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

Have you heard of congenital heart defects?

A Congenital Heart defect is an abnormality in the heart that develops before birth. Congenital heart defect is one of the most common types of birth defects. Symptoms include abnormal heart rhythms, blue-tinted skin, shortness of breath, failure to feed or develop normally, and swollen body tissue or organs. Treatments include medications to lower blood pressure and control heart rate, heart devices, catheter procedures, and surgery. Serious cases may require a heart transplant.

Today's guest experienced an infant loss due to congenital heart defect and had a miscarriage. Keivon Hardy is a childless mother who managed life with prenatal and postpartum depression, anxiety, and isolation after her infant loss and miscarriage. When she was 20 weeks pregnant with her son she found out via a routine ultrasound that he had a congenital heart defect. Because his case was unique the doctors weren't able to determine exactly what his defect was until birth. After birth, it was determined that his blood vessels were too small to be operated on and he would need to grow before they could operate. He lived to be one month old and never came home from the NICU. Keivon went on to conceive again only to be faced with another loss a miscarriage while on birth control.

In today's episode, Keivon takes us back to when she found out her son had a congenital heart defect, how she dealt with prenatal and postnatal depression, and losing her son and then having a miscarriage while on birth control.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a infant loss due to congenital heart defect or a miscarriage while on birth control.

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​Do you know what a placenta abruption is?

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. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding, belly pain, and back pain in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Depending on the degree of placental separation and how close the baby is to full-term, treatment may include bed rest or a cesarean section. According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), if severe abruption occurs, 15% ends in fetal death. Infants who survive have a 40-50% chance of developing long-term health complications.

Today's guest had a placenta abruption at 36 weeks gestation due to preeclampsia. Vanessa Robinson experienced severe bleeding losing 4 liters of blood and needed blood transfusions to survive. Her son died 4 minutes into being rushed to the hospital from severe bleeding. In this episode Vanessa takes us back to the moment she knew something was wrong, how she grieved her loss while fighting for her life, and how depression post loss lead her to research and start her own nonprofit to bring awareness, support, and education about the racial disparities against women color in the medical field.

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Have you heard of the term blighted ovum or chemical pregnancy? A blighted ovum occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but doesn't develop into an embryo. It is also referred to as an an embryonic (no embryo) pregnancy and is a leading cause of early pregnancy failure or miscarriage. Often it occurs so early that you don't even know you are pregnant.

Today's guest experienced a chemical pregnancy and an early miscarriage around 11 weeks. Sonia Killebrew @soniajkillebrew leaned on her skills as a doula and holistic health coach to walk her through her losses. Each loss held its own grief as she walked together with her husband, but her second pregnancy loss was grieved at a distance due to her military husband being deployed. Sonia had to learn how to communicate her needs, and she self healed holistically through herbal treatments that helped her process the loss mindfully.

In this episode, Sonia takes us back on her journey to motherhood and shares what it was like to birth two angels in the first trimester. She shares how her training as a doula and student midwife has called her deeper into women's wellness especially every phase of birth, and how Doulas are needed and essential especially in pregnancy loss.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever experienced a blighted ovum or chemical pregnancy. This episode is for you to listen to to understand how a doula is essential in all stages of pregnancy and loss.

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Have you heard of HELLP Syndrome?

HELLP Syndrome is a life-threatening pregnancy complication usually considered to be a variant of preeclampsia. Both conditions usually occur during the later stages of pregnancy, or sometimes after childbirth.

Today's guest was diagnosed HELLP syndrome at just 23 weeks pregnant. Trashaun Powell was immediately taken to the intensive care unit and was shocked to find out that their baby girl, Mia Jane, would have to be delivered to save her life. Mia was 1 lb and 1 oz at delivery and passed away the next day. Trashaun spent another 2 weeks in the hospital after losing Mia fighting for her own life.

In this episode Traushaun takes us back to the moment of finding out she had HELLP syndrome and could die if she didn't deliver immediately. She shares how this traumatic birth and loss has empowered her to advocate for preeclampsia and fighting racial disparities for BIPOC.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced Preeclampsia or HELLP Syndrome and have lost a micropreemie in the NICU.

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Have you heard of male factor infertility? Male factor infertility is due to low sperm production, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm. Illnesses, injuries, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices and other factors can play a role in causing male infertility. Of all infertility cases, approximately 40–50% is due to "male factor" infertility and as many as 2% of all men will exhibit suboptimal sperm parameters.

Today's guest shares her journey as a wife through male infertility. TJ Peyten discovered 5 years into marriage and trying to conceive that her husband had male factor infertility. Male infertility was already a taboo subject and even more not talked about amongst black couples. Frustrated at the lack of support and resources available for those struggling with male infertility, TJ used her journal as an outlet to deal with the pain. After several years of coping with their infertility through her journal, TJ finally got the courage to share her story with the world through her book Semen Secrets: Truths and Confessions of a Wife's Journey Through Male Infertility.

In today's episode, TJ takes us back on her journey trying to conceive, journaling her thoughts on male infertility, how it effects relationships, and how she conceived and had her rainbow baby in 2019. This episode is for you to listen to if your partner has suffered from male factor infertility, and how to hold onto hope through infertility.

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Imagine birthing your rainbow baby and losing your first born on the same day!?

Today's episode is one that hits close to home as her story is very similar to my own. I would be lying to you if I didn't say I cried throughout this entire interview and hours afterward. This episode is a trigger, so please grab some tissue, and brace yourself as you embark on this woman's journey to motherhood.

Shana Anderson experienced a placenta abruption with her first born son Bryce, and he was later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and chronic lung disease. She then went onto having a stillbirth at 34 weeks with baby girl Aleeya. After experiencing what seemed like a year full of hospitalizations with Bryce she planned a Make a Wish trip to Disney World and found out she was expecting her third baby. In June 2020, Shana gave birth to her rainbow baby boy Brayden, and later that evening her son Bryce passed away.

In this episode, Shana is raw as it is weeks after laying her son Bryce to rest. She takes us back to the day of great joy and deep sorrow of birthing a son and losing a son. Shana is taking it one day at a time and literally spoke life over herself, her womb, and baby Brayden as he was growing in her belly while taking care of a medically fragile toddler. This episode is for you to listen to if you want to know what God's grace and mercy looks like on earth in the form of strength and resilience. This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a placenta abruption, stillbirth, or pregnancy after loss.

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It's my Anniversary!

Yes, August 2020 makes 3 Years of the @SistersinLoss podcast! 3 Years, 161 Episodes, Over 150 Guests, and 5000+ hours of black sisters and brothers in loss sharing stories of loss, infertility challenges, rainbow babies, IVF successes, Surrogacy, Abortion, Adoption, Grief, Healing, and so much more!

Today's episode is a solo episode where I get candid about some changes in my personal life like moving from Virginia to Maryland (Hey DMV, Hey Baltimore). I also share 3 ways I have been consistent in podcasting for these three years. From my voice to God's ears I share what I hope to see in the next year of podcasting and for you to join our newsletter to learn more about our upcoming Sisters in Loss Digital Summit!

This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever dropped the ball, picked it back up, took the shot, missed, and finally made it KOBE style! I share how to stay consistent even when you feel like giving up.

Today's guest was diagnosed in her early 20s with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome where her doctor told her she had zero eggs and almost no lining in her uterus making it not viable to carry a baby to term. Whitney Vaughn then made the proper diet changes and in September 2018 found out she was pregnant. At 28 weeks along she did not detect a heartbeat on her home doppler and went to the hospital to be faced with the same news her baby passed away in utero. In this episode Whitney takes us back to those moments of delivering her stillbirth baby, her first Mother's day after loss, finding out she was pregnant with her rainbow baby, and delivering and mothering her rainbow baby.

This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever been counted out by doctors for your diagnosis and are holding onto hope for your rainbow baby.

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Imagine having your next round of IVF cancelled due to COVID-19.

Today's guest was diagnosed with unexplained infertility after many years trying. She experienced 3 unsuccessful IUIs and 1 cancelled IUI, and 1 IVF cycle that resulted in a miscarriage. Crystal Simpson, a military wife went off birth control about 6 months after getting married. She knew something was wrong and went to her OB/GYN for testing, but the testing showed no issues and she was recommended to a Reproductive Endocrinologist for an Intrauterine Insemination or IUI. After 3 IUIs and 1 cancelled IUI none of them resulted in a positive pregnancy test. Crystal was determined to become a mother and decided to undergo IVF all while moving and travelling back and forth from Kansas to Maryland. After having a fresh transfer with her last viable embryo she went in for her 8 week ultrasound only to find out her baby boy was measuring at 5 weeks and she was miscarrying. In this episode Crystal takes us back on her journey through IUI and IVF all while moving as a military wife, how her family and friends supported her, and how God's timing is perfect even in this pandemic.

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After not having difficulty conceiving her first two children, today's guest began experiencing heavy bleeding, severe pelvic pain and physical therapy and was diagnosed with endometriosis. When Maria Pyanov was ready to try again she miscarried. She miscarried another 5 times and experienced the loss of a foster son. In today's episode Maria takes us back on her journey through being diagnosed with endometriosis, her recurrent miscarriage and IVF journey, her loss of boy she fostered, and her faith and determination to overcome secondary infertility. This episode is for you to listen to if you suffer from endometriosis, have had recurrent miscarriages, or have experienced the loss of a foster or adoptive child.

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