional goals, and my 2021 word of the year.

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Did you not feel supported during loss due to inadequate maternal health care?

Today's guest experienced a premature delivery and loss at 19 weeks due to PPROM or premature rupture of the membranes and possible cervical insufficiency. Kimi Farrington was not able to get the necessary medical treatment and mental health services following her loss, and losing her daughter's father months after she died made grieving unbearable. In this episode, Kimi shares how she is advocating for the improvement of care and quality for black maternal health, how her loss of her daughter and daughter's father shaped her to take interest in mental and emotional health, and how her experience has awakened her inner advocacy and inspired her to go to law school in Fall 2021.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a premature birth, PPROM, or birth trauma for inadequate maternal health care. This episode is for you to listen to if you want to be a part of the solution to improving black maternal health.

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Can you imagine losing your son in front of your other children?

Today's guest was diagnosed with PCOS and did 3 rounds of Clomid before conceiving her first child, suffered from 2 miscarriages then unexpectedly conceived her second son. After her son's first birthday he passed away from what was eventually called "natural causes." Danielle Anderson struggled to believe that she was a mom of 2 boys because her arms were empty with missing her son. In this episode, Danielle takes us back to her struggles with infertility and PCOS, losing her son Chase at 1 years old, and conceiving her rainbow baby and golden baby during her grief journey. She also shares how she changed her lifestyle and started focusing on her health as self care pursuing whole health - spiritual, mental, emotional and physical. Also, Danielle shares her journey becoming a Birth and Bereavement doula through Sisters in Loss and how that has helped her grief journey.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have PCOS, suffered from miscarriages, or had an untimely toddler loss. This episode is for you to listen to if you have not considered a healthy lifestyle as self care and how to take control of your health.

Listen to this episode here: sistersinloss.com/ep180

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Have you considered Fostering to Adopt after Loss?

For many parents in efforts to grow their family and having experienced untimely loss the option to foster a child and for many foster to adopt.

Today's guest decided to foster to adopt after her wife struggled with fibroids, myomectomy, and 3 failed IUIs. Tiffany Flakes-Williams and her wife then turned to her to begin their journey to parenthood and then were faced with fibroids as well, but were told they wouldn't cause any problems conceiving. They were able to conceive on their first IUI cycle and found out they were pregnant with twins. Tiffany went on to see one baby stop growing and had additional monitoring as the fibroids began to grow. At 20 weeks her water broke and she experienced PPROM premature rupture of the membranes and was able to maintain bedrest up until 24 weeks. Her son Chandler was born via c-section and fought hard to survive. In this episode Tiffany takes us back to that day when her water broke, how 18 months after Chandler died they began the foster parent process, how her rainbow baby came via foster care to adopt, and now she is pregnant with her golden baby.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have considered foster care to adopt after loss. This episode is also for you to listen to if have experienced PPROM, IUI, or are apart of the LGBTQ community and growing your family.

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Have you heard of a Myomectomy procedure?

Myomectomy is a surgical procedure to remove uterine fibroids. These common noncancerous growths appear in the uterus. Uterine fibroids usually develop during childbearing years, but they can occur at any age. Women of Color have the highest occurrence of fibroids in up to 90% of black women before age of 50.

Today's guest experienced an untimely loss at 22 weeks of baby girl Alexandria Shah due to preterm labor and cervical insufficiency. Dr. Shabnam Brady began to research for answers why and what could possibly have happened. She went to several specialist doctors and conducted months of research. She and her husband decided to undergo a myomectomy to remove fibroids and went to Chicago to undergo a Transabdominal Cerclage procedure due to her cervical insufficiency. Last Summer, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Shabnam for dinner while she was pregnant with her miracle Faith. In this episode, Shabnam takes us back to her making the decision for both procedures: the myomectomy and transabdominal cerclage, how her Faith after loss was during her rainbow baby pregnancy, and how therapy and mental health played a major role in her healing.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have considered a myomectomy or transabdominal cerclage procedures. This episode is for you to listen to on how to research your options and choose the best specialist or therapist for you after loss.

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