Confessions of a Grieving Mother

Type of Loss: Early Term Loss, Multiple Losses, Terminating for Medical Reasons

More about Carmen's Story: Buckle up for this episode as Carmen shares her 11 beautiful babies with us. In this episode, she she dives deep into her pregnancies, grief and how she turned her pain into purpose. Carmen wrote A Diary to My Babies: Journeying Through Pregnancy Loss to shine light on the darkness of pregnancy loss, while also showing there is no right way to grieve. And through her incredible journey, Carmen hopes the story of her family and her babies just might help others to heal.

Purchase Carmen's book A Diary to My Babies: Journeying through Pregnancy Loss here:

• https://amzn.to/4at4Myb

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.comFacebook: EmmasFootprints

Listen as Tracy and Julie talk more with Shawn Betts, Courtney's Mom. Shawn found purpose in her pain of losing her daughter Courtney, by connecting with other loss moms to form the missing angel bill. A bill that would allow you to get a birth certificate for your baby that died after 20 weeks gestation. Shawn dives into how she worked tirelessly with those moms to get that bill approved by the PA Senate. Today, Pennsylvania Senate Bill 326 CBRS exists which allows parents to get a birth certificate for their baby who was stillborn because of moms like Shawn who found purpose in their pain.

You can listen to Shawn's story here: https://bit.ly/Meet-Courtney-S7

You can find out more about the Stillborn Birth Certificate here: www.emmasfootprints.com/stillborn-birth-certificate

Type of Loss: Stillbirth

More about Shawn's Story: Listen as Shawn shares Courtney with us. At 42 weeks gestation, Shawn went to the hospital to be induced, after about 7 hours of laboring doctors decided to send her home because she wouldn’t dilate past 3 centimeters. She woke in the middle of the night with horrible contractions and returned to the hospital. The doctors tried to find her baby's heartbeat, which was very strong hours earlier when she left the hospital. After numerous attempts, they confirmed her baby no longer had a heartbeat.

After Shawn's life became threatened, doctors ended up having to speed up the delivery process in order to deliver Courtney. Shawn says she'll never forget the silence of the room when she finally delivered Courtney. Listen to part 2 coming next week to find out how Shawn found purpose in her pain of losing her sweet daughter.

Connect with Shawn:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shawnbetts913
• Instagram: @shawnbetts913

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.com
• Facebook: EmmasFootprints

Type of Loss: Early Term Loss

More about Alex's Story: Listen as Alex shares Sky with us. Alex and her husband David were so excited when they found out they were pregnant. At her first appointment, doctors confirmed Alex was pregnant, but she tells us she had a strange feeling leaving her appointment. At her next appointment, her unsettled feelings were confirmed when she was told her baby no longer had a heartbeat.

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.com
• Facebook: EmmasFootprints

In this episode, Tracy and Julie chat with Peter Burton and Karen Burton Horstman President and Vice President for Burton Quinn-Scott Cremation & Funeral Services here in Erie, PA. Over the past 10 years, they have truly become our friends in the business. They walk us through the process of handling a baby loss and answer all of our interesting questions.

Type of Loss: Stillbirth

More about Miranda's Story: Listen as Miranda shares her sweet Piper with us. Around 32 weeks gestation, Miranda noticed decrease fetal movement. Out of precaution, she went to the hospital to be monitored. After observation, she was released being told everything looked normal that Piper was just running out of room. A few days later, Miranda realized she hadn't felt Piper move in quite some time and returned to the hospital. It was there that doctors told her they could not find a heartbeat.

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.com
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Type of Loss: Early Term Loss, Ectopic Pregnancy, Multiple Losses

More about Erin's Story: Listen as Erin shares her sweet babies with us. Erin and her husband, Andy, were ecstatic when they found out they were pregnant for the first time. However, just three days later, she began bleeding. Her doctors told her that her pregnancy had been an ectopic pregnancy. Since her first pregnancy had been ectopic, her next pregnancy, with Grace, was closely monitored. Doctors were hopeful when her HCG levels were increasing and they found a heart beat. Sadly, not long later, it was confirmed that the baby was growing in her fallopian tube putting Erin's life in grave danger. She had to have her left fallopian tube removed in February 2015, and has not been pregnant since. Erin's message for listener's is there is hope and happiness is possible again after loss.

Connect with Erin:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/erin.zeigler.10

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.com
• Facebook: EmmasFootprints

Type of Loss: Infant Loss, Life Limiting Diagnosis [Restrictive cardiomyopathy]

More about Sara's Story: Listen as Sara shares her sweet June with us. Sara describes June as the perfect baby in every way. That all changed when June was four months old, she started making a strange sounds and just seemed sick. Thinking they were overreacting, Sara and her husband took June to the ER where their lives would be turned upside down. June was flown in a helicopter to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Extensive testing showed June had Restrictive Cardiomyopathy a life threatening condition. Within the next 10 days, June passed in Sara's arms while holding her dad's hand.

Connect with Sara:

• Instagram: @saravrablik

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.com
• Facebook: EmmasFootprints

Taboo Topic Series: This season, we are kicking off our Taboo Topic series where we discuss the uncomfortable topics that go hand-in-hand with losing your baby. If you have a suggestion for this series, please reach out to us at khristina@emmasfootprints.com.

Episode Warning: This episode discusses intimacy and sex after loss. Due to the nature of this topic, this may be an episode you chose to listen to with your headphones on.

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.com
• Facebook: EmmasFootprints

Type of Loss: Early Term Loss

More about Kristyn's Story: Listen as Kristyn shares her early term loss with us. Kristyn and her husband Nate were so excited when they got pregnant with Baby Ross #2. Their first pregnancy was what Kristyn described as a 'textbook pregnancy' that lead to their healthy son, Wesley. Their second pregnancy was going according to their life plan and smooth sailing until the 8 week ultrasound. Doctors found an empty sac without a fetus. Doctors told her not to worry too much and thought that maybe she was earlier in her pregnancy than she originally thought. Unfortunately, later ultrasounds confirmed their fears there was not a growing baby.

Connect with Kristyn:

• Instagram: @kristynazross

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.com
• Facebook: EmmasFootprints

Type of loss: Multiple Losses, Early Term loss, Stillbirth

Connect with Nelida:

• Instagram: @Nel0528

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.com
• Facebook: EmmasFootprints
• Instagram: @emmasfootprints

Type of Loss: Multiple Losses, Early Term Loss, Stillbirth

More about Brittanie's story: Listen as Brittanie shares her multiple losses with us. Brittanie and her Husband were ecstatic when they found out they were pregnant with their first, but their excitement quickly turned to heartbreak when they experienced an early term loss. When they got pregnant again, the fears diminished when Brittanie made it out of the first trimester. Her second pregnancy seemed to be a textbook pregnancy. At 39 weeks and 5 days gestation, Brittanie felt Lilah moving sporadically and soon felt contractions. As the contractions progressed, Brittanie and her husband went to the hospital filled with excitement to meet their baby girl. Upon arrival the nurses had trouble finding Lilah's heartbeat. The doctor came in and confirmed their worst fears, Lilah no longer had a heartbeat.

Connect with Brittanie:

• www.facebook.com/cannonbrittanie
• Instagram: @brittaniefreeman

Learn more about Emma's Footprints:

• www.EmmasFootprints.com
• Facebook: EmmasFootprints
• Instagram: @emmasfootprints

Listen as Tracy and Julie recap 2023 at Emma's Footprints. They share their high's, low's and most memorable moments of the last year.

In 2023, Emma's Footprints served 356 families and spent over $200,000 on mission related expenses.

Learn more about the Farewell Gala here: https://bit.ly/farewellwintergala

Type of loss: Multiple Losses, Life Limiting Diagnosis - Trisomy 18

Listen as Amber shares her multiple losses with us. Amber has 5 children including 3 losses and 2 living children.

Amber's first pregnancy in 2016, with her baby Archimedes ended in an early term loss. Her second pregnancy was with her living child Killian, born in October 2017. During Amber's third pregnancy with her daughter Charleigh, she was told her baby girl had Trisomy 18. At 36 weeks, in October 2019, Charleigh was born via c-section and lived for 117 minutes. In April 2020, Amber became pregnant for a fourth time with their second living child, Arthur. He was born full term and healthy in January 2021. In October 2022, Amber became pregnant for the fifth time with their baby Star, which ended in an early term loss.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀:

Instagram: @fabulous_foys

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amber.m.foy

Type of loss: Life Limiting Diagnosis - Trisomy 18

Kelly and her husband Nick found out their baby girl, Blaney, had Trisomy 18 from doing 10 week genetic testing. When Blaney made it to full term, they were hopeful that she'd be their miracle baby and survive this life limiting diagnosis. Unfortunately, Blaney passed away after just 7 hours after birth.

Connect with Kelly on socials:

Instagram: @k_smely

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kelly.reininger

This is the final episode of our 2023 Holiday Series and the final episode of the year! In this episode, Tracy and Julie discuss how to create new traditions to honor and memorialize your baby. As we move into a new year, it can can stir a wave of emotions. We are starting something new with a huge piece of our hearts missing, our babies. Tracy and Julie discuss things have done over the years that helps them honor their babies.

Listen as Tracy and Julie talk with Pam Presler about How to Navigate Your Emotions This Holiday Season. *Spoiler Alert* ...it is not possible. Listen as Pam gives us the tools and coping mechanisms to deal with our grief this holiday season. She reminds us that grief will show up and shares how we can prepare ourselves on how to best handle our grief.

If you are interested in learning more from Pam, please reach out to her via email at pamelapresler@gmail.com.

In honor of Wyatt's birthday, we are shaking up the Holiday Series to share his story. Hailey (Wyatt's mom) shares she had a pretty uneventful pregnancy, until the end, when she developed gestational hypertension around 34 weeks. Her doctors scheduled an induction for 37 weeks, however, she went into preeclampsia the day of her induction. Hailey shares that her induction failed and she had an emergency c-section. Wyatt was not breathing when he first emerged, but steadily got better after a few minutes. He had to spend five days in the NICU due to respiratory distress.

Hailey describes the next 4.5 months as pure bliss filled with Mommy & Me classes and new adventures. All of that changed on May 3, 2023 when Hailey received a call from daycare that changed her life forever. Wyatt was unresponsive after his nap.

EMT's and donors tried to resuscitate him but were never able to bring him back.

This is episode two of our 2023 Holiday Series. In this episode, Tracy and Julie talk about how to set healthy boundaries and how important it is to your grief journey. They give examples of healthy boundaries they have set for themselves and ask you to share what boundaries you have set.

In this episode, Tracy and Julie talk with Falon Gervais Emma's Footprints Director of Support Group about the Importance of Community During the Holidays. They talk about surrounding yourself with a positive, healthy support community and how to effectively communicate your needs this holiday season.

Listen as Ashley shares how her text book pregnancy got flipped upside down at 33 weeks gestation when she went into preterm labor. When Ashley's water broke the doctors discovered it to be foul-smelling and discolored, meaning there was an issue. Ashley was rushed into an emergency c-section and Harper was born at exactly 34 weeks gestation. The doctors believed that Harper was without oxygen for up to 20 minutes. They were able to resuscitate her, but she was on life support. Doctors discovered both Ashley and Harper had a life threatening infection. Later that evening, Harper passed, her tiny body was not strong enough to fully develop and fight the infection.

Listen as Tracy and Julie dive into this special Thanksgiving episode 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳: 𝘐𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘴? They share how they navigate their grief through the holidays, the difference between happiness and joy and they share inspiring ways for you to honor your baby this season.

Listen as Nicole shares her stillbirth experience. She was 37 weeks pregnant with her son Jack when she noticed decrease movement. She went to triage where she was told the devastating news that Jack no longer had a heartbeat.

To learn more about Emma's Footprints and the recourses we provide, please visit emmasfootprints.com.

Listen as Tori shares how her first two pregnancies both ended in loss. Her first loss was at 9 weeks gestation. She ended up getting pregnant very quickly following her loss and says she had a false sense of security thinking - it couldn't happen again. Unfortunately, when she went in for the anatomy scan, she was told her baby no longer had a heartbeat.

To learn more about Emma's Footprints and the recourses we provide, please visit emmasfootprints.com.

Listen as Sarah shares her daughter Georgia who was stillborn. In late March of 2021, Sarah and her husband Rob, discovered they were pregnant. While this pregnancy came as a surprise they were excited to welcome a baby girl to their family because their other two children were boys. Sarah describes her pregnancy as a textbook pregnancy.

On November 30th, when she was 39 weeks and 3 days pregnant she noticed decrease fetal movement. Following her doctors orders, she went straight to the hospital. It was there in triage that they were told her baby didn't have a heartbeat. Listen as Sarah shares how she is finding purpose in her pain.

Teri and her husband, Jay, thought they were done having kids after their second child was born. Jay had a vasectomy, however they felt like they had made a mistake and had the reversal. They got pregnant immediately after trying again for their third child.

At Teri's first sonogram the baby wasn’t measuring correctly. Doctors told her that her dates were probably off and they scheduled a follow up in two weeks. She started spotting a couple days after her sonogram. Listen as Teri shares her horrifying experience of being rushed into emergency surgery and leaving her with PTSD.

Listen as Shannon shares Charles and Benedictus with us, two different pregnancy's that both ended in loss.

Charlie, was Shanon and her husband Justin's eighth child. Shannon's pregnancy with Charlie was unlike the rest of her earlier pregnancies. She had experienced heavy bleeding at 6 weeks gestation and was told she was most likely miscarrying. She waited for signs of miscarriage and nothing ever happened. Then when she showed up for her original 10 week ultrasound they had cancelled the appointment thinking she had already miscarried. After pleading with them to make room in the schedule, the doctors were amazed when they saw that heartbeat on the screen. However, about halfway through her pregnancy Charlie was diagnosed with Trisomy 18. After receiving the Trisomy 18 diagnosis, Shannon started writing letters to Charlie to help connect and cope. (They can be found by searching #letterstocharlie on Facebook.) She carried Charlie until 36 weeks gestation when he died during labor.

Almost a year later, Shannon miscarried her next pregnancy, Benedictus. They had a funeral and buried him on Charlie’s first heavenly birthday. Then a year later their double rainbow baby, Zuzu, was born June 7 and baptized on Charlie’s 2nd heavenly birthday and Benedictus’ funeral day.

Listen as Tracy and Julie chat with Amanda Berk, Emma's Footprints Director of Bereavement about our mission. They touch on who we are, what we do and how you can support a loved one going through a pregnancy or infant loss.

To learn more, visit emmasfootprints.com

Listen as Emily shares the loss of her daughter Isabel.

Emily and her husband, Kyle, got pregnant right away before they were even officially trying to get pregnant. She shares that her pregnancy was very smooth until she was just shy of 23 weeks and didn't feel Isabel move all day. She went to triage and they gave her the devastating news that they could not find a heartbeat. At 23 weeks gestation, Isabel was stillbirth.

Emily, thank you for sharing your sweet Isabel with us and our listeners.

Listen as Lindsay shares her sweet Suvi with us. Lindsay shares she had a textbook pregnancy and really bonded with Suvi even before she was born. At 40 weeks gestation, Suvi had decreased movements. Lindsay went to the hospital where she was rushed into an emergency c-section because of Suvi's low heart rate. When she woke from surgery, Lindsay and her husband Travis, were told Suvi had a severe true knot in her umbilical chord that was tightening more and more as Lindsay was having contractions. Suvi had to be resuscitated for 14 minutes after being delivered, and after multiple scans and tests she was confirmed brain dead. On Suvi's due date, Lindsay and Travis made the gut-wrenching decision to take her off life support.

Listen as Julie shares her son Evan with us. Julie did not know she was pregnant until she went into labor at a MedExpress. Since she had never had any pregnancy symptoms and no prior prenatal care, doctors estimated she was around 30-32 weeks when she went into labor. After arriving at the hospital, Evan was was diagnosed with HLHS, a rare genetic condition in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. In this type of condition, a minimum of 3 surgeries are needed within the first 2 years of life in order for survival. They were told that a majority of children with this condition do not reach their 18th birthday.

Evan also had a leaky tricuspid valve so the cardiologists at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh weren't able to offer surgery to correct it, meaning that his condition would ultimately end in death either by leaving him on the ventilator or removing life support. Julie and her husband made the difficult decision to remove life support, so that Evan would no longer be in pain.

Listen as Taylor shares her experience of abruptly and unexpectedly losing her son, Stetson at 19 weeks gestation. She shares that she didn't realize she was in labor and losing him until it was happening. Her doctors, testing and specialist deemed her loss due to cervical insufficiency.

Grateful to have answers, her and her husband, were hopeful when they got pregnant 5 months later with their daughter Matilda. At 14 weeks gestation, she had a transvaginal cerclage placed. Even with consistent ultrasounds to measure her cervical length, she lost Matilda at 26 weeks gestation.

Listen as Kirsten shares Theo with us. Kirsten and her husband are high school sweethearts and knew they wanted to grow a family and were excited when they found out they were expecting. She was 7 weeks gestation when she began bleeding. She was instructed to head to the ER for monitoring and a checkup. After more severe cramping and bleeding she lost her baby.

Kirsten shares that day she not only lost her baby, but herself. Following her loss, she describes her life being plagued by blood draws, ovulation tests, negative pregnancy tests, doctor appointments, depression, a diagnosis of PCOS, failure to ovulate without medication, infertility, testing, ultrasounds, and finally, in August of 2018, she received a positive pregnancy test. She went on to experience all the fears, joys, and nerves of pregnancy after loss. They welcomed their rainbow baby in 2019.

Postpartum Kirsten began writing and drawing, and decided to turn her poetry into a book which was published in 2022. “Rearranged” is an award-winning collection on her journey, and the journey of so many others who travel the path of loss. A year later, she published her first children’s book, “I Love You From Heaven.”

📍You can connect with Kirsten here: www.kirstenhopfensperger.com

📚www.amazon.com/rearranged-Kirsten-Hopfensperger/dp/B09SP5XLXK/

📚www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2S279JL

Listen as Stephanie shares her daughter Josie with listeners. She had two healthy pregnancy and deliveries after getting married in 2014. Then with her third pregnancy she experienced an early-term miscarriage. After experiencing that loss, she got pregnant right away with her daughter Josie. Her pregnancy was smooth until she started to experience less and less movement. At an appointment when she was 24.5 weeks she was told Josie no longer had a heartbeat.

When a rainbow baby is expected, the grief journey changes. Each step is a "baby step" in navigating the new challenges that come with pregnancy and parenthood after loss. Baby Steps is a peer-led support group of Emma's Footprints who's mission is to provide a community and support for loss parents who are expecting or raising their rainbow baby.

🌈Learn more about Baby Steps here: www.emmasfootprints.com/support-groups

🌈Join the Baby Steps Facebook group here: https://bit.ly/BabyStepsFB

Listen as Lauren shares her son, Henry with us. She had two previous healthy pregnancies which resulted in her living children Rowan and Calvin. Her pregnancy with her son, Calvin, was smooth sailing until delivery. At delivery she was told Calvin had too much fluid around his heart. He spent 5 weeks in the NICU but overall lives a healthy life. Her third pregnancy ended much differently with her son Henry. At an appointment at 18 weeks gestation, she was told Henry had too much fluid around his heart. After close monitoring, they were told their baby had Hydrops Fetalis which is a life-threatening problem. Hydrops develops when too much fluid leaves the baby's bloodstream and goes into the tissues. At 22 weeks she no longer felt Henry move and was told he no longer had a heartbeat. He was stillborn at 22 weeks gestation.

Listen as Regina shares her four losses including 2 miscarriages, 1 ectopic pregnancy and the loss of her daughter, Jordan, at 17 weeks gestation due to a cord accident.

Listen as Sofiya shares her son Emerson with us. Sofiya and her husband Bill were over the moon excited when they finally got pregnant after more than a year of trying to conceive. She reflects back on the pregnancy being difficult from the very beginning. She experienced very heavy bleeding and found out she had a subchorionic hematoma. She went into preterm labor at 19 weeks and delivered her son, Emerson.

Listen as Jessica shares her pregnancy and delivery of her daughter, Freya. Jessica had a healthy pregnancy until she was 19 weeks gestation. At that point she began bleeding fairly heavily. Her doctors told her they suspected a placental abruption. From 19 weeks to 23 weeks gestation, Jessica was in and out of the hospital multiple times due to her heavy bleeding. At 23 weeks 3 days, Jessica went into preterm labor and Freya was born on January 12, 2023.

Listen as Maci shares her daughter Luna with us. Luna was born in March of 2021. She had a textbook pregnancy and delivery. Maci and her husband's lives were flipped upside down when at two months old, Luna was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She fought hard, but in December 2021, Luna passed away.

Listen as Courtney shares what it was like to find out her daughter, Celeste, did not have a heartbeat at 22 weeks gestation. In 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, she attended her 22 week anatomy scan alone. At that appointment she was told her baby no longer had a heartbeat. Listen as Courtney shares that experience and giving birth to her daughter Celeste who was stillborn.

Listen as Regina shares her sweet Reina with us. Regina went into preterm labor at 25 weeks and delivered Reina. Only six days before her delivery, Regina found out her baby had down syndrome. After birth, Reina had to have surgery to repair her PDA valve. The surgery was successful, but her little lungs had become cystic. She fought hard and lived for 69 on life support.

Thank you Regina for sharing your sweet Reina with our listeners.

Listen as Morgan shares what it was like to experience two stillbirths in less than a year. Morgan and her husband Jason were overjoyed when they got pregnant right after getting married. Her pregnancy was very smooth until her 20 week ultrasound when she was told her baby didn't have a heartbeat. She was induced and her son, Harrison, was stillborn. After testing, they found out Morgan had experienced a Triploid Pregnancy which is a rare genetic condition that causes the baby to have extra chromosomes in their cells.

Longing to start their family, with the clear from their doctor, they got pregnant again right away. Right after her 20 week ultrasound she went into preterm labor and gave birth to her daughter Harper who didn't have a heartbeat.

Listen as Allie shares losing her twins, Sunny and River, in an early term miscarriage. Allie and her boyfriend, Matt, were ecstatic when they found out they were expecting because they truly though that they were unable to get pregnant. As a twin herself, Allie was not necessarily shocked when she discovered she was expecting twins, she was just overjoyed at the thought of becoming a mom. However, all of her joy turned to sorrow the very next day when she miscarried.

For this episode, we asked our friends from the Guys and Grief to spearhead the Father's Day Episode. Guys and Grief is geared toward fathers that have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. The Podcast is meant to provide a platform to talk about the under-resourced, and often undiscussed, perspective of men that have experienced child loss.

Created by 3 close friends - Brad who experienced multiple pregnancy losses, Brandon who lost a child to stillbirth, and Brian who lost a child to SIDS - the guys share stories and challenges, as well as laughs and a few tears, as they navigate helping men honor their children, deal with grief, support their family, and try find better days ahead.

On this episode we welcome our guest, Amy Watson. Amy is a coach for loss moms, but also a loss mom herself. She has six living children and on this episode we meet her babies Lauren who was stillborn at 39.5 weeks gestation and River who she lost at 14 weeks gestation.

If you'd like to learn more about Amy and Smooth Stones Coaching, visit smoothstonescoaching.com.

Listen as Karina shares what it was like to lose her son, Ari, at 39 weeks 3 days gestation. He passed due to hypoxia ischemic encephalopathy caused by a double nuchal cord. Karina had to have an emergency c-section. Ari was resuscitated at birth, but was never able to fully recover and passed early the next day.

Listen as Katie shares her story. Due to PCOS, she had fertility issues so she and her husband, Josh, were over the moon when they found out they were expecting. Little did she know at the time, she was actually pregnant with twins! She had a smooth pregnancy until she was about 19.5 weeks gestation and went into preterm labor.

Listen as Alyssa shares her babies Alexander and Devin with us. Alyssa found out she was pregnant in 1997 with her son, Alexander. At a routine doctor's appointment at 26 weeks gestation they were having trouble detecting Alex's heartbeat. They sent her to the hospital for a sonogram and she was told Alexander no longer had a heartbeat. In 2002, Alyssa got pregnant again with twins. She lost her twins at 12 weeks gestation. Alyssa's third pregnancy was with her daughter, Adrianna, who is still living today. When her daughter was about two, Alyssa found out she was pregnant with her son Devin. At a routine appointment, the doctors could not find Devin's heartbeat.

Tracy and Julie talk through five ways you can cope this Mother's Day. This list of ways to cope doesn't just apply to Mother's Day or holidays, but any day for that matter. Self-care is such an important part of your grief journey.

1. Give yourself permission to feel your emotions.

2. Find a positive outlet for your feelings.

3. Avoid social media or other triggers.

4. Plan a ME day.

5. Reach out to family, friends or other loved ones.