Sisters in Loss Podcast: Miscarriage, Pregnancy Loss, & Infertility Stories

293 - Pregnancy After Loss and Hannah's House with Jessica Weeks

Pregnancy After Loss can be met with much anticipation, along with worry, anxiety, fear, and frustration. Today’s guest experienced the loss of her daugther Emelia at birth, then experienced two miscarriages before having her two son’s. Jessica Weeks, our UK Sister in Loss, daughter Emelia was told she would not make it at birth due to being diagnosed at 20 weeks with spinal bifida and anencephaly. Parts of her brain and skull were missing and her spine and spinal cord had not developed pr...

292 – Incompetent Cervix and Therapy for Healing with Sahmia Parks

Today’s guest is a storyteller, writer, and photographer. She experienced a second trimester loss due to incompetent cervix of her baby girl. Sahmia Ase @sahmiaasephotography didn’t recognize the early signs of labor as it was her first pregnancy. She remembers having back pains but it never registered that she was in active labor. Sahmia was rushed into the emergency room due to her spontaneous labor and had her baby girl. In today’s episode Sahmia shares her birth and postpartum expe...

291 – Placenta Abruption and Shaniya’s Gift with Lashana Standard

Have you heard of a placenta abruption? Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the inner wall of the womb before delivery. The condition can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding, belly pain, and back pain in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy. Today’s guest experienced an unknown placental abruption and birthed her baby girl born still. She is a mother of 3 boys with a boy on the way. Lashana Standard, has been using her story to s...

290 – Pregnancy Loss and Taking Control of your Health with Ghannika Dazilma

Today’s guest never thought she wanted children until not being able to carry children into the world. Ghannika Dazilma experienced two pregnancy losses and went through the grief journey alone. After her second miscarriage she became upset with God because she thought there was something wrong with her. The second loss caused friendships to break, more anger and even causing family to push away. In this episode, we journey through her motherhood after experiencing two losses and finding a...

289 – Second Trimester Loss, Failed Transabdominal Cerclage, and Trusting God Chasing Rainbows with Fernanda Matsinhe

Today’s guest is from Mozambique, but resides in Cape Town, South Africa. Yes, we have Sisters in Loss on the continent y’all. She was diagnosed with PCOS and calls it a beautiful string of pearls on her ovaries, and is the mother to 3 boys in heaven. Fernanda Matsinhe, has experienced 6 IUIs, 2 IVFs, and 3 second-trimester losses (20, 17, and 19 weeks respectively). After her first two losses she and her partner decided to receive a Transabdominal Cerclage (TAC). Fernanda was hopeful that h...

288 - Stillbirth and Rainbow Baby on Autism Spectrum with Marjorie Vail

Today's guest experienced a stillbirth at 27 and lost her son in labor.  She went on to experience postpartum depression, but was determined to have another baby and continue her motherhood journey.  Marjorie Vail became pregnant 2 years after her stillbirth with her rainbow baby and later found out he was on the autism spectrum.    In today's episode, Marjorie shares her journey to motherhood, her stillbirth experience and postpartum depression and grief journey, and how not only advo...

287 - Second Trimester Twin Loss, Infertility, Recover, Reign, and Arise with Seun Arise

Today's guest experienced infertility on her journey to motherhood along with repeated early miscarriages, a second trimester loss, and nearly lost her life. Seun Arise, has made it her mission to help other mothers who have dealt with loss, infertility, abuse, and other challenges with the grace of God. In this episode she shares her journey to motherhood battling infertility, experiencing miscarriages including a second trimester loss, grief from losing her husband, and raising her rainbow...

286 - Grief from Child Loss and Infant Loss and Mothering Living Children with Jasmine Lashea

Today's guest has experienced the inevitable of having a child die from drowning in a neighbors pool.  Jasmine Lashea knows the feeling of getting a call during the Holidays that her son was missing. He was found unresponsive in a neighbors pool and this all happened during Christmas and New Years season.   In this episode, Jasmine takes us back to that day she found out her son had passed and the ongoing litigation around it.  She also shares her grief journey as she also experienced infa...

285 - New Year to Blossom in 2023 with Erica Michelle

Happy New Year 2023! I am excited to get behind the mic and kick off the new year with a solo episode discussing all about 2022 accomplishments and failures. In this episode, I deep dive into my personal development and growth in 2022, and share my 2023 word of the year. We discuss what's next with Sisters in Loss and what to look forward to in 2023 and how to stay connected to the community. Become a Sisters in Loss Birth Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula Here Living Water Doula Servic...

284 - How to Move Forward After Loss? REWIND

Today's podcast episode is all about how to move forward after miscarriage.  Rana Campbell host of Dreams in Drive Podcast who shares her miscarriage story and the cost of miscarriage from her feature in Elle. After her miscarriage in 2016 Rana found the hospital bills quickly adding up to the thousands of dollars even with insurance. In this episode Rana takes us back to how she started Dreams in Drive while grieving the loss of her baby, and how her feature helped her shed light on the f...

283 - Transabdominal Cerclage, Infant Loss, and Maternal Mental Health with Sonya Gibson-Dixon

Have you ever whispered to God "Why Me?" Today's guest questioned God with tears in her eyes and lumps in her throat "Why Me?" God whispered back, "Why not YOU?" Sonya Dixon turned her tests into her testimonies now helping those who need support through loss. She was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and experienced a chemical preganancy, an infant loss, a failed transvaginal cerclage with cervical insufficency diagnosis. Sonya opted to have a transabdominal cerclage to gr...

282 - Near Death Experience due to Child birth - God Within the Lily with Shawnise Cantell

281 - IVF and Maternal Mental Health with Karen Balumbu-Bennett

280 - Infant Loss due to Placental Abruption and Uterine Rupture with Kimberly May

Do you know what a Placental Abruption is? Placental abruption occurs when the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before birth. Placental abruption can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients and cause heavy bleeding in the mother. In some cases, early delivery is needed. Today's guest experienced a placental abruption along with a uterine rupture that lead to her pre-term birth.  Kimberly May lost her 6 day old son due to an overlooked placental abruption/uterine rupt...

279 - Becoming a Mom after Miscarriage and Infertility with Colleen Turner McGregor

A miscarriage is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a couple. You grieve and become fearful. Fearful that parts of history may repeat itself, the part where you lose your baby at 3 months old so you decide to not try again for another child. Yes, that part! But then, by God’s grace, you somehow got over your fears and are ready to try again. You tried and nothing happened, you keep trying, and still nothing. You decided to check with your doctor or even get a new doctor to...

278 - REWIND - Endometriosis, IVF, and She Experienced with Sherelle Gilbert

Have you heard of the term hydrosalpinx? Hydrosalpinx is the blockage of a woman’s fallopian tube caused by a fluid buildup and dilation of the tube at its end. Most often it occurs at the fimbrial end of the tube next to the ovary, but it can also occur at the other end of the tube that attaches to the uterus. Today’s guest was diagnosed with infertility after trying to conceive for a year.  She underwent surgery for hydrosalpinx and possible endometriosis which resulted in removal of b...

277 - Why your VOTE Matters in Black Maternal Health?!

You are listening to a special episode of the Sisters in Loss Podcast.  As many of my US listeners know we are less than two weeks away from, November 8, 2022 which is Election Day and Midterm elections, and we have the power to change and shift the paradigm of maternal and infant mortality in America with our vote.  In today’s episode, a rewind episode, I sit down with March of Dimes President Stacey D. Stewart to discuss their Blanket Change Campaign l, and why our vote matters in this e...

276 - Are you listening to Black Women in Maternal Health?

According to the most recent data, Black infants are 2.3 times more likely to die before their first birthday compared to their White counterparts. Black American parents also experience higher rates of fetal and perinatal deaths, making Black families disproportionately more susceptible to pregnancy loss und bereavement. Bereaved Black parents’ ability and ways of coping with their loss is influenced by a multitude of factors such as the transgenerational trauma associated with 400 years o...

275 - Sharing my Story at the White House with Vice President Kamala Harris

In April 2021, Sisters in Loss founder, Erica Michelle, had the pleasure of attending the first Black Maternal Health Roundtable held at The White House by Vice President Kamala Harris and Ambassador Susan Rice.  In today's podcast episode she is sharing this experience with you and what Vice President Kamala Harris asked her about being a doula and why doulas are needed. Sisters in Loss Training Institute are opening the doors to our last live full spectrum doula training for 2022. This t...

274 - Resilience Rising: Stories of Miscarriage, Infant Loss, Infertility, and Finding Joy after Pain with the Authors

More than five million people in the United States experience some type of infertility, miscarriage or infant loss. Although this type of trauma is widely acknowledged as something that affects millions of families, many families still feel ashamed, hopeless, and isolated.  Resilience Rising is an intimate compilation of stories by families living with infertility who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. These are stories of families overcoming grief so deep and no longer being silenc...

273 - REWIND - 10 Years After Infertility and PCOS having Miracle Babies with Lianne Totty

After battling infertility for 10 years with Poly cystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS, today’s guest delivered her baby at 27 weeks, spent 6 months in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and lost her baby.  Lianne Totty, went on to have another baby at 25 weeks who also spent time in the NICU and is now thriving.  Her experience led her to writing her children’s book “Baby went to Heaven” to help explain infant loss to children when her god daughter asked her where the baby was and she didn...

272 - REWIND - PCOS, Thyroid Removal, and Miscarriage with Sasha Palin

After being diagnosed with PCOS and having her thyroid removed today’s guest knew there would be challenges to becoming a mother.  Without trying Sasha Palin was able to get pregnant.  Unfortunately at 7 weeks she began spotting and miscarried at 9 weeks.  Sasha did not receive favorable care as a result of her miscarriage, no sympathy, being brushed off, and no one there to explain exactly what was happening to her body.  She felt alone. In this episode Sasha takes us back to those moment...

271 - Expectful App for Pregnancy Loss and Trying to Conceive with Nathalie Walton

Have you practiced mindful meditation? Well your time to do so is now using the Expectful app. What is Expectful? It is the mental health app for use before, during, and after pregnancy. Including Pregnancy Loss, Infertility, and Trying to Conceive. In today's episode, we have on Expectful's CEO, Nathalie Walton to share how meditation saved her pregnancy, her transition into being an app user to now CEO, Black women in Tech and why this app is for Black women, and the evolution and fu...

270 - PCOS, Infertility, and Trying to Conceive with Nkemka Egbuho

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormone disorder in women that is also the leading cause of female infertility. September is recognized as PCOS awareness month. PCOS is one of the most underdiagnosed diseases in the world, with less than 25% of women with PCOS being diagnosed. Today’s guest was diagnosed with PCOS after experiencing a missed miscarriage. Nkemka Egbuho has been trying to conceive for 2 years battling infertility.  In this episode she shares how it hasn’t been...

269 - REWIND - From Miscarriages to Mobile App Poppy Seed Health with Simmone Taitt

After experiencing multiple miscarriages today’s guest found herself on Dr. Google to find comfort.  She found exactly what she was seeking an online doula board which inspired her to become a birth doula.  Today’s guest is one of the 100+ Black women founders that have raised over 1 million dollars in capital.  She has leveraged the power of technology to bring together womxn seeking emotional and mental health support during their pregnancy and postpartum journey together into a trusted an...

268 - REWIND Women of Color App for Pregnancy and Postpartum Wolomi with Layo George

Have you been searching for an app for your pregnancy after loss?  Well there is an online app that is for you called Wolomi. Wolomi is the only digital community that offers support to women of color to improve maternal health outcomes. Membership to Wolomi gives you access to maternal health experts, events, and a community of amazing women. Today’s guest is Wolomi’s founder Layo George, who is a registered nurse and maternal health expert that is focused on guiding and supporting aspi...

267- REWIND- Myomectomy, Transabdominal Cerclage, and Faith after Loss with Dr. Shabnam Brady

ave you heard of a Myomectomy procedure? Myomectomy is a surgical procedure to remove uterine fibroids. These common noncancerous growths appear in the uterus. Uterine fibroids usually develop during childbearing years, but they can occur at any age. Women of Color have the highest occurrence of fibroids in up to 90% of black women before age of 50.   Today’s guest experienced an untimely loss at 22 weeks of baby girl Alexandria Shah due to preterm labor and cervical insufficiency.  Dr. ...

266 - REWIND - Birthing Son and Losing Son on Same Day with Shana Anderson

Imagine birthing your rainbow baby and losing your first born on the same day!? Today’s episode is one that hits close to home as her story is very similar to my own. I would be lying to you if I didn’t say I cried throughout this entire interview and hours afterward. This episode is a trigger, so please grab some tissue, and brace yourself as you embark on this woman’s journey to motherhood. Shana Anderson experienced a placenta abruption with her first born son Bryce, and he was later ...

265 - 5 Year Podcast Anniversary! What's next with Sisters in Loss?

On August 2, 2017 we released our first episode of the Sisters in Loss Podcast.  Today, we celebrate 5 Years of this podcast and community. In today's solo episode, Erica McAfee, Sisters in Loss Founder shares: The History of Sisters in Loss Black Maternal Health Crisis and Roe vs. Wade Community Building in the last 5 Years What's Next for Sisters in Loss? Her personal journey and how this podcast saved her This podcast is for you to listen to find out where Sisters in Loss is g...

264 - Triplet Loss and Grandmother’s Story with Alicia Harris

Have you ever heard the perspective of loss from a grandmother?   Today’s episode features the story of triplet loss of Alicia Harris grandbabies.  She is joined by her daughter who both highlight and share their experiences of the journey to motherhood.  This episode is for you to listen to if you want to hear the loss perspective of a mother and grandmother, how they overcame grief together, and how a rainbow baby grounded their mother daughter relationship.   Listen to this episod...

263 - Medical Negligence and Sebastien’s Smile Foundation with Audri Cabness and Family

Have you ever heard the perspective of loss from a grandmother, sibling, or cousin?   Today’s episode features the story of Audri Cabness’s son Sebastien who was fatally injured and died to due to medical negligence in 2016. This catastrophic incident let Audri and her family to start a foundation called Sebastien’s smile in his honor.  Audri also has a family healing book called “Scootie Toots and the Feathers from Heaven” to help other families from parents to children begin to cope wi...

262 - REWIND Sonhara Eastman’s Black Girls Guide to Fertility and Why our Stories need to be told!

There is a new webseries that has been all the buzz on Instagram, and its called Black Girls Guide to Fertility, created, written, and based on Sonhara’ Eastman’s own battle with infertility. Black Girls Guide to Fertility tackles infertility in a profoundly intimate way that’s both dramatic and comedic without ever feeling rigid. It focuses on Ava, a 37-year old romance novelist, who faded into obscurity after finding love–and now finds herself on the rise again after self-publishing a diar...

261 - Missed Miscarriage and Fertility Treatments with Whitney McCoy

Have you heard of the term Missed Miscarriage?   A missed miscarriage is when a baby has died in the womb, but the mother hasn't had any symptoms, such as bleeding or pain. Any type of miscarriage can cause shock, but a missed miscarriage can be particularly difficult because of the lack of symptoms.   Today’s guest experienced a missed miscarriage and has battled infertility.  Whitney McCoy is a wife, mom, and business owner of beauty brand NoirGirlbyJWhit and is a miscarriage survi...

260 - Loss and Overcoming Grief moving towards Healing with Turia West

Do you know what TFMR or Termination for Medical Reasons is?   Termination for Medical Reasons, or TFMR, is when a pregnancy is terminated due to a chromosomal, genetic or structural fetal abnormality, or where continuing the pregnancy would risk the health or life of the mother.   Today’s guest experienced 14 losses.  Yes, this isn’t a typo.  Turia West is a wife and mom and is still on the journey of healing from grief and profound loss.  She gave birth to a healthy baby girl in 20...

260 - 14 losses and Overcoming Grief moving towards Healing with Turia West

Do you know what TFMR or Termination for Medical Reasons is?   Termination for Medical Reasons, or TFMR, is when a pregnancy is terminated due to a chromosomal, genetic or structural fetal abnormality, or where continuing the pregnancy would risk the health or life of the mother.   Today’s guest experienced 14 losses.  Yes, this isn’t a typo.  Turia West is a wife and mom and is still on the journey of healing from grief and profound loss.  She gave birth to a healthy baby girl in 20...

259 - 10 Years of Male Factor Infertility, Missed Miscarriage and Twin Loss with Senoria Cain

Today’s guest experienced secondary infertility due to male factor.  Senoria Cain is wife and mom to a 13 year old daughter.  She always knew her husband had a low sperm count and was able to see a urologist who recommended surgery to assist.  After 10 years of no protection and experiencing secondary infertility she was able to get pregnant.  At 12 weeks she was able to see the doctor for an ultrasound and found out she was having twins, but also that she was miscarrying them. Senoria had a...

258 - REWIND - Trauma after loss due to PPROM and Inadequate Maternal Health Care with Kimi Farrington

257 - Miscarriage and Single Motherhood with Kourtney Mcgowan

Today’s guest is a doula, student midwife, and single mother who has experienced racial disparities in the hospital that has affected her and her son.  Kourtney Mcgowan experienced a miscarriage after thinking she wouldn’t be able to conceive anymore children due to her endometriosis diagnosis.  In today’s episode she takes us back on her journey, the prejudice she faced, and how being a single mother is challenging, especially raising a Black son. Become a Sisters in Loss Birth Bereavem...

256 - LGBTQ+, IVF, and 2nd Trimester Loss with Dr. Gloria Pope

The road to parenthood looks different for many of us Sisters in Loss.  This can be especially difficult for our masculine presenting LGBTQ+ sisters.  Today’s guest has experienced parenthood in many forms, from step kids, birthing her own with a sperm donor, IVF, loss, and a successful birth with her partner.   Dr. Gloria Pope began to document her journey through her partner’s fertility treatments and IVF loss experience.  She realized the importance of sharing her perspective as a partn...

255 - Turning Child Loss into Sunsets with Ariane Oyere

Motherhood is what today’s guest calls a “Rites of Passage” to the best hoods on Mother Earth.  Ariane Oyere is a wife and mother of 7.  She experience the lost of her 3rd born at 9 years old and then two miscarriages after his Sunset.  Her babies she refers to as the Summer Solstice.    In this episode, Oyere takes us back to her greatest obstacles in losing her Sunsets.  She reframes child loss and miscarriage into sunset experiences.  We also discuss lactation through bereavement and ot...

254 - Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR) with Hadeer El Hindawi

Have you heard of the term Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR)? Termination for Medical Reasons, or TFMR, is when a pregnancy is terminated due to a chromosomal, genetic or structural fetal abnormality, or where continuing the pregnancy would risk the health or life of the mother. Today's guest was able to conceive her first child naturally and had a healthy pregnancy and delivery. The journey to baby number two has been full of loss and heartbreak. Hadeer El Hindawi had 4 consecutive...

253 - Educating on Fertility via TikTok from Embryologist Alease Daniel

Are you following @aleasetheembryologist on IG and TikTok?  Well if you're not you should. Alease has gone viral and has gained a following on TikTok for sharing education on working in reproductive health.  She is an embryologist and everyday she works with Trying to Conceive (TTC) patients to bring peace of mind on their fertility journey’s.     In today’s episode we discuss how she has gone viral on TikTok, her passion for reproductive health and education, and how as Women of Color we ...

253 - Educating on Fertility via TicTock from Embryologist Alease Daniel

Are you following @aleasetheembryologist on IG and TicTock?  Well if you're not you should. Alease has gone viral and has gained a following on TicTock for sharing education on working in reproductive health.  She is an embryologist and everyday she works with Trying to Conceive (TTC) patients to bring peace of mind on their fertility journey’s.     In today’s episode we discuss how she has gone viral on TicTock, her passion for reproductive health and education, and how as Women of Color ...

252 - Mother's Day is HARD!

Mother's Day is HARD! This upcoming Sunday and Second Sunday in May, the world stops to honor and celebrate moms around the world. Families splurge on greeting cards, flowers, gifts, fun traditions, and lavish meals to show the motherly figures in their lives how much they are loved. I can’t think of anyone more deserving on Mother’s Day than a mother who had to give her child back. Today’s episode is a solo episode and I share ways you can honor your angel this Mother’s Day! Become ...

251 - Miscarriage Survivor and the Power of Healing with Simbi Animashaun

After having suffered multiple miscarriages for two years due to Fibroids, today’s guess used her faith and determination to heal from her losses and continue her journey to becoming a mother. Simbi Animashaun was determined to become a mother after her miscarriages and went onto have three children who are her rainbow babies.  In today’s episode Simbi shares her struggles with pregnancy loss, being a miscarriage survivor, and how she leaned on God for understanding.   This episode is ...

250 - Endometriosis, low AMH, Placenta Previa, and Filling Empty Wombs with Sandra Elidor

What Does Having Low AMH Levels Mean?   Having low AMH levels can indicate that your ovaries are producing less of the preantral follicles. This is important as the fewer the number of follicles there are means there are less that can be stimulated for assisted contraception.   Today’s guest suffered from endometriosis for 21 years before being properly diagnosed. Sandra Elidor also found out she had low AMH at age 30.  With Endo she had two surgeries, 1 fallopian tube, 1 successful ...

249 - Low Amniotic Fluid and Infant Loss with Christina Danyo

Have you heard of the term Oligohydramnios? Low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios) is a condition in which the amniotic fluid measures lower than expected for a baby's gestational age. Today’s guest was preparing to conceive and had a myomectomy to remove her fibroids. Christina Danyo learned she was expecting after her fibroid surgery. During her 20 week anatomy scan she learned that her baby girl’s kidneys did not develop and was covered in cysts. Her daughter was diagnosed with Oligohdr...

248 – 2nd Trimester Loss at 19 Weeks and Wonderpuff with Jackie Morin

Today’s guest knows what it feels to be down and depressed after trauma.  This lead her to making cotton candy and learned to detach herself from other people’s pain, but also carry their spirits with me to rediscover joy by bringing it to others.  Jackie Morin is the founder of Wonderpuff a small cotton candy business based in Durham, North Carolina.  She and her husband began to expand their family and lost her daughter at 19 weeks.  In this episode, we discuss how being black and Muslim p...

247 – Ectopic Pregnancy, 8 Pregnancy Losses, and Hope to become a Mother of Living Child with Deze

246 - Losing a Baby at 37 Weeks with LaQuasha Jarvis

Can you imagine going through an entire pregnancy and losing your baby so close to birth? Today’s guest experienced that and more.  LaQuasha Jarvis had her first baby at 20 and 5 months later was pregnant with her second child.  At 37 weeks the unthinkable happened when she lost her baby so close to delivery. In this episode LaQuasha shares how she fights daily through her loss, how she went on to have 3 more rainbow babies, and how she is turning her pain into purpose by becoming a Doula....