Female Voices: Life and Loss

Grief isn’t just about saying goodbye—it’s about navigating everything that follows. In this deeply moving episode, Teresa Reiniger sits down with Julie Swaney to share the heartbreaking story of losing her sister, Betsy, in a sudden and tragic event. Julie opens up about the complexities of grieving within a family, the emotional toll of navigating a high-profile legal case, and the profound resp...

In this week's episode, Teresa Reiniger interviews LaWayna Berry, a coach, counselor, and advocate for holistic healing. They dive deep into how grief impacts every area of life not just emotions, also finances, relationships, career growth, and overall well-being. LaWayna shares her inspiring journey from criminal justice to holistic counseling, revealing how personal loss and trauma shaped her p...

Grief changes us, and it also reveals our strength. In this episode, co-host LaWayna Berry interviews Teresa Reiniger, exploring her journey from profound personal loss to becoming a grief coach and community builder. Teresa shares how her experiences—and the lessons learned through her training—shaped her passion for helping others navigate grief with compassion and hope. Discover the transformat...

In this episode of Female Voices: Life and Loss, cohosts Teresa and Wayna dive into the complexities of family relationships and how they influence healing and growth. Sharing insights from their own families, they discuss everything from raising children and learning from grandparents to navigating marriage and communication challenges. The conversation highlights the importance of fostering indi...

Welcome to the relaunch of Female Voices: Life and Loss! In this first episode of our new season, cohosts Wayna Berry and Teresa Reiniger sit down to share their personal journeys, reflecting on the life experiences that shaped their paths and brought them to this shared platform.  From their career journeys to the lessons learned through navigating loss, Wayna and Teresa discuss how storytelling...

In this season finale, Teresa Reiniger reflects on the journey of her podcast, ‘Labor Pains’ to 'Resilient Moms,' which has provided a platform for women to share their stories of grief and resilience. Over the past four years, the podcast has evolved from focusing on infertility and pregnancy loss to encompassing a broader range of experiences related to loss. Teresa emphasizes the importance of...

Teresa Reiniger sits down with Michelle Cramer , founder of a nonprofit organization supporting grieving families, to explore the complexities of grief—particularly around pregnancy and infant loss. Together, they dive deep into society's struggles to offer meaningful support to families experiencing loss, and the crucial need for emotional intelligence in conversations about grief. Michelle share...

Teresa Reiniger sits down with Michelle L. Cramer to discuss the transformative power of grief recovery. Michelle, the founder of On Angel's Wings, Certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist, and Author of Unshattered Grief . Michelle explains in this week’s episode the Grief Recovery Method , focusing on how it helps individuals process their grief by addressing unresolved past losses and emotion...

In this episode of Resilient Moms I am joined by Michelle Cramer, the founder and executive director of On Angels' Wings, a nonprofit dedicated to providing support for families who have lost a child at birth or have a child with a terminal risk diagnosis. Michelle shares her personal journey and the story behind creating On Angels' Wings, a powerful organization that offers free therapeutic photo...

In this episode, I aim to provide you with some clarity and understanding about managing grief, dealing with heightened emotions and brain fog, and recognizing the significant impact grief can have on physical health. Additionally, the episode highlights the importance of self care practices that can support healing during the grieving process. In this episode: ·       Acknowledging that heightene...

In this heartfelt episode, Teresa Reiniger talks with Katie Schwarz about her personal journey through pregnancy loss and the complexities she faced along the way. Katie courageously shares the story of her son, Hudson, and the emotional and medical challenges she encountered during her pregnancy. Katie emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, trusting one's instincts, and finding a support...

In this episode, I delve into the isolating experience of losing a child and explore ways to build a strong support network to aid in the healing process. I have shared 5 practical tips to communicate your needs, set boundaries, and connect with those who can genuinely support you. Grief often leads to feelings of isolation, even when surrounded by others. It is crucial to recognize and address th...

Kayla Hollingshead and Jenni Koskela are two dedicated Labor and Delivery Nurses that work daily to find rays of sunshine by creating positive memories amid baby loss. Jenni shared that when a mom comes in and there is no heart beat the regular protocol goes out the window. It is about sharing love and compassion while guiding the family through their needs. We want to ensure the families have eve...

Join us in this special anniversary episode as we celebrate four years of podcasting, sharing stories, resources, information about infertility, pregnancy, and child loss and navigating grief. This episode features three very special guests: my granddaughters Blake and Harper, who share about themselves and why they are grandmom's little miracles, and my husband Tom, who has been a huge suppor...

In this episode, Robbie Norris shares his deeply personal journey through grief and heartbreak following the loss of his daughter Indie. Robbie opens up about the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way, offering valuable insights for others navigating similar experiences. He describes the intense anger and shares his struggles with directing his anger towards his wife, Molly....

Jeremy Lagerhausen's shared in this episode his story and insights of balancing fatherhood, supporting his spouse, and navigating his personal grief. He shared experiencing a roller coaster of emotions for 10 weeks, heightened stress, and the ultimate loss of his newborn son, who lived for only 36 hours. In this episode: ·       The most challenging part of the journey was figuring out how to...

In this episode I shared some personal reflections and experiences as we approach the end of May 2024. This month holds significant emotional weight for many, including myself, due to the recent celebrations of Mother’s Day and Bereaved Mother’s Day. In this episode, I discuss the importance of honoring bereaved mothers, share insights from a grief retreat I attended, and explore profound transfor...

In this heartfelt episode, Jess and Jeremy Lagerhausen share their deeply personal journey through a difficult pregnancy and the loss of their son, Jude. Their story is one of love, faith, and resilience. They recount the unexpected turns their lives took and the profound God moments they experienced. Jess and Jeremy's son, Jude, was born on December 2nd and passed away on December 3rd after 1...

In this week’s episode, Jade Welegala shares her heart-wrenching yet inspiring story of navigating severe medical complications and the loss of her baby at 23 weeks and 6 days due to a series of life-threatening conditions. Jade's experience brings to light the struggles of dealing with pre-eclampsia, HELLP Syndrome, and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), alongside the profound grie...

  In this deeply personal episode, Liz O'Donnell talks about the transformative and painful journey following the stillbirth of her child, Aaliyah, at 32 weeks. Liz shares her experiences and the subsequent changes in her life, including her courageous fight for bereavement rights, which led to the passing of an emergency bereavement bill in D.C., granting parents up to two weeks of paid leave...

In this episode Beth Frattura shares her deeply personal and challenging journey through IVF and the broader landscape of infertility treatments. After one and a half years of trying to conceive naturally, Beth and her husband received an infertility diagnosis due to male factors, leading them directly into the world of IVF with the need for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). In this episode...

It’s National Infertility Awareness Week. On this episode I talked about the often misunderstood and complex world of infertility. Many are unaware of the significant emotional toll and grief that accompanies infertility, affecting not only individuals but also couples and families. This episode aims to bring these issues into the light, offering understanding and support to those navigating this...

In this episode, Leah Judice shared her deeply personal journey through infertility, chronic back pain, mental health, and her decision to pursue adoption. She opens up about her struggles with not being physically and mentally capable of becoming pregnant. She discusses the emotional toll of working through pain management while trying to fulfill her dream of becoming a mom. Topics we talked abou...

Rebecca Eggering, a dedicated professional who has devoted over two decades in supporting families during their most vulnerable times as a Labor and Delivery nurse. Recently, Rebecca has embraced a pivotal role as the Share Bereavement Coordinator at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, IL, marking a new chapter in her mission to provide care and understanding. Rebecca effectively enhances pregnancy lo...

Katrina Travis shares her heart-wrenching experience of loss and the resilience it took to navigate grief while supporting her daughter and son-in-law during one of the most challenging times of their lives. In this episode, we talked about the profound grief and unwavering strength that Katrina faced when her daughter lost her full-term daughter. Through her story, we delve into the complexities...