43 episodes
Cradled in Hope Ashley Opliger of Bridget's Cradles
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- Kids & Family
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5.0 • 190 Ratings
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Jesus cradles us in hope as He cradles our babies in Heaven.
What if the hope of Heaven had the power to heal your heart after the loss of your baby?
Miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss are heartbreaking experiences that no mother should ever have to endure. Drowning in sadness, you cry out in pain, "God, where are You? Why did You let my baby die?" You feel abandoned by Him and question His goodness. How will you ever live without your precious baby? Will you ever see him or her again?
Ashley Opliger asked these same questions when her daughter, Bridget, was born into Heaven at 24 weeks in her first pregnancy. In a crisis of faith, Ashley chose to surrender her suffering and allow God to heal her heart. She found purpose in her pain when she started Bridget's Cradles, a nonprofit that now comforts thousands of grieving families across the country.
Through her own story of heartbreak, Ashley will guide you on a journey to trust God's promise to restore your joy, use your grief for good, and spend eternity with your baby in Heaven.
Podcast episodes feature hope-filled messages, stories, and guest interviews. Grieving mothers will be reminded that though we may grieve, we do not grieve without hope!
Episodes release on the 1st of every month. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!
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41 - Facing a Life-Limiting Diagnosis in Pregnancy with Hope and Grace with KC Tregoning
KC Tregoning is a bereaved mom who found out about Bridget’s Cradles after receiving a tiny knit heart in the delivery room. KC attended her first Hope Online support group with us just one month after Alan had passed.
KC lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Matt, and their three fur babies. She is the proud mom of Alan who reigns in Heaven. After a turbulent pregnancy, KC and Matt found out at their 31-week appointment that their son, Alan, had a condition that was not compatible with life.
KC is passionate about spreading awareness for families facing life-limiting pregnancies. She loves sharing Alan's story and how God walked alongside them throughout their journey.
In this episode, we discussed:
Navigating a life-limiting diagnosis in pregnancy
Choosing life even when the doctors encourage termination
Bonding with your baby during pregnancy
Picture taking after delivery
Recommended resources & organizations for life-limiting diagnoses
Community and walking alongside other women who have experienced loss
Pursuing adoption after loss
Grieving and planning for your baby’s first Heaven Day
The importance of attending a Christ-centered support group
Faith-based counseling
God’s presence in grief and how good can come from this
EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode41
CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resourceswww.bridgetscradles.com/podcast
CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope
FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLESwww.facebook.com/bridgetscradleswww.instagram.com/bridgetscradleswww.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles
CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGERwww.ashleyopliger.comwww.facebook.com/ashleyopligerwww.instagram.com/ashleyopliger
#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles
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40 - Q&A with Ashley and Kristin
Join us for the final episode of our 3-part summer series called "Conversations of Hope with Ashley and Kristin." Ashley Opliger and Kristin Hernandez are both bereaved moms who desire to point other grieving moms to the hope they've found in Jesus.
This month's episode is a Q&A with Ashley and Kristin using listener-submitted questions.
In this episode, we discussed:
How to navigate relationships after losing a baby
Forgiving friends and family who have hurt us in our grief
Why friendships may change after loss
Victim mentality and identity
Preparing our hearts for our baby's first Heaven day
Ways to honor our baby on milestones
Anticipatory grief
Why it's sometimes harder to face the days leading up to a milestone than the day itself
Memorial ideas and random acts of kindness
How the Church can better support grieving families
What to do when you're in a waiting season
How do you know when you're ready to try again?
What can you do to stop being mad at God?
BONUS: Ashley and Kristin's Hope-Filled Worship Spotify Playlist
EPISODE SHOW NOTES, FULL TRANSCRIPT, & FREE PDF HOPE GUIDE:www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode40
CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resourceswww.bridgetscradles.com/podcast
CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope
FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLESwww.facebook.com/bridgetscradleswww.instagram.com/bridgetscradleswww.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles
CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGERwww.ashleyopliger.comwww.facebook.com/ashleyopligerwww.instagram.com/ashleyopliger
#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles
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39 - Important Truths about Babies in Heaven with Ashley and Kristin
Join us for this special 3-part summer series called "Conversations of Hope with Ashley and Kristin." Ashley Opliger and Kristin Hernandez are both bereaved moms who desire to point other grieving moms to the hope they've found in Jesus.
New episodes will release each summer month (June, July, and August) with this month's episode title being "Important Truths about Babies in Heaven."
At the beginning of the episode, Ashley shares a personal update about her son, Brenner, and his recent surgery and medical issues.
In this episode, we discussed:
Where do babies go when they pass away?
The differences between the temporary Heaven and the eternal Heaven
What age will our babies be in Heaven?
Do our babies become angels?
Our babies taking part in the Resurrection
What purposes do angels serve in the Bible?
Can my baby send me signs from Heaven?
Is it OK to consult a medium to talk to my baby?
New Age practices in grief (and why to stay away from them)
The occult and how these roads lead to Hell
Repentance and accepting forgiveness for our sins
Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Intercessor
Why the hope of the Gospel is better than the counterfeits offered by Satan
EX-NEW AGE RESOURCES:
“Don’t Dance with the Devil” - Understanding the Times Podcast (can be found on Spotify or Apple Podcasts too)
Heaven and Healing Podcast by Angelamarie Ucci
I Used to be a Psychic - Mia Michele
EPISODE SHOW NOTES, FULL TRANSCRIPT, & FREE PDF HOPE GUIDE:www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode39
CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resourceswww.bridgetscradles.com/podcast
CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope
FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLESwww.facebook.com/bridgetscradleswww.instagram.com/bridgetscradleswww.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles
CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGERwww.ashleyopliger.comwww.facebook.com/ashleyopligerwww.instagram.com/ashleyopliger
#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles
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38 - Conversations of Hope with Ashley and Kristin: A Foundation of Biblical Hope
Join us for this special 3-part summer series called "Conversations of Hope with Ashley and Kristin." Ashley Opliger and Kristin Hernandez are both bereaved moms who desire to point other grieving moms to the hope they've found in Jesus. New episodes will release each summer month (June, July, and August) with this month's episode title being "A Foundation of Biblical Hope."
In this episode, we discussed:
Where do we place our hope after we've lost a baby?
What is "hope" anyway?
Desiring to have a rainbow baby - is it okay to long for another baby?
Releasing control and surrendering our plans to God
Understanding how to interpret Bible stories
"Even If" kind of faith
God as the redeemer
Our identity as mothers vs. our identity in Christ
God won't leave you empty-handed
How can my loss be considered "light and momentary"?
Standing on Christ the Solid Rock
EPISODE SHOW NOTES, FULL TRANSCRIPT, & FREE PDF HOPE GUIDE:www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode38
CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resourceswww.bridgetscradles.com/podcast
CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope
FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLESwww.facebook.com/bridgetscradleswww.instagram.com/bridgetscradleswww.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles
CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGERwww.ashleyopliger.comwww.facebook.com/ashleyopligerwww.instagram.com/ashleyopliger
#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles
★ Support this podcast ★ -
37 - Finding Community and Renewing My Faith after My Son's Full-Term Stillbirth with Heather Cohen
Join us for a conversation with bereaved mother Heather Cohen about how she found community and renewed her faith after the full-term stillbirth of her son, Levi.
Just days away from her scheduled c-section, Heather was shocked to discover that her son no longer had a heartbeat. Devastated and grieving, she turned to Bridget's Cradles and began attending our online support groups and volunteering to comfort others through the ministry. Hear Heather's story of finding hope in the midst of her heartache and how you, too, can find hope after the loss of your baby.
In this episode, we discussed:
Having questions about the cause of your baby's death
Struggling with shame and regret over decisions you made or didn't make during your pregnancy
God's sovereignty and why our theology of who He is matters
The importance of finding community in grief
Why counseling is helpful and why you shouldn't be ashamed to seek help
More about Bridget's Cradles Hope Online support groups from Heather's perspective of attending them
Circumstances change but God never does
The hope of what is to come in Scripture
Honoring our babies by serving others to bring God glory
Heather's volunteer experience with Bridget's Cradles
EPISODE SHOW NOTES, FULL TRANSCRIPT, & FREE PDF HOPE GUIDE:www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode37
CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resourceswww.bridgetscradles.com/podcast
CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope
FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLESwww.facebook.com/bridgetscradleswww.instagram.com/bridgetscradleswww.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles
CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGERwww.ashleyopliger.comwww.facebook.com/ashleyopligerwww.instagram.com/ashleyopliger
#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles
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36 - God So Close - Relying on the Holy Spirit as a Grieving Mom with Becky Thompson
Join us for a conversation with Becky Thompson about how to rely on the Holy Spirit as a grieving mom. In the midst of a season of suffering, we do not have to wait to meet God on the other side; rather, He is a God so close Who longs to be near to us in our pain.
Becky shares her story of losing her daughter at eight weeks and how the Lord brought hope to her broken heart. She decided to trust in Him knowing that she couldn't lose Him too.
In this episode, we discussed:
Loving and losing a life that nobody knew about yet
Postpartum depression and anxiety after pregnancy loss
Releasing anger and trusting that the Lord is weeping with you
Who is the Holy Spirit and what does He do?
What does it mean to be born again?
Discerning God's voice from the lies of the enemy
What is lie replacement strategy?
Battling against our own sin nature and how the Holy Spirit convicts us
Struggling in the forest of fear and trusting that God is with you
Why we need to address both the spiritual and physical aspects of anxiety
Believing in a God that is not far off and imagining Him holding you in your pain
More about Becky's books, Peace, and God So Close
EPISODE SHOW NOTES, FULL TRANSCRIPT, & FREE PDF HOPE GUIDE:www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode36
CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resourceswww.bridgetscradles.com/podcast
CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope
FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLESwww.facebook.com/bridgetscradleswww.instagram.com/bridgetscradleswww.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles
CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGERwww.ashleyopliger.comwww.facebook.com/ashleyopligerwww.instagram.com/ashleyopliger
#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles
★ Support this podcast ★
Customer Reviews
Insightful and helpful
Wonderful biblical support for infant loss for parents and grandparents from people that have been through it. Helpful and hopeful to listen to all the episodes and walk through the difficult grief process.
Thankful
So thankful I found this podcast. It has brought me so much comfort over the last month since my beautiful little girl went to be with Jesus. They truly help make an unimaginable situation a bit more bearable by sharing how they trust the only true comforter-Jesus. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you do, Ashley and those who also share their heartbreaking story.
A Comfort to Many
This podcast does such a wonderful job ministering to women who have gone through the terrible loss of a baby. It highlights so many important aspects of grief, many of which aren’t usually spoken about which often leaves moms feeling lonely. More importantly, it points women to hope in Christ, the only place where true peace can be found in the midst of sorrow. It has ministered to me after my stillbirth and I hope it reaches many other hurting moms.