This week Sonia and Jess are closing out The Babies We Carry With Us by returning to one of the first stories that shaped this community: Courtney’s experience losing her babies, Whalen and Piper. Courtney’s story reminds us that a baby’s life does not have to be long to be deeply meaningful; and that grief does not follow the rest of the world’s timeline. We revisit her words about searching for the “why,” and the love and individual personalities that remain so present in the way she speaks about her children. To Courtney, Jenn, Katie, and every mother and family who trusted us with their stories: thank you. And to every family carrying the memory of a baby they wish they could hold again, we see you. Their lives matter, their names matter, and they will always be part of the families who love them. And because emotional stability has never been their brand, the mamas make a hard left directly into spooky season. Sonia is celebrating her birthday by turning 34 again, blaming the iPhone for crimes against her face, crying over spaghetti, and throwing a bag out the door in what can only be described as a thoughtful act of luteal time management. Jess is crying over the toys she was considering throwing away five seconds earlier, surviving on Cheez-Its and Diet Coke, and preparing for Hayden to execute a full costume change halfway through trick-or-treating. Then they finally investigate the question they’ve been threatening to ask for years: Have women actually killed someone during their luteal phase? They look at the cases of Sandie Craddock, Christine English, and Kumari Chandra, three women whose premenstrual symptoms became part of arguments about diminished responsibility, mental illness, or criminal intent. To be abundantly clear: PMS and PMDD are real, serious conditions, and the mamas aren’t actually suggesting that being luteal turns women into murderers. Content note: This episode includes conversations about pregnancy and infant loss, child loss, homicide, mental health, and premenstrual disorders. Connect with Share: Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Website Share’s phone number: 1-800-821-6819 Connect with Geriatric Mamas: Instagram Facebook Email us at hello@geriatricmamas.com Trying to Conceive After 35 Guidebook Want to be a guest? Fill out our Be a Guest Form and share your motherhood, pregnancy, or fertility journey. We’d love to feature your story! And remember: We’re committed to sharing raw, honest experiences, so stay tuned for more heartwarming, hilarious, and relatable episodes. Thanks for listening, and we’re so glad to be back! What we're reaching for: 🍋 Sati Soda’s lemon-lime blend is one of those things that just makes our routine feel more elevated without trying too hard. It has this really calming, clear energy from the CBD and adaptogens like lion’s mane and ashwagandha, so we feel relaxed but still present. 🤍 A space for women fully in it—IVF, pregnancy after loss, high-anxiety pregnancies—the emotional roller coaster no one warned us about. It’s everything the “just relax” crowd doesn’t understand. 🧳 The packing cubes that make life feel curated and calm—with everything tucked into its spot, we’re actually able to see what we packed, and suddenly the whole day vibes… a touch more peaceful and under control. 🌿 We’ve been using these and the difference in our face and ankle swelling is actually noticeable. It’s this blend of herbal ingredients that supports lymphatic drainage and helps your body move things along (which, honestly, we all need), and somehow it just works. 🍷 When we wanted something to take the edge off without drinking—whether it was preconception, during any trimester, or honestly through this whole motherhood journey—we’ve reached for a calmer, cleaner option. This tincture was the one that worked. 🍊 Feeling bloated and just... off lately? Same. This is one of those tiny daily things that actually makes a difference—just a few drops and you feel like you’re at least trying to have your life together. We use it, our kids use it, and it’s officially part of the routine. 👖 Fertility hormones and bloating are literally the worst—getting dressed some days feels like your own body is sabotaging your vibe. So here’s our comfort-first guide to what actually feels good during fertility treatments—because if you’re already injecting hormones, the absolute bare minimum is pants that aren’t emotionally aggressive.
