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

Today's guest motherhood journey did not start out as planned. She conceived two months after getting married with twins. Her and her husband were both enlisted in the Marine Corps and he was stationed in California while she stayed in North Carolina.  Theresa Alexis woke up bleeding at 20 weeks pregnant and was rushed on base to the Naval hospital where they took their time to get her back and wa...

Have you heard of the term transabdominal cerclage?    A transabdominal cerclage is a small, extremely strong, woven synthetic band stitched high on the cervix. This band supports the full length of the cervix and resists the pressure the growing fetus places on it. The band prevents the cervix from opening and losing the pregnancy.   Today's guest experienced several miscarriages before giving bi...

Today's guest experienced her first loss of a blighted ovum that required surgery and then discovered she had fertility issues and began fertility treatments.  She then experienced another miscarriage and had the baby at home.  Tamara Hunter learned from her fertility specialist/reproductive endocrinologist that she had thrombophilia, a blood abnormality, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and ovari...

Today's guest had a daughter right after college then was married and struggled with infertility both female and male factor infertility.  Vanessa Goodar experienced two failed IVF rounds, a failed insemination, and had an involuntary hysterectomy at age 37.  These experiences caused severe psychological and emotional distress and she struggled with insomnia, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.  Her ex...

Have you heard of the term hydrosalpinx? Hydrosalpinx is the blockage of a woman's fallopian tube caused by a fluid buildup and dilation of the tube at its end. Most often it occurs at the fimbrial end of the tube next to the ovary, but it can also occur at the other end of the tube that attaches to the uterus. Today's guest was diagnosed with infertility after trying to conceive for a year.  She...

Have you heard of the term Cervical Insufficiency? Cervical insufficiency (also called incompetent cervix) means your cervix opens (dilates) too early during pregnancy , usually without pain or contractions. Contractions are when the muscles of your uterus get tight and then relax. They help push your baby out of your uterus during labor and birth. Today's guest experienced 3 second trimester loss...

COVID-19 has brought about a loneliness in pregnancy that has yet to be measured. Going to doctors appointments alone, via Zoom, and not receiving the same care priorto COVID has made navigating pregnancy difficult. Today's guest got pregnant with twins in Summer 2019 and had a healthy pregnancy until the 3rd trimester. They began telling her that Baby B was smaller than Baby A, but nothing to be...

Do you know what a hysterectomy is? A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the womb (uterus) . You'll no longer be able to get pregnant after the operation. If you have not already gone through the menopause, you'll no longer have periods, regardless of your age. Many women have a hysterectomy. It's more common for women aged 40 to 50.   Today's guest struggled with fibroids in her early...

Do you know what Stillbirth is? A stillbirth is the death or loss of a baby before or during delivery . Both miscarriage and stillbirth describe pregnancy loss, but they differ according to when the loss occurs. Today's guest experienced a stillbirth at 21 weeks followed by a missed miscarriage at 9 weeks.  She became pregnant again and experienced anxiety, had an upsetting birth experience with h...

Have you heard of Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project? Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project (DSMAP) is an Atlanta-based nonprofit created in honor of Dr. Shalon Irving, who passed away from complications due to childbirth and was a fierce health equity advocate. Our mission is to increase awareness of the Black maternal health crisis and develop and promote evidence-based strategies that improve...

Today's guest feels like she has faced it all.  From being diagnosed with Endometriosis and Fibroids.  To battling this infertility with fertility treatments including 9 failed IVF cycles, two surgeries, multiple miscarriages, a failed attempt at surrogacy, one egg donor, and a successful adoption of a son.  Candace Clark Trinicheri had many setbacks on her journey to motherhood, but she kept pers...

After experiencing a spontaneous abortion and six months later being faced with another loss that resulted from a ectopic pregnancy and one less fallopian tube today's guest was shattered and disappointed.  Tiana Rogers grieved her losses and five months later after her ectopic loss she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.  There were no words to describe the utter devastation of being met wi...

Do you know what a missed miscarriage is? A missed (or silent) miscarriage is one where the baby has died or not developed, but has not been physically miscarried.  In many cases, there has been no sign that anything was wrong, so the news can come as a complete shock. Today's guest experienced a missed miscarriage with twins after having three daughters.  Sibyl Lilly has 6 children here on earth...

Do you know the symptoms of stillbirth? Stopping of fetal movement and kicks. Spotting or bleeding. No fetal heartbeat heard with a stethoscope or Doppler. No fetal movement or heartbeat seen on ultrasound, which makes the definitive diagnosis that a baby is stillborn.  Today's guest experienced some of these symptoms going into her 7 month of pregnancy.  Angela Hampton found out she was pregnant...

Do you know what a placental abruption is? Placental Abruption is a serious pregnancy complication in which the placenta detaches from the womb (uterus). 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 o...

Fertility is not just a birthing factor, sometimes it is male factor.  Male infertility can be caused by low sperm production, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm. Illnesses, injuries, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices and other factors may contribute to male infertility. Today's guest shares her story with male factor infertility, going through IUI whi...

Have you heard of the term myomectomy? Myomectomy is the surgical removal of fibroids from the uterus. It allows the uterus to be left in place and, for some women, makes pregnancy more likely than before.  Myomectomy is the preferred fibroid treatment for women who want to become pregnant. Today's guest experienced infertility and gave birth to her stillborn son at 28 weeks.  Kima Tozay was diagn...

Have you been told you need to experience at least 2 or more miscarriages before seeing a fertility specialist? Today's guest experienced that after going through a miscarriage, a chemical pregnancy loss, and another miscarriage the fertility clinic would determine there were no genetic abnormalities and nothing wrong with her remains.  They suggested she lose weight and would run more tests after...

After battling infertility for 10 years with Poly cystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS, today's guest delivered her baby at 27 weeks, spent 6 months in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and lost her baby.  Lianne Totty, went on to have another baby at 25 weeks who also spent time in the NICU and is now thriving.  Her experience led her to writing her children's book "Baby went to Heaven" to help...

Have you heard of preeclampsia? Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys. There may be no symptoms. High blood pressure and protein in the urine are key features. There may also be swelling in the legs and water retention, but this can be hard to distinguish from normal pregnancy. Pre...

It's My Birthday and 4 Year Podcast Episode!  Today's episode is a solo episode where I catch you up on all the things happening with Sisters in Loss and celebrating my birthday on July 17th and 4 years of podcasting on August 2.   In this episode we discuss: -Taking a solo vacation for my birthday -Recapping this year so far for Sisters in Loss -What is next for Sisters in Loss?  Our 2021 Summit...

Today's guest became a mother at 19, and used her experiences to become a doula and fertility awareness method educator, and nutritionist.  Barakah Sahaiel became pregnant and she and her partner went on vacation to celebrate this new journey.  It was then she knew something was wrong and she began to miscarry.  In this episode Barakah takes us on the journey of finding a hospital in another count...

Imagine going to your first prenatal appointment to find out your body was beginning to miscarry. Today's guest found out she was pregnant and then began spotting before her first prenatal appointment.  She explained to the doctors about the spotting and they performed an ultrasound.  The ultrasound tech went to get the doctor to break the news that the pregnancy would not be viable.  Abena Hill k...

How many of us have prayed that Hannah prayer for a baby? Today's guest, experienced 4 miscarriages and one stillbirth and is on a mission to inform others of pregnancy and infant loss and help parents who have lost their precious babies. Christina Williams is a PAIL advocate and CEO of C.H.L.O.E. her non profit organization around pregnancy and infant loss.  After experiencing her stillbirth Chri...

What happens when the heartbeat stops?  What happens when doctors say "there is nothing we can do?"   Today's guest experienced two miscarriages outside of the hospital one at a rental car facility and the other at home.  JaRonda Dockett has Sickle Cell Anemia and was considered high risk because of the blood disease, being diagnosed with gestational diabetes and bacterial vaginosis when she becam...