Stitches Podcast: Navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss

Christa talks through how she approaches stillbirth photography, what to expect as a parent, and ideas for other photographers/families if they find themselves taking their own stillborn photos.

It can be difficult after a death of a child to know when you are going to be comfortable telling others about a future pregnancy. Christa and LaDonna discuss how they handled that decision with their pregnancies after loss.

Baby Mateo was born with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with heterotaxy and polysplenia. Despite the daunting prognosis, his family clung to hope, their prayers a constant presence in their lives. Tragically, Mateo's battle came to an end on September 1, 2023. In the midst of her grief, Jenelle found solace in a gesture of love: crafting a sweatshirt adorned with all her children's names. From this act emerged her nonprofit, Mateo's Mark, a tangible symbol of enduring love and remembrance for her sweet heavenly son.

SUPPORT MATEO'S MARK:

www.mateosmark.com

Christa and LaDonna have a candid conversation with Caitlin Mathieu, founder of Due to Joy.

Due to Joy is a bible-based resource for both men and women who have experienced the heartache of miscarriage and baby loss, offering intentional and hope-filled gifts meant to encourage and lift grieving hearts.

We talked with Caitlin about how she learned to source and develop products for her shop, her struggles, and what she has learned about herself through ministry.

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How you can support Due to Joy:

Shop Due to Joy: Use code STITCHESHAVEN for a 20% off your next order at duetojoy.com or the Due to Joy Shop on Etsy.

We are continuing our mini education series about different types of pregnancy losses. In this episode we cover the terms "stillbirth" and "late miscarriage" and explore the very different experiences that come with both types of losses.

To start out the year we wanted to sprinkle in some educational episodes for our listeners about different types of pregnancy loss. This week we focus on ectopic pregnancy, the signs, the complications, and the impact.

Note: we are not medical professionals, so all of the content in this episode is meant for general education and not medical advice.

Dealing with medical bills after the loss of a child is a particularly difficult journey. Your world has broken into pieces, you have no idea what you are about to be charged, and often times payment is demanded immediately from hospitals. LaDonna and Christa reflect on their experiences in navigating the ups and downs of American insurance, hospital billing, and collections.

Christa is getting really close to her due date with her rainbow baby and with that comes at lot of emotion in prepping for labor, newborn life, and wrapping up projects as a business owner. This episode walks through the emotions that resurface during this season and the ways to prepare for new life after loss.

Before LaDonna and Christa went through the loss of their children, they had no idea there could be a wait involved. This episode talks through finding out your baby has died in the womb, the pain of waiting period to give birth to them, and how to cope.

LaDonna and Christa discuss the physical, emotional, and spiritual changes that come from miscarriage and stillbirth.

Including topics like: