In this emotional episode, we sit down with Emma French, who shares her deeply personal story of pregnancy, loss, and healing. Emma takes us back to that fateful moment in October 2018 when she discovered she was expecting her first child, just as she was about to embark on a girls' weekend for her 30th birthday. 

The journey seemed hopeful as Emma underwent various tests and scans, which initially indicated a low-risk pregnancy. However, at the 20-week scan, everything changed in an instant. Emma and her husband received the heartbreaking news that their baby had a severe case of spina bifida. Emma bravely opens up about the difficult decision they had to make and the termination of pregnancy that followed, including the emotional aftermath and the delicate process of saying goodbye to their precious baby girl Holly.

Emma shares her experiences of navigating grief while her closest friends were still expecting their own babies, highlighting the complex emotions and shifting dynamics that emerged during this challenging time. Returning to work and facing the world without a pregnancy bump, Emma shares the struggles of opening up to strangers and finding the strength to rebuild her life.

The podcast delves into the profound impact of loss on relationships, as Emma discusses how she and her husband coped with their grief in vastly different ways. She candidly shares the journey of seeking professional help and finding solace through therapy, not only to process her grief but also to navigate subsequent pregnancies, resulting in the birth of their two healthy and happy sons.

Emma unveils the regrets and reflections she carries, including the profound moments of what-ifs and the struggle to balance her own emotions with those of her husband. We delve into her relationships with her pregnant friends during that time, the ways in which her loss affected their pregnancies, and the challenges of being there for them while grappling with her own grief.

Ultimately, this episode serves as a testament to the power of sharing, understanding, and embracing hope in the face of unimaginable loss. Emma's story is a tribute to her beloved baby Holly and a source of courage for those who may be navigating their own journey of loss and healing.

Note: This podcast episode includes sensitive content surrounding pregnancy loss and may not be suitable for all listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

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Join us as we chat with Ange, the amazing owner of Lucida Boutique Dress Hire, in this empowering episode. Ange shares her personal journey towards body positivity and how it has influenced her business. We delve into the fashion industry's contribution to body shaming and get practical tips on navigating the challenges of finding clothes online.

Discover the benefits of dress rental and how it aligns perfectly with Ange's message of body positivity. We also explore the most common concerns women have when dressing up for special occasions and how Ange helps them overcome insecurities.

Ange opens up about the challenges she faces in promoting body positivity and inclusivity within her brand, and she shares strategies for addressing these challenges head-on. She also provides invaluable advice for women struggling with body confidence and looking to embrace their bodies.

Running a business centered around body positivity and inclusivity comes with its own set of challenges. Ange will share some of the obstacles she faces and how she tackles them head-on. From representation to diverse sizing options, she's determined to create a brand that uplifts and supports women of all shapes and sizes.

FOLLOW LUCIDA BOUTIQUE:
WEBSITE: https://www.lucidaboutique.com.au/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lucidaboutiqueballarat
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lucidaboutique_dresshire/

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In this deeply personal episode of our 'Loss of a Parent' series, we sit down with Yarnie Couchman as our guest. Yarnie takes us on her emotional journey of losing her mum when she was just a young teenager. Her mother, tragically taken by breast cancer at only 51 years old, left a void in Yarnie's life that she had to navigate as she transitioned from a girl to a woman.

With raw honesty, Yarnie shares the challenges and difficult moments of growing up without her mum's guidance. She opens up about being the only woman in the household and how that shaped her perspective on life. 

But Yarnie's journey doesn't end there. Now a mother herself, she reveals the bittersweet feelings of raising her own children while yearning for her mum's presence. She reflects on how her mother's absence impacts her parenting style and the lessons she has learned along the way.

Yarnie also opens up about her father's journey after the loss and how his ability to move forward became a beautiful and positive aspect of her life. Throughout the episode, Yarnie reminds us that the death of a loved one can shine a light on those who are unable to be there for us, but she also expresses deep gratitude for the incredible people who have supported her throughout her journey.

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In this episode, I have a very special guest joining me - my grandfather, Barry Whitehead. We'll be sharing our personal story of how we found each other through an Ancestry DNA test in September last year. Prior to this test, neither of us knew that the other existed.

This is a deeply personal episode for me, as my father Aaron unfortunately passed away by suicide when I was just three years old. Before his death, he often spoke about his biggest grievance in life - not knowing who his real father was. This caused him a lot of pain and heartache, leaving him feeling rejected. As I've grown older, I've also wanted to know more about my grandfather, but there seemed to be no way to find out. The curiosity got the better of me, which led me to take an Ancestry DNA test, hoping to learn more about my ethnicity and heritage.

To my surprise, I matched with Barry as a 93% match for a grandparent. On the other side of this, Barry lived his whole 68 years prior unaware that he had fathered a child when he was 17 and studying in Ballarat briefly back in 1973. His initial reaction was one of shock and horror, as he took a moment to process what this meant and the reality that he had a son who was no longer alive that he never knew.

In this incredibly special episode, my grandfather and I will be sharing our reactions, how we felt, and how we shared this information with our loved ones. We'll also be discussing the incredible connections and relationships that have since transpired. Our story is truly one in a million, and we're excited to share it with you all. 

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Welcome back to our Loss Of A Parent Series. 
In this episode, we are joined by our first-ever repeat guest, Tara Dowling, who joined us previously to share her inspiring journey of weight loss surgery.

However, in this episode, Tara shares a completely different story as she opens up about the loss of her mother, Trish, to stomach cancer that spread throughout her whole body just four days after Tara became a first-time mother. Trish passed away at just 58 years old and had been brushed off many times when trying to seek a diagnosis over the years of not feeling well. This adds another layer of complexity to Tara's experience of grief, as she not only had to cope with the sudden loss of her mother, but also the fact that her mother's illness may have been preventable or could have been caught earlier.

Tara speaks about navigating grief while adjusting to being a parent for the first time, and how she has been aching for her mother's support and guidance in those early days, something that never really goes away. She candidly shares what it has been like to raise three girls under three with little to no support, and how the death of her mother has affected different family dynamics both positively and negatively.

Tara explains how the loss of her mother, one of the hardest things one can go through, has given her an inner confidence to know she can get through anything. She also talks about how much her mother wanted to be a nanny and how amazing she would have been at it. Tara also shares how tight and connected she is with her husband and three daughters, and how this loss has affected her parenting.

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In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Alysha, a mother of three who has experienced both the joys and challenges of pregnancy and childbirth. However, this episode focuses on a topic that is often difficult to discuss: the stillbirth of her daughter, Isla, at 34 weeks gestation.

Alysha opens up about her experience with pregnancy loss and the difficulties she faced during her daughter's birth, which prompted her to advocate for a bereavement room in every hospital in Australia. She shares her personal story and reflects on the signs of stress she missed during her daughter's pregnancy. Alysha talks about her experience with the hospital system and how it led her to sign this petition and other ways she honours Isla's life.

Alysha also shares with us how she navigated the grief of losing her daughter Isla. She talks about her hospital experience and the heart-wrenching process of giving birth to a stillborn baby. Alysha opens up about the trauma of being placed on a ward with new mothers and living babies crying, which added to the stress and heartache of the situation.

Alysha also speaks about the changes she experienced in the way people treated her after the loss of her daughter, and how some people ghosted her because they didn't know what to say. She shares how important it is to have a support system and understanding people around you during such a difficult time.

In addition to this, we discuss Alysha's current pregnancy and how she has kept it quiet due to the anxiety and fears that come with pregnancy after loss. Alysha reflects on her journey so far, including her anxiety and stress leading up to her water breaking 5 weeks ago and her 12-day stay in the Royal Women's hospital in Melbourne.

Petition Information: https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN4873?fbclid=IwAR2c1ojwfOlB_olRtFkfzB_i-Ss6P4nF3TsQLeN3l0iI2Bz7DELk8P9PNbk
SANDS: https://www.sands.org.au/stillbirth-and-newborn-death?gclid=CjwKCAjwov6hBhBsEiwAvrvN6M4AwsLnc0QfMZdjqWMoE2CJiMsj-ZVIlrVBIzw6LADXFyx6ERAsxhoCbmgQAvD_BwE

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Welcome to episode 3 of our "Loss of a Parent" series. In this episode, I speak with Carla Walker, a former classmate of mine from primary school. Carla was a happy, outgoing, and athletic young girl with a dream of making it to the Olympics. Her father was her biggest fan, but all of her hopes and aspirations were shattered when he suddenly passed away when she was just 13 years old.

Carla, who was an only child, speaks candidly about the sudden loss of her dad and how it affected her relationship with her mother, whom she has been super close with throughout this time. She shares the hardships they faced financially after her father's death and the immense pressure she felt as a young girl trying to navigate the aftermath of this tragic event.

Carla's father, Malcolm, passed away from a heart attack while playing cricket, leaving her family and the community shocked and devastated. She speaks about the trauma and how it affected her, both mentally and emotionally, as she tried to process the enormity of losing her dad at such a young age.

Finally, Carla shares how the experience of losing her dad has impacted the person she has become and the relationships she has formed. As a mother herself now, she reflects on how she has dealt with her father's death over the years and how it has shaped her as a parent.

FOLLOW CARLA
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wanderingwalkers_/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@WanderingWalkers/videos

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Welcome to episode two of our 'Loss of a Parent' series. In this episode, we speak with Shaylan, a business owner, wife, and mum of three children, who lost her mum to suicide when she was just 17 years old.

Shaylan shares with us the devastating loss, the shock, and what she remembers from that night. Despite having different circumstances, we asked each guest the same questions to gain insight into their unique experiences.

As an only child, Shaylan had to step up and grow up instantly, moving into a role of cooking and cleaning as a year 12 student. We talk about how this traumatic, life-altering event affected her personal life, and the path she took in work and study. 

Shaylan also opens up about how it affected her parenting and the little moments of grief and pain that are sprinkled throughout everyday life, living without her mum.

In this episode, Shaylan and I connect on a personal level because we both have lost a parent to suicide. We speak about the stigma, shame, and constantly living with the eternal "what ifs." We share our experiences of coping with the aftermath of such a traumatic event and how it has shaped our lives.

**Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. For helpful links and resources, please refer to the show notes.**

RESOURCES:
LIFELINE: https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/i-m-feeling-suicidal/?gclid=CjwKCAjw586hBhBrEiwAQYEnHVm5jIl4g8E8EKDDxDHQ2H1jcA--rbLNKwKgncgRt8tWvNVVBvOmrRoCHYoQAvD_BwE
BEYOND BLUE:  https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/suicide-prevention
SUICIDE CALL BACK SERVICE: https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/

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In this episode of our Loss of a Parent series, we have the honor of speaking with Ashlee Burrell. Ashlee's father, Shane, tragically lost his life in a drowning incident in Warrnambool in 2005, which also claimed the lives of four other family members. Ashlee and her sisters were the only survivors of the freak wave that took out her family. Her youngest sister was in a coma for some time but survived.

Ashlee opens up about the trauma of losing her dad and multiple family members in such a horrific and traumatic way. She shares her journey of coping with grief throughout different stages of her life and how it has affected her as a parent herself. Ashlee speaks candidly about the challenges of parenting without her father's guidance and how it has influenced her own parenting style.

We delve into how Ashlee has found ways to honour the memories of her father, how she has explained it all to her two sons.  Ashlee also shares how she feels about the tragedy now and what she has learned about herself and the world in the aftermath.

Join us for a powerful and emotional conversation with Ashlee Burrell as she shares her story of grief, resilience, and hope after the loss of her father and family members in one of the most unimaginable ways.

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In this episode, we speak to Crystal Atkins, a clinical audiologist, new mum, and wife to a paramedic. Crystal shares with us how the families of front line/emergency service workers are also affected by the stresses and strains of their jobs, something that is not often spoken about and can leave partners and family members feeling isolated and misunderstood.

Crystal talks about her childhood, her background, and how she became a clinical audiologist. She also shares how she met her husband, who drew her to him, and how her impressions of paramedics changed once her husband started working in that industry.

Crystal delves into the unique challenges of parenting with a paramedic and the difficulties of solo parenting. She also shares how she supports her husband through the difficult cases and experiences he encounters on the job, and the importance of therapy for both of them in coping with the stresses of their jobs.

We learn what a typical week looks like for Crystal and her husband, as they balance their careers and family life. Crystal also shares her thoughts on the term 'hero' often used to describe paramedics and the benefits of being in a partnership where both partners work in the medical field.

Crystal's aim is to spread awareness about the impact that front line/emergency service work has on families and to help partners and family members feel less isolated and more understood. 

FOLLOW CRYSTAL:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/early.ears.education/
WEBSITE:https://earlyearseducation.podia.com/

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