The Rainbow Connection

Nancy shares the story of her son Callum — a pregnancy that began with surprise and joy, and slowly unfolded into uncertainty after a CMV diagnosis. In this episode, she walks us through what it was like to navigate pregnancy loss, the fear of the unknown, and how her experience shaped the way she approached pregnancy after loss. She also shares about her earthside sons and what motherhood after loss looks like for her today.

We talk about:

• Receiving a CMV diagnosis during pregnancy and what that meant
• The emotional shift from joy to fear in pregnancy
• Navigating the unknowns of pregnancy loss
• Grieving an angel baby while continuing forward
• The complexity of pregnancy after loss
• Holding fear and hope at the same time
• Motherhood after loss and raising earthside children
• How loss changes your identity as a mother
• Finding moments of grounding and connection again

This episode is a powerful reminder that grief and love live side by side — and that even after loss, there can still be space for hope.

Get to know Nancy:

Nancy is a mother of three, including her angel baby Callum and her two earthside sons, Declan and Landon. She lives in Oakville, Ontario with her husband Cody, and works as an elementary school teacher. Outside of work, she loves spending time outdoors with her boys, reading, gardening, and playing soccer — finding joy in the everyday moments of motherhood after loss.

Learn more about CMV: https://cmvcanada.com/what-is-cmv/#prevention

Connect with Kristin:

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Community Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven
🌸 Mother Like No Other — Loss Mom Community: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!

Ummul Patrawala shares her journey through multiple pregnancy losses, including the stillbirth of her daughter Sakina at 38 weeks, and how those experiences shaped her understanding of the deep connection between trauma and the body. In this episode, we explore motherhood after loss, the physical and emotional imprint of grief, and how her rainbow baby helped her begin to rebuild trust, connection, and safety within herself. This conversation is a powerful reflection on healing after stillbirth, pregnancy after loss, and the evolving identity of motherhood in the after.

We talk about:

• The story and meaning behind Ummul’s name and identity as “the mother of all mothers”
• Navigating stillbirth and the loss of her daughter Sakina at 38 weeks
• The physical impact of grief, including autoimmune conditions, IBS, and chronic pain
• PTSD and the body’s response to unresolved trauma after pregnancy loss
• Rebuilding trust in your body during pregnancy after loss
• The emotional complexity of welcoming a rainbow baby
• Motherhood after loss and holding both grief and hope at the same time
• Supporting women through the invisible impact of trauma on the body
• Learning to listen to your body instead of disconnecting from it

This episode is a powerful reminder that grief and beauty can coexist — and that birth, even in loss, can absolutely be sacred.

Get to know Ummul:

Ummul Patrawala is a mother to three boys and five angel babies, living in Mississauga, Ontario. After experiencing profound pregnancy loss, including the stillbirth of her daughter Sakina at 38 weeks, her path shifted in a deeply personal way. Today, she is a psychotherapist who supports women navigating the physical and emotional effects of trauma — including chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, and pelvic health challenges. Her work is rooted in helping women reconnect with their bodies, rebuild trust, and feel seen in experiences that are often overlooked.

Instagram: @ThriveHolisticCoaching
Website: www.hopetherapyjourney.com

Connect with Kristin:
📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Community Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven
🌸 Mother Like No Other — Loss Mom Community: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!

Sara Rian, a poet, therapist, and mother based in Metro Detroit, joins me to share her story of losing her mother to suicide — and the profound way that loss shaped her understanding of grief, love, and connection. In this episode, we explore how grief lives not just in our minds, but in our bodies, and how experiences of loss can impact intimacy, identity, and the way we move through motherhood and healing.

This is a conversation about what it means to live after loss — to carry it, to feel it, and to slowly find your way back to yourself.

We talk about:

• Navigating grief after losing a parent to suicide
• How grief lives in the body and impacts daily life
• The connection between grief and intimacy
• Feeling disconnected from your body after loss
• The role of poetry and expression in healing
• Holding both love and grief at the same time
• Identity shifts after profound loss
• The unspoken parts of healing and moving forward

This episode is a powerful reminder that grief and love can coexist. And that even in the aftermath of loss, there is space for connection, healing, and coming home to yourself.

Get to know Sara Rian:

Sara Rian is a poet, self-published author, licensed therapist, mother, and wife living in Metro Detroit. Her journey with grief began after the loss of her mother to suicide in 2018 — a loss that continues to shape both her personal life and her work. Through her writing, Sara creates space for others to feel seen in their grief, reminding them that they are not alone in their love or their loss. As both a mental health professional and a grieving daughter, she brings a deeply compassionate and honest voice to the conversations we often struggle to have.

Instagram: @sara_rian_books
Website: www.sararianbooks.com

Connect with Kristin:

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Community Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven
🌸 Mother Like No Other — Loss Mom Community: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!

Miranda Stout shares her story of navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, a complicated pregnancy, birth trauma, and a NICU stay — and what it means to now be parenting her two living sons after everything it took to get here. In this episode, we talk about the long road to motherhood after loss, the lingering impact of trauma, and the slow shift from survival mode into something softer. This conversation holds space for both the grief that stays and the life that continues to unfold.

We talk about:

• Miranda’s experience with infertility and the early challenges of trying to conceive
• Navigating pregnancy loss and the emotional toll it carries
• A complicated pregnancy and birth trauma
• The experience of having a baby in the NICU
• What survival mode looks like in motherhood after loss
• The lingering presence of trauma, even in “normal” life
• Parenting living children while carrying past grief
• The transition from surviving to slowly feeling safe again
• Holding both gratitude and grief at the same time

This episode is a powerful reminder that grief and beauty can coexist — and that birth, even in loss, can absolutely be sacred.

Get to know Miranda:

Miranda Stout is a wife, boy mom of two, and interior designer based in Ottawa, Ontario. Her path to motherhood has been anything but straightforward — shaped by infertility, pregnancy loss, a complicated pregnancy, birth trauma, and a NICU stay. Through it all, she has found her way into a life that feels both hard-earned and deeply meaningful, holding space for the messiness and beauty that can exist side by side.


Connect with Kristin:

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Community Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven
🌸 Mother Like No Other — Loss Mom Community: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!

Abbie shares the story of her son Rowan — a pregnancy that felt calm, grounded, and deeply connected, until everything shifted. In this episode, we talk about pregnancy loss, grief, and the identity changes that come with motherhood after loss. Abbie opens up about how Rowan shaped not only her journey as a mother, but also her work, her purpose, and the way she now moves through the world. We also talk about her rainbow baby, and what it looks like to hold both grief and joy in the same life.

We talk about:

• Experiencing an unexpected pregnancy after infertility and PCOS
• A peaceful, connected pregnancy during the quiet of COVID
• The moment everything changed and navigating pregnancy loss
• How grief reshapes identity and motherhood after loss
• The concept of “before and after” loss — and living in both
• Carrying your baby with you in your body, your work, and your life
• Finding purpose and moving into grief-informed care
• Parenting a rainbow baby while honouring an angel baby
• The ongoing nature of healing after pregnancy loss

This episode is a gentle reminder that grief and love can live side by side — and that even after loss, motherhood continues in its own sacred way.

Get to know Abbie:
Abbie is a massage therapist, nurturer, and mother currently living in Southwest Florida. Originally from rural upstate New York, she brings a deep sense of care and presence into both her work and her life. She is a mom to her daughters and her son Rowan, who passed away — an experience that has shaped her compassion, her purpose, and the way she supports others through grief and healing. Abbie believes in slowing down, finding beauty in the simple moments, and living with gentle intention.

Instagram: @bonitaspringsmassage
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Rowanwellnesscenter/

Connect with Kristin:
📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Community Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven
🌸 Mother Like No Other — Loss Mom Community: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!

Fernanda shares the story of her daughter, who was diagnosed during pregnancy with metatropic dysplasia — a rare and life-limiting condition. After weeks of uncertainty, testing, and slowly losing hope, Fernanda and her partner were faced with an impossible decision: to continue the pregnancy knowing their daughter would suffer, or to say goodbye.

In this episode, Fernanda speaks openly about choosing to say goodbye to her daughter at 27 weeks, the three days she had to hold her close and prepare her heart, and the sacred, life-changing moment of meeting her after birth.

She also takes us into the depths of grief — what it truly looks like to live in the aftermath of loss — and the hard, intentional work it took to survive. Finally, she shares about her rainbow baby, Theo, and how becoming his mother helped bring her back to life while still carrying love for her first baby.

We talk about:

• Receiving a rare diagnosis during pregnancy
• The emotional weight of waiting for answers
• Making an impossible, compassionate decision
• Carrying her daughter and preparing to say goodbye
• The sacred experience of birth after loss
• What grief actually looks like in the months after loss
• The role of therapy, routine, and medication in healing
• The deep desire to become a mother again
• Pregnancy after loss and the fear that comes with it
• Meeting her rainbow baby and learning to feel again

This episode is a powerful reminder that grief and love are never separate — and that even in the darkest moments, there can still be connection, meaning, and a path forward.

Get to know Fernanda:

Fernanda is a creative, graphic designer, and community leader based in Berlin, Germany, where she lives with her husband and their son. Originally from Santiago, Chile, she has built a life rooted in creativity, movement, and connection. Her journey through pregnancy loss and motherhood after loss has deeply shaped the way she sees the world — and the way she shows up in it today.

Instagram: @mandarina.caiman

Connect with Kristin:

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven
🕊 RECLAIM — The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim
🌸 Mother Like No Other — Loss Mom Community: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!

Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, neuroscientist, author, and doula, joins me for a deeply grounding conversation on how early experiences shape both baby and mother — especially in the context of pregnancy after loss and raising a rainbow baby. We explore the intersection of science and instinct, and what it really means to nurture, connect, and rebuild trust in motherhood after loss. This episode offers a powerful reframe: that the closeness you feel called to offer your baby is not only valid — it’s biologically essential.

We talk about:

• How early experiences shape brain development in babies
• The neuroscience behind attachment and connection
• Parenting a rainbow baby after pregnancy loss
• Rebuilding trust in your body and instincts after loss
• The impact of nurturing on maternal mental health
• Letting go of fear-based parenting narratives
• Why closeness is not “spoiling” — it’s protective
• The intersection of grief, healing, and motherhood after loss
• How to feel more grounded and confident in your parenting choices

This episode is a powerful reminder that grief and beauty can coexist — and that the way you love and nurture your baby truly matters.

Get to know Dr Greer:

Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum is a neuroscientist, author, and educator dedicated to transforming how we understand early development. Trained at the University of Toronto, Columbia University, NYU, and Yale, she brings together cutting-edge research and her lived experience as a mother and doula. Through her work, Greer helps families understand how nurturing the mother–baby relationship supports both infant brain development and maternal mental health. She is the author of The Nurture Revolution and leads a global movement empowering parents to raise emotionally resilient children through connection and care.

Instagram: @drgreerkirshenbaum
Website: www.nurture-neuroscience.com

Connect with Kristin

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven
🕊 RECLAIM — The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim
🌸 Mother Like No Other — Loss Mom Community: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life


If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!

Elle Margetson shares the story of her triplets — a pregnancy that began with surprise and quickly became something much bigger than she ever imagined. After conceiving with the help of medication, Elle discovered she was carrying three babies — a moment that shifted everything.

But as her pregnancy progressed, complications arose, and she was faced with infection, medical dismissal, and ultimately premature labour. Her babies were born far too soon — each one alive, each one deeply loved — and each one lost in the days that followed in the NICU.

In this episode, we talk about pregnancy loss, neonatal loss, and what it means to become a mother in the midst of unimaginable grief. We also talk about pregnancy after loss, postpartum mental health, and the complex journey of welcoming a rainbow baby while still carrying the love for the babies who came before.

We talk about:

• Conceiving after infertility and PCOS
• Discovering a triplet pregnancy
• Medical gaslighting and infection during pregnancy
• Premature birth and NICU experiences
• Losing each of her babies after birth
• Grief and identity in motherhood after loss
• Pregnancy after loss and the fear that comes with it
• Postpartum anxiety and mental health after bringing a baby home
• Finding purpose through supporting other loss moms
• Holding grief and hope at the same time

This episode is a reminder that grief and love do not exist separately — they live side by side, shaping the way we move forward.

Get to know Elle:

Elle Margetson is a grief therapist, loss mom, and the creator of The Loss Mama Method. After losing her triplets following premature birth in 2021, Elle turned her experience into a mission to support other women navigating pregnancy loss, neonatal loss, and motherhood after loss. Through her work in Superconscious Grief Therapy, she helps mothers release guilt, calm overwhelm, and reconnect with themselves. Based in the UK, Elle has supported over 120 loss moms worldwide — offering a space where healing and remembrance can exist together.

Instagram: @elle.hypnotherapy

Connect with Kristin

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven
🕊 RECLAIM — The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim
🌸 Mother Like No Other — Loss Mom Community: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much!

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!

In this solo episode, Kristin Mundy reflects on the emotional weight of Mother’s Day after loss while sharing the story of her son William, whose life and passing deeply shaped the creation of Held Through. Through her own experiences with miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss, Kristin speaks openly about navigating loss within the medical system, the importance of informed choices, and the sacred moments we get with our babies.

We talk about:

•  Grief after Mother’s Day and Bereaved Mother’s Day 
•  Kristin’s pregnancy and loss with William 
•  Navigating a life-limiting diagnosis during pregnancy 
•  The difference between informed and unsupported loss experiences 
•  Advocacy, options, and decision making during pregnancy and loss 
•  Creating meaningful, sacred time with your baby 
•  The impact of birth and postpartum experiences on grief 
•  The gaps in care for women experiencing loss 
•  The creation and purpose behind Held Through
•  Supporting mothers, loved ones, and practitioners through loss 

This episode is a reminder that even in the most heartbreaking circumstances, there can be moments of connection, love, and meaning — and that no mother should have to walk through loss without support.

Get to know your Host:
This is a solo episode with Kristin Mundy — birth, postpartum, and bereavement doula, childbirth educator, and founder of The Doula Life. Based in Hamilton, Canada, Kristin supports women through pregnancy, loss, and motherhood after loss with a compassionate, trauma-informed approach. Her work is rooted in her own lived experience of loss and her mission to ensure no mother feels alone in any part of her journey.

Connect with Kristin:
📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🕊 The Held Through Series: thedoulalife.ca/held
🌸 Mother Like No Other: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review—it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!

Samantha Vera Cleland shares her journey through pregnancy loss, beginning with an early miscarriage that was minimized by others, and continuing into her pregnancy with her daughter Vera — a baby she already saw as her rainbow after loss. In this episode, Sam opens up about the anxiety of pregnancy after loss, the emotional weight of navigating milestones, and how her identity has evolved as both a bereaved mother and a mother to her living son. Her story is an honest reflection on grief, healing, and the complexity of motherhood after loss.

We talk about:

- Experiencing early miscarriage and the impact of dismissive language around loss
- Why “chemical pregnancy” doesn’t reflect the depth of grief
- The anxiety of pregnancy after loss and daily testing for reassurance
- Navigating the myth of a “safe zone” in pregnancy
- Holding the identity of both a bereaved mother and a present parent
- The emotional reality of postpartum after a rainbow baby
- Learning to carry grief and gratitude at the same time
- The evolving definition of motherhood after loss
- Supporting families through baby loss and changing the narrative
- Finding moments of connection with both babies — here and not here


This episode is a powerful reminder that grief and beauty can coexist and that even after loss, motherhood continues in so many forms.

Get to Know Samantha:

Samantha Vera Cleland is a mental health social worker, bereaved mother, and advocate for families navigating pregnancy and infant loss. After the death of her daughter Vera, Sam’s identity shifted in ways she never expected — shaping how she sees motherhood, grief, and healing. Now parenting her living son, she is passionate about changing the narrative around baby loss and supporting other families through their own journeys. She lives with her husband and their beloved pets, finding comfort in connection, family, and the quiet moments at home.

Instagram: @remembering_verarose

Connect with Kristin:

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca
🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven
🕊 RECLAIM — The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim
🌸 Mother Like No Other: thedoulalife.ca/mother
📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it helps get these stories and resources into the hands of the women who need them most. And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much!

We'd love to hear how you enjoyed this episode!