Resilient Moms: Hope, Healing & Living After Loss Teresa Reiniger with Living After Grief

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 grief of losing a child. 

Episode Overview:

·       Jade’s Health Crisis: Discussion of Jade's initial symptoms and the rapid escalation into severe conditions for both her and the baby.

·       Critical Decisions: Moments in the hospital where Jade was faced with the life-altering decision to deliver prematurely to save her own life.

·       The Delivery: The traumatic delivery process, complications such as the ruptured placenta, and the subsequent medical interventions including multiple blood transfusions and acute kidney failure.

·       Post-Delivery Challenges: Jade discusses the aftermath of her delivery, including her battle with acute kidney disease, and the emotional impact of her lengthy ICU stay on her grief.

·       The Journey of Grief and Healing: Insights into how Jade coped with her grief, including the importance of not being hard on herself and the therapeutic effect she found in helping others.

 Jade emphasized to our listeners a profound insight that was shared with her: It's not about moving on after a loss, but about moving forward. She said I have literally lived by this and any time a feel down or hyper focused on losing my child I have to remind myself that I am not moving on, I am moving forward which does not dismiss how much I love him.

"Listen to your body, you know when something is not right. In your grief, you have guilt, and I thought, how am I supposed to live now without my baby? You don’t move on, you move forward." ~~ Jade Welegala



Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa@livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LivingAfterGrief/

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: https://livingaftergrief.com/

click and schedule a free complimentary coaching
call: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/grief-discovery-call

Podcast Guest: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/podcast-interview-call

 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 after a stillbirth.

What You'll Learn:

·       Not going home when released from the hospital.

·       Daily "Meetings" with Grief

·       Handling Baby Things.

·       Support System that said and did the Right things.

·       Challenges with Her Employer due to no Birth Certificate.

Liz, once known as "spa girl," utilized self-care as a coping mechanism, finding solace in small daily rituals. These acts of self-care became achievements in the hardest days of her grief. Motivated by the messages of solidarity and shared sorrow from other grieving families, Liz founded "Aaliyah in Action," a non-profit dedicated to supporting others experiencing similar losses.

Powerful Reflections:

Liz shares insights on the necessity of setting boundaries even with well-intentioned people, emphasizing the importance of protecting one's peace during traumatic times. She advocates for being assertive in safeguarding personal boundaries to aid healing.



Resources: https://saddadsclub.com/



Connect with Liz:

Email: hello@aaliyahinaction.org

Website: https://www.aaliyahinaction.org/


Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa@livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LivingAfterGrief/

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: https://livingaftergrief.com/

click and schedule a free complimentary coaching
call: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/grief-discovery-call

Podcast Guest: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.comcalendar/podcast-interview-call

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, we discuss:

·        The Grief of Failed Transfers: Beth talks about the emotional impact of failed embryo transfers and the grief that accompanies each setback.

·       Ectopic Pregnancy Loss: Beth shares her painful experience of having to remove a pregnancy that implanted in the Fallopian tube and the specific grief associated with losing a pregnancy in such circumstances.

·       The Emotional Rollercoaster: How the process of IVF can rob you of the joy typically associated with pregnancy milestones, leading to a muted, anxious approach to celebrating progress.

·        Support Systems and Grieving: The importance of having a support network and the types of support that can help those going through infertility treatments cope better.

·       Empowerment through Knowledge: Beth emphasizes how gaining knowledge about infertility treatments empowered her to advocate for herself effectively and the importance of being informed.

·       Responding to 'How are you doing?': Insights into handling this often-complex question while navigating infertility, and the power of being honest with oneself and others.

Beth reflects on her journey, expressing a poignant wish: "If I could go back, I would open up more." She believes that sharing her struggles would have not only reduced her isolation but also enhanced her journey with the valuable advice from the community. While going through treatment she remembered thinking, I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror at 60 or 70 years old whether a mother or not a mother and be able to say confidently, “I did everything possible to follow what my heart needed.”

Beth spoke about the nonprofit organization, The Stork Foundation, which she started four years ago, which offers financial assistance to low resource individuals who need infertility treatments that would otherwise be out of financial reach.

“Know that it takes so much strength to go through and you are incredibly brave to go through this. Lean on others, trust the process, have a support system, and a team that has been through similar experiences can help you through such a confusing experience.” ~~ Beth Frattura



The Stork Foundation: 

Instagram: @storkfoundationforinfertility,

Facebook: The Stork Foundation for Infertility


Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa@livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complimentary coaching
call: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/grief-discovery-call

Podcast Guest: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com calendar/podcast-interview-call

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 challenging journey.

In this episode, we cover:

·       Various Factors of Infertility:

·       Emotional Toll of Infertility

·       Infertility as a Medical Condition:

·       Finding the Right Support

·       A Look Back

·       Myths and Misconceptions:

·       Self-Care and Mindset

I provide a compassionate and informative look at infertility, fostering resilience and hope for those affected. Remember, everyone's grief journey is unique, and while grief and loss cannot be fixed, understanding and supportive conversations can make a significant difference. You are not alone in this.


Bereaved Mother's Day Brunch Link:

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/ivB6RSVpPp3zSPxT/?mibextid=9l3rBW


Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa@livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complimentary coaching
call: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/grief-discovery-call

Podcast Guest: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/podcast-interview-call

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 about in this episode:

·       The Rollercoaster of Infertility Treatments

·       Deciding to Stop Treatments

·       The Unconditional Support

·       Research and the Decision to Pursue Adoption

·       Lengthy and Exhausting Process of Adoption

“It felt deeply personal, and it was not anyone else’s business. Trust yourself and seek professional support if needed.” ~ Leah Judice


Bereaved Mother's Day Brunch Link:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/ivB6RSVpPp3zSPxT/?mibextid=9l3rBW



Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa@livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complimentary coaching
call: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/grief-discovery-call

Podcast Guest: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/podcast-interview-call

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 loss education among the OB community in the local area. Her approach involves personalized visits to the medical staff in each OB doctor’s office, fostering a network of support and empathy for families navigating pregnancy loss. 

Within this episode we talked about:

·       Using gentle language, rather than always using medical terminology

·       Taking much-needed time with the families.

·       Respectful Care by Funeral Homes for all pregnancy losses.

·       Sensitive Scheduling for women that have experienced a loss.

·       Creating Lasting Mementos with and for the families

Rebecca leaves us with a powerful message of self-compassion: "Give yourself grace, you may become angrier more quickly, and again give yourself grace." This reminder underlines the importance of patience and kindness towards oneself through the ebb and flow of emotions encountered in grief.

Bereaved Mother's Day Brunch Link:

https://www.facebook.com/share/ivB6RSVpPp3zSPxT/?mibextid=9l3rBW

Axe Throwing Event Link:

https://facebook.com/events/s/axe-throwing-with-share-anders/1742844562877748/

Anderson Hospital Share Group Link:

https://www.facebook.com/share/ViM7oyTGXqVZ6c3a/?mibextid=LQQJ4d


Connect with Rebecca:

Email: pregnancyloss_suppor@andersonhospital.org

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa@livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/.livingaftergrief/.

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: www.livingaftergrief.com

click and schedule a free complimentary coaching
call: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/grief-discovery-call

Podcast Guest: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.comcalendar/podcast-interview-call