Life After the Hardest Goodbye

Gina Gonzalez
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Mental Health

Pregnancy and infant loss are not a typical dinner table conversation unless you, like me, have empty seats at that table. Please consider this your invitation to my metaphorical weekly dinner party, where we discuss it with care and without judgment. I’m your host, Gina Gonzalez. In me, your host, you get a mom who experienced loss, a licensed mental health professional, and a PsyD graduate as a subject matter expert on perinatal loss.  This is where we speak candidly about living life after the death of a baby. This topic is not for the faint of heart, but neither is the experience of losing a baby. Here we are willing to go deep, get muddy, and embrace all the mess this journey can involve. We will explore different aspects of life that we are often not given a heads-up about in order to prepare and then left with a full mix of unexpected thoughts and emotions.  This Podcast is where: Where lived experience laid the foundation. Clinical expertise strives to empower resilience. Curiosity drives passion for how we can enhance support for our community.

  1. 3d ago

    A Husband’s Perspective On Losing A Child And Finding A Way Forward Part 1

    Send us Fan Mail Grief changes the air in a room, and for many couples after stillbirth or infant loss, it also changes the rules of conversation. We sit down together, husband and wife, to share a candid bereaved parents story from both sides of the marriage, with a special focus on something we do not hear enough about: a father’s experience after losing a child. Steven describes the moment as a shock to the core, and he talks about the hopes that vanished overnight, the memories he still holds tight, and the confusing reality that acceptance and pain can live side by side. We also get specific about what grief looked like in his body and day to day life. Steven opens up about anxiety while driving, feeling dizzy, struggling to breathe when the topic came up, and why he sometimes avoided longer conversations. We name the idea of emotional bandwidth and how it can shape communication in marriage after loss, especially when one partner needs to talk and the other needs silence to cope. He shares how anger became a shield, how therapy helped him process the thoughts he feared, and why allowing himself to cry brought unexpected relief. Faith and simple truths play a big role in his healing, along with the idea of legacy and learning to “get up off the mat.” We also talk about memory-making, including the power of hospital photographs and why families might not want them in the moment but feel grateful later. If you are navigating child loss grief, supporting a grieving partner, or looking for honest support for bereaved fathers, we hope this conversation helps you feel less alone. If you have a topic you’d like me to cover on the podcast, or if you would like to share your creative coping strategies to help our listeners, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me by: Email- gina@moderncounselingsolutions.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/moderncounselingsolutions Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/moderncounselingsolutions?utm_source=qr TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@gina.g.psyd These episodes are fueled by sunshine and plenty of coffee. If you want to help keep the coffee coming, you can support the show by visiting this website: buymeacoffee.com/ginagonzalez

  2. Oct 28

    Grief Intensity Levels And When To Seek Support

    Send us Fan Mail Grief can feel like a moving target: okay for a moment, wrecked the next, and then guilty for laughing at all. I’m Gina Gonzalez, and I’m walking you through a clearer way to understand what’s happening by looking at grief intensity levels rather than forcing your experience into “stages.” Whether you’re grieving a perinatal loss or supporting someone after a major death, this framework helps you name what you’re carrying and decide when additional support makes sense. We start with low acuity or supported grief, where emotional waves, longing, and physical stress symptoms can be real but daily functioning largely holds. Then we move into medium acuity or at-risk grief, where work focus, sleep, memory, and social energy take noticeable hits even if life isn’t fully stopped. Finally, we talk about high acuity grief and prolonged grief disorder warning signs, including persistent numbness, intrusive rumination, panic-like surges, hypervigilance, and identity disruption that makes the future feel meaningless. If you’re showing up for someone else, we also cover a grounded way to support using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, starting with food, sleep, safety, and belonging. If you have a topic you’d like me to cover on the podcast, or if you would like to share your creative coping strategies to help our listeners, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me by: Email- gina@moderncounselingsolutions.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/moderncounselingsolutions Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/moderncounselingsolutions?utm_source=qr TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@gina.g.psyd These episodes are fueled by sunshine and plenty of coffee. If you want to help keep the coffee coming, you can support the show by visiting this website: buymeacoffee.com/ginagonzalez

  3. Oct 21

    Making Peace With Childlessness

    Send us Fan Mail Some grief doesn’t show up as tears, it shows up as calendars, countdowns, and the quiet dread of another negative test. We get real about what it looks like to live with infertility grief and move toward acceptance of a childless life, even when the desire for a child never fully disappears. We talk about the when cycles are irregular and the waiting never feels fair, the emotional whiplash can be brutal. We also unpack the strange, honest turning points: shifting focus, trying not to care, landing in apathy, and realizing that “not caring” can be both self-protection and the first step toward genuine healing. Acceptance is not a finish line, and we name the triggers that can still pull us back into the dark side of complicated emotions. If you’re navigating childless not by choice, childfree by circumstance, or redefining what “choice” even means, you’ll recognize the push and pull of identity, control, and longing. Then we widen the lens to resilience and restoration. A trip to Belize becomes a surprising teacher: a slower pace, a culture that leads with care, and a reminder that connection can be healing. We also talk about where all that love goes, including the role of pet companionship and how a “fur baby” can help fill a real void.  If you have a topic you’d like me to cover on the podcast, or if you would like to share your creative coping strategies to help our listeners, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me by: Email- gina@moderncounselingsolutions.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/moderncounselingsolutions Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/moderncounselingsolutions?utm_source=qr TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@gina.g.psyd These episodes are fueled by sunshine and plenty of coffee. If you want to help keep the coffee coming, you can support the show by visiting this website: buymeacoffee.com/ginagonzalez

  4. Oct 14

    October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail A single candle can connect grieving families across the planet and it starts with one hour. We’re in the second week of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and I’m sharing what this month is really here for: remembering our babies who were gone too soon, making space for honest grief, and reminding bereaved parents they are not alone in a journey that can feel painfully isolating. I walk through meaningful ways communities show up, from memorial walks and hospital remembrance ceremonies to pink and blue landmark lights, social posts, and local fundraisers that expand access to counseling, support groups, and care packages. If nothing exists where you live, I also talk about why that absence can be an invitation to start something small and real, the same way this podcast began. You’ll also get fourteen simple, practical ideas to honor your baby in October or any time, like journaling a memory, wearing a reminder, lighting a candle, watching a sunrise, reaching out to someone, or doing something joyful without guilt. I read two short poems and share reflections on how education about perinatal loss can help others understand risk factors and advocate for better care without placing blame on parents. We close with Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on October 15 and the Wave of Light, lighting a candle from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time to create a full 24 hours of remembrance across time zones. If you feel comfortable, share your baby’s name in the comments section and help us say their names together.  **Sillborn, but still born, Estin Warren** If you have a topic you’d like me to cover on the podcast, or if you would like to share your creative coping strategies to help our listeners, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me by: Email- gina@moderncounselingsolutions.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/moderncounselingsolutions Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/moderncounselingsolutions?utm_source=qr TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@gina.g.psyd These episodes are fueled by sunshine and plenty of coffee. If you want to help keep the coffee coming, you can support the show by visiting this website: buymeacoffee.com/ginagonzalez

  5. Oct 7

    Pregnancy And Infant Loss Awareness Month 2026 part 1

    Send us Fan Mail Silence can linger for decades, even after a national awareness month exists, and that’s exactly why October is especially important for all of us. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month was designated back in 1988, yet parents navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss still run into stigma and shame. I’m naming that reality out loud, and I’m also naming what can change when we choose solidarity over silence. I talk about why participation matters, even if it’s small and private, and why we can’t wait for “other people” to advocate on our behalf. I also share a firm boundary for any perinatal loss community space: there is no room for comparing losses or ranking grief. No one gets to validate themselves by devaluing someone else’s pain, and none of us truly knows exactly how another parent feels. What we can do is show care, listen well, and build support that feels safe and human. Then we shift into practical ideas for honoring your baby during October or any time of year, including 13 simple options like rest, sharing a keepsake, a small act of kindness, a donation in your baby’s name, baking something new, and taking a few quiet minutes outside. I also explain the Wave of Light on October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, when families around the world light candles from 7–8 p.m. local time to create a 24-hour chain of remembrance. If you have a topic you’d like me to cover on the podcast, or if you would like to share your creative coping strategies to help our listeners, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me by: Email- gina@moderncounselingsolutions.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/moderncounselingsolutions Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/moderncounselingsolutions?utm_source=qr TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@gina.g.psyd These episodes are fueled by sunshine and plenty of coffee. If you want to help keep the coffee coming, you can support the show by visiting this website: buymeacoffee.com/ginagonzalez

  6. Sep 30

    I Opened TikTok And Found Loss and Joy

    Send us Fan Mail TikTok surprised me and not in the way I expected. I went looking for community around pregnancy and infant loss, and within a few minutes I felt the full swing of grief: proud of the vulnerability and advocacy I saw, then suddenly in tears, even though I started out hoping for something uplifting. That emotional whiplash is real. We talk about what’s helpful about online support groups and what’s hard about having limited control over what shows up on your screen. I’m encouraging us all to share honest content that also makes room for relief. From there, I share what my little TikTok experiment taught me about multidimensional identity. Being a bereaved parent is part of who we are, but it does not fully define us. When grief starts to consume our day and identity, we can forget the rest of ourselves, and that’s where the dimensional aspects of our identity matter most. I also touch on restoration-oriented coping and the power of small distractions, like nostalgia videos that make you laugh for a minute. Plus, I share a practical idea: using TikTok like a technologically advanced journal with pictures, videos, words, and music. If you have a topic you’d like me to cover on the podcast, or if you would like to share your creative coping strategies to help our listeners, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me by: Email- gina@moderncounselingsolutions.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/moderncounselingsolutions Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/moderncounselingsolutions?utm_source=qr TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@gina.g.psyd These episodes are fueled by sunshine and plenty of coffee. If you want to help keep the coffee coming, you can support the show by visiting this website: buymeacoffee.com/ginagonzalez

  7. Sep 23

    There Is No Universal Way To Handle Baby Items

    Send us Fan Mail The quietest grief decisions are often the heaviest: what do you do with the diapers, the crib, the stroller, and the baby shower gifts when you come home without a baby? I’m Gina Gonzalez, and I’m opening up an honest conversation many of us get left to figure out alone, the emotional and practical reality of baby items after pregnancy loss. I walk through how my choices changed over time, from passing along wipes and samples before they expired, to wrestling with the unspoken “etiquette” of giving away gifts. If you’ve ever wondered whether friends and family will feel offended, whether you’re allowed to donate baby items, or whether keeping everything means you’re still hoping, you’re not alone.  You’ll also hear the middle paths that don’t get talked about enough: saving a few personal keepsakes, gifting big-ticket gear to a sibling who’s expecting, donating toys to a shelter supporting young mothers, and letting each step be its own small decision instead of one sweeping moment. The core takeaway is simple: there’s no right or wrong answer here, only what supports your healing. If you have a topic you’d like me to cover on the podcast, or if you would like to share your creative coping strategies to help our listeners, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me by: Email- gina@moderncounselingsolutions.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/moderncounselingsolutions Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/moderncounselingsolutions?utm_source=qr TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@gina.g.psyd These episodes are fueled by sunshine and plenty of coffee. If you want to help keep the coffee coming, you can support the show by visiting this website: buymeacoffee.com/ginagonzalez

  8. Sep 16

    How Two Songs Helped Me Find Light Again

    Send us Fan Mail A song can be background noise for years, and then one day it becomes a mirror. I’m Gina Gonzalez, and I’m sharing how music opened a new awareness for me after the loss of our son, especially during seasons when life keeps moving but you feel like you’re only surviving. Sometimes the smallest details become a gateway back into the richness of living, and for me, that gateway was listening to lyrics I thought I already knew.  We walk through two songs that landed with unexpected precision across time, one that played during pregnancy and later hit with crystal-clear meaning in the raw weeks after loss, and another I found in a lighthearted movie. I unpack the specific lines that resonated, why grief can steal our present moments, and how a simple image can shift the way you carry hope. If rainbow symbolism feels complicated or even painful, we also talk about why I started gravitating toward sunrises and sunsets instead: the sun rises every day, with or without perfect weather, offering a steady reminder that a fresh start is never far away.  You’ll also hear practical ideas for bringing more light into your life on purpose, from choosing people who lift you up to feeding your mind and ears with things that soften the day instead of adding weight. If you need a gentle nudge to breathe, reflect, and keep going, press play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a rating or review so more grieving parents can find this support. If you have a topic you’d like me to cover on the podcast, or if you would like to share your creative coping strategies to help our listeners, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me by: Email- gina@moderncounselingsolutions.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/moderncounselingsolutions Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/moderncounselingsolutions?utm_source=qr TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@gina.g.psyd These episodes are fueled by sunshine and plenty of coffee. If you want to help keep the coffee coming, you can support the show by visiting this website: buymeacoffee.com/ginagonzalez

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Pregnancy and infant loss are not a typical dinner table conversation unless you, like me, have empty seats at that table. Please consider this your invitation to my metaphorical weekly dinner party, where we discuss it with care and without judgment. I’m your host, Gina Gonzalez. In me, your host, you get a mom who experienced loss, a licensed mental health professional, and a PsyD graduate as a subject matter expert on perinatal loss.  This is where we speak candidly about living life after the death of a baby. This topic is not for the faint of heart, but neither is the experience of losing a baby. Here we are willing to go deep, get muddy, and embrace all the mess this journey can involve. We will explore different aspects of life that we are often not given a heads-up about in order to prepare and then left with a full mix of unexpected thoughts and emotions.  This Podcast is where: Where lived experience laid the foundation. Clinical expertise strives to empower resilience. Curiosity drives passion for how we can enhance support for our community.

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