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

In this episode Dr. Tiffanie Williams shares her loss story of son Liam, who was born still due to an incompetent cervix. Dr. Williams is a Licensed Clinical Social worker and has provided mental health services for over 8 years. She is defined by her strength, resilience, tenacity, quick wit, ability to make others laugh, and loyalty to family and close friends. The Liam Lives Foundation, Inc., founded on November 28, 2016 is a faith based, non-profit charitable organization, which seeks to provide counseling and supportive services to families who have suffered from pregnancy and infant loss due to early miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, neonatal, and post-neonatal death. She hopes to use her personal experience with pregnancy loss and her knowledge in the field of mental health and health sciences in order to increase awareness surrounding pregnancy loss and infant death and its impact on families. Ultimately, she hopes that she will be used by God to draw all closer to him. She is a willing vessel ready to show the world God's favor over her life even in the midst of tragedy.

Dr. Tiffanie L. Williams is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Williams received her Bachelors degree from Florida State University in Family, Child, & Consumer Sciences in 2004 and later received her Masters in Social Work from Florida State University in 2008. She later attended Nova Southeastern University and obtained her doctorate degree in Health Sciences in 2016. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Florida and has provided mental health services for over 8 years. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The National Association of Black Social Workers and is a volunteer mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida.

Liam Lives Foundation Inaugural Charity Gala is being held on November 18, 2017 at 7PM at Lexington Hotel & Conference Center - Jacksonville Riverwalk, 1515 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207. Click Here to purchase tickets.

Liam Lives Foundation Incorporated

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This episode is brought to you by The Honey Pot Company. Did you know that there was a black owned, plant based feminine care company? The Honey Pot companies goal is to educate, support and provide women around the world with the tools and resources that promote feminine health and wellness. I was first introduced to the Honey Pot company through a CurlBox body and received their 3 in 1 Sensitive Wipes. I loved them so much I had to repurchase. To learn more about the Honey Pot Company and to get a discount on products visit EricaMMcAfee.com/Honey for more information.

Today is a solo episode of the podcast. This is the 17th episode to be exact. The numbers 7 and 17 are special numbers for me obviously because my birthday is on July 17th. 7 meaning completion and the number 17 meaning fulfillment and good fortune. It is also the day I launched my blog this year EricaMMcAfee dot com. I stepped out on faith and followed what God laid on my heart to share my story to inspire others to do the same. This is how the Erica M McAfee Podcast was born it was launched on August 1 and we are 17 episodes in. So, it was only fitting for me to go solo on this 17th episode of the podcast and for me to talk about the Power of your Testimony.

Revelation 12:11 tells us that we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.

1. You are not a victim. You are the voice!
2. God will heal your broken heart!
3. Direct others to Christ!

Join my mailing list to download your FREE Angel Mom Prayer.

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Dr. Shaughanassee Williams, DNP, CNM is an emerging trailblazer looking to establish positive change in her community and around the globe. She is a Certified Nurse Midwife holding a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Frontier Nursing University, a Masters and Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Old Dominion University and a Nurse Midwifery endorsement from Shenandoah University. She has extensive leadership experience working in the healthcare arena as the visionary and director of HealthyHER Center for Women's Care, a nurse midwife at Bon Secours Medical Group and also an adjunct nursing professor at Norfolk State University. Her passion lies in leadership development and carrying on the long-standing entrepreneurial spirit of her family. She is also the think tank behind Midwife Speaks– her platform to educate and empower women regarding holistic health. She has been coined "the people's choice for women's health". Through transparency and with authenticity, Midwife Speaks is the bridge between patients and providers by giving women, and their families, the necessary tools to holistically empower their physical, mental and spiritual health. Shaughanassee remains active within her community. As a Christian minister, she counts it an honor to serve through teaching and volunteerism. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors for organizations such as the Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals and the YWCA Va Peninsula. She has performed numerous speaking engagements at Old Dominion University, Hampton University, the Urban League of Hampton Roads and many other organizations. Shaughanassee enjoys spending time with loved ones, traveling, laughing and making others smile. Her life motto is "I live to inspire."

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. To honor our Angel Babies gone to heaven too soon, we created MyBabyExisted.com where we are posting pictures to show that our babies did exist. Visit MyBabyExisted.com for more information on how to download your Meme and post pictures of your baby bump, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or babies to show that they did exist. All month long we will repost pictures using the hashtag #mybabyexisted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our babies did exist and now exist forever in our hearts in minds.

In today's episode Dareshia Ervin also known as Dee shares her miscarriage story and Infertility journey. Dee has experienced five miscarriages, two being life threatening and the last one leaving her completely infertile. After her fourth miscarriage, she could no longer keep quiet about her pain, and decided it was time to share her story with the world. It was then; she founded a personal blog by the name of Loving Angel Babies founded in 2016. She feels that the love she has for her angel babies, has allowed her to be completely open about their existence and no longer grieve alone. Dee's everyday prayer is that she could be an inspiration to women who feel alone throughout this journey. Even after the loss of both fallopian tubes, she's certain that God will fulfill his promises to her, to one day mother a child of her own. Now she is documenting her IVF journey, the ups and downs of it all. Dee vows to never give up and continue to spread awareness regardless of the circumstances, as her strength is found in Christ!

Loving Angel Babies was founded in March 2016 by Dareshia Ervin who had survived five miscarriages, two being life threatening. During these experiences, she had no one to call on for support who had endured such losses. She decided it was time to break the silence of pregnancy loss by starting a personal blog to share her story.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. To honor our Angel Babies gone to heaven too soon, we created MyBabyExisted.com where we are posting pictures to show that our babies did exist. Visit MyBabyExisted.com for more information on how to download your Meme and post pictures of your baby bump, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or babies to show that they did exist. All month long we will repost pictures using the hashtag #mybabyexisted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our babies did exist and now exist forever in our hearts in minds.

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In today's episode Shawn Ware-Avant a mental health advocate shares her knowledge with us on Post Partum depression and Safe Sleep to help prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome. Shawn has provided mental health and advocacy services for parents, children, and adolescents for nearly two decades. Shawn's passion for treating attachment disruptions and parenting challenges guides her work with vulnerable families. She envisions transformation in generational patterns through parents empowered to become the change they want to see in their families and communities. Specializing in maternal depression and anxiety; family separation/reunification trauma and parenting support, Shawn assists parents (and caregivers) in better understanding their role and children. She is happily married with 3 teenagers, including a set of twins and a son on the autism spectrum.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. To honor our Angel Babies gone to heaven too soon, we created MyBabyExisted.com where we are posting pictures to show that our babies did exist. Visit MyBabyExisted.com for more information on how to download your Meme and post pictures of your baby bump, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or babies to show that they did exist. All month long we will repost pictures using the hashtag #mybabyexisted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our babies did exist and now exist forever in our hearts in minds.

Online Postpartum Depression Screening Tool

https://psychology-tools.com/epds/

Suicide Risk Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433)

Befrienders Worldwide (Online Suicide Help)

Befrienders.org

Eastern Virginia CFRT Safe Sleep Pledge

https://www.facebook.com/SafeSleepPledge/

Postpartum Support International

www.postpartum.net

Postpartum Support Virginia

www.postpartumva.com

Postpartum Men

http://postpartummen.com/

Military - 1800-372-5463

Local to Hampton Roads 757-627-5433

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In today's episode Jameelah shares her Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Story of daughter Ryen who passed away at 4 months old and how she founded Ryen's Divine Angels organization. Jameelah and her husband Luther found Ryen unresponsive and not breathing during a huge snow storm in Atlanta in January 2014. Jameelah fell into a deep depression with anxiety and even suicide attempts. With God's grace and guidance, Jameelah defied all odds and came out stronger and closer with her husband than ever. They began using Instagram as a tool to connect with other Angel Moms and Father's and that is how Ryen's Divine Angels, a non-profit organization was founded in 2015. They saw a need to break the silence around SIDS/SUID through awareness, education, and the promotion of mental health through counseling and spiritual guidance. Ryen's Divine Angel's is hosting an Angel Mom Brunch on October 22, 2017 in Atlanta Georgia.

Since 2015, a year after losing their daughter to SIDS, it became evident that their story as well as other women needed to be heard all around the world. With that, they began using Instagram as a tool to connect with other Angel mothers and fathers, allowing them to share their stories with the world. The outpour of support from fellow angel families and those who had never heard of such tragedies caused for an immense sense of healing and community. Ryen's Divine Angels, a non profit organization, was founded on the need to make Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness a national cause that receives as much attention as other important causes such as breast cancer awareness and domestic violence awareness. Coincidently, October is the awareness month for all three causes, but many do not know that Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness even exists. The reason we don't hear much about Pregnancy and Infant Loss is because parents hold a lot of guilt, depression and embarrassment after the loss of child, which in turn causes them to grieve in silence. It is their goal to break that silence, which will not only inform others but save angel families from self destructive behavior. Over 900,000 families experience the loss of a pregnancy and/or infant via miscarriage, still birth, SIDS/SUID (Sudden Infant Death/Sudden Unexpected Infant Death), and various causes explained and unexplained.

RDA is committed to making Pregnancy and Infant Loss a national concern through awareness, education and the promotion of mental health through counseling and spiritual guidance. It is their hope to uplift angel families, empowering them to share their stories and encouraging them to heal properly and healthily. Ryen's Divine Angels dedicated to the prevention of pregnancy and infant loss through awareness, education and research. RDA is also an organization that offers bereavement service assistance to families who have been financially burdened by such losses.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. To honor our Angel Babies gone to heaven too soon, we created MyBabyExisted.com where we are posting pictures to show that our babies did exist. Visit MyBabyExisted.com for more information on how to download your Meme and post pictures of your baby bump, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or babies to show that they did exist. All month long we will repost pictures using the hashtag #mybabyexisted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our babies did exist and now exist forever in our hearts in minds.

Ryen's Divine Angels - Angel Mom Brunch October 22, 2017 Atlanta, Georgia

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In today's episode Dr. Oluwatoyin Bode-Abass shares her Infertility Journey and Loss Story, and how she turned her pain into a book and foundation called Range based in Lagos, Nigeria. Dr. Oluwatoyin is an integrative health, wellness, nutrition, and lifestyle consultant. She studied Medicine and Surgery at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, where she finished top ten in her graduating class. Her and her husband founded TBA Wellness Hub, an Integrative Health and Wellness consultancy where she empowers individuals to take a proactive approach to their health and nutrition. She wrote Range to chronicle how she found love, had a major gynecological surgery that narrowed her chances of having children, her infertility journey to motherhood and eventually suffering a pregnancy loss. Dr. Oluwatoyin shares a wealth of knowledge of how women's issues like fibroids effect pregnancy, and how she is helping other women heal through her new organization the Range Foundation.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. To honor our Angel Babies gone to heaven too soon, we created MyBabyExisted.com where we are posting pictures to show that our babies did exist. Visit MyBabyExisted.com for more information on how to download your Meme and post pictures of your baby bump, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or babies to show that they did exist. All month long we will repost pictures using the hashtag #mybabyexisted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our babies did exist and now exist forever in our hearts in minds.

Range Foundation Website

Range Foundation Facebook

Range Foundation Instagram

Dr. Oluwatoyin's Instagram

In today's episode Aditi Loveridge, shares her Pregnancy Loss Story and how healing tools helped her rediscover trust and inner power, so she could engage in life again. After losing her first two pregnancies, she was stricken with shame, guilt, fear, and anxiety. The intensity of her emotions took her by surprise and it was not until her Rainbow baby turned one, that her anxiety begin to dissipate. She is a Grief and Pregnancy Loss Healer, Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher at PregnancyLossHealing.com.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. To honor our Angel Babies gone to heaven too soon, we created MyBabyExisted.com where we are posting pictures to show that our babies did exist. Visit MyBabyExisted.com for more information on how to download your Meme and post pictures of your baby bump, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or babies to show that they did exist. All month long we will repost pictures using the hashtag #mybabyexisted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our babies did exist and now exist forever in our hearts in minds.

Still Standing Magazine

Pregnancy Loss Healing Website

Pregnancy Loss Healing Instagram

Pregnancy Loss Healing Facebook

Pregnancy Loss Healing Youtube Channel

Contact Aditi for Coaching Here

In today's episode Kierra Taplin shares her Infant Loss story and how she began the Healing Footprints Foundation. After Kierra and her husband experienced the devastating death of their one week old son, Colby, she wanted to help others loss families by sharing the highs and lows of healing after infant loss. Healing Footprints is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established to support families who have experienced infant death. Kierra is dedicated to offering services that help families heal after the inconceivable and often unexpected death of their newborn baby. From this interview you will know that Kierra walks in her purpose and is determined to make grieving hearts smile again…one footprint at a time.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. To honor our Angel Babies gone to heaven too soon, we created MyBabyExisted.com where we are posting pictures to show that our babies did exist. Visit MyBabyExisted.com for more information on how to download your Meme and post pictures of your baby bump, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or babies to show that they did exist. All month long we will repost pictures using the hashtag #mybabyexisted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our babies did exist and now exist forever in our hearts in minds.

Still Standing Magazine

Kierra's Instagram

Healing Footprints Instagram

Healing Footprints Website

Healing Footprints Facebook

Healing Footprints Twitter

In today's episode Cathleen Richardson shares her Stillbirth story and how she is honoring other Stillbirth moms through her blog stillmom.net. She is hosting a Charity Vegas Themed event in her daughter McKensie's honor named Kenzie Royale. Kensie Royal is being held on September 23 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is a night of Vegas Fun. The proceeds of the event honoring Stillbirth moms will go to the Star Legacy Foundation, that has helped Cathleen on her healing journey. Cathleen wants to help others especially those who feel alone on this journey. Here favorite quote to live by is by Brian Tracy "You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." In my interview with Cathleen we discuss the truth about grieving for your child and returning to the corporate workplace, and how her loss has changed her life for the better.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. To honor our Angel Babies gone to heaven too soon, we created MyBabyExisted.com where we are posting pictures to show that our babies did exist. Visit MyBabyExisted.com for more information on how to download your Meme and post pictures of your baby bump, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or babies to show that they did exist. All month long we will repost pictures using the hashtag #mybabyexisted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our babies did exist and now exist forever in our hearts in minds.

Cathleen's Social Links and Recommendations

Star Legacy Foundation - Stillbirth Research

Book - I'll Hold You in Heaven by Jack Hayford

Cathaleen's Instagram

Kensie Royale Event

StillMom.Net

For more information on the EricaMMcAfee Podcast visit EricaMMcAfee.com/PodcastEpisodes