In this episode, Sarah sits down with Dr. Ashley Hudson—therapist, speaker, educator, and founder of Pearl in Process—for a deeply compassionate conversation about faith, fertility, intimacy, mental health, and healing. Ashley is known for bringing warmth, humor, and authenticity to discussions most people struggle to have, making this an essential listen for anyone navigating infertility, loss, or relationship challenges.
Ashley begins by sharing how she entered the world of perinatal mental health and how her faith-based values integrate beautifully with her work as a sexologist. She explains why talking about sex, intimacy, and emotional connection often feels overwhelming or shame-filled, and how cultural messages, fear, and past experiences contribute to silence around these topics. This episode is particularly rich for listeners who need faith and intimacy conversations that feel grounded, gentle, and inclusive.
Together, Sarah and Ashley explore how to communicate intimacy needs more openly, how to reconnect with your partner, and how acts of closeness outside the bedroom can be just as meaningful. Ashley also provides crucial insight for couples going through IVF, fertility treatment, and timed intercourse, describing how sexual connection often shifts into something goal-oriented, stressful, and emotionally heavy. This episode supports those needing IVF support, intimacy after loss, and guidance for navigating scheduled sex during treatment.
Ashley speaks powerfully about intimacy after loss, sharing how grief, trauma, and fear can rewire the brain, making sex feel unsafe or painful. She explains the bristle effect, the way the body becomes tied to memories of loss, and the therapeutic work needed to reclaim the body as a place where love, safety, and connection can live again. This is especially meaningful for those walking through pregnancy after loss, fertility struggles, and the lifelong impact of grief and loss.
The conversation also touches on differences in how men and women discuss intimacy, why partners often react differently, and how to support one another through emotional shutdowns or fear responses. Ashley offers gentle, practical tips for couples trying to reconnect after infertility, postpartum depression, or pregnancy loss.
If you’re seeking fertility podcast content that holds space for both faith and emotional honesty—or if you need encouragement in the areas of intimacy, IVF, pregnancy after loss, or healing after miscarriage—this episode offers hope, understanding, and actionable tools. It is full of wisdom for anyone coping with infertility, rebuilding connection, or searching for healing in their journey through loss.
Sarah speaks with Anna from the Barbados Fertility Center about IVF treatment, infertility, and emotional healing after pregnancy loss. Anna shares how the clinic supports couples through every fertility journey with transparent care, personalized treatment, and mental health support. Learn how medical tourism makes high-quality fertility care and pregnancy after loss more accessible for families hoping to build their future.
Mel shares her raw and emotional journey through eight miscarriages and a PCOS diagnosis, highlighting the challenges of recurrent pregnancy loss and infertility. After years of grief, pregnancy loss, and mental health struggles, she made the difficult decision to end her fertility journey and focus on healing. Her story is one of courage, self-compassion, and finding peace after loss, offering hope to others facing miscarriage and infertility.
What if the path to healing after loss could lead to hope and new beginnings? In this deeply moving episode of "Finding Hope After Loss," host Sarah Cox engages in an intimate conversation with Fernanda Sheridan, who bravely shares her heart-wrenching journey through the devastating experiences of pregnancy loss, including the stillbirth of her beloved daughter, Natalie, and the heartache of losing her son, George. This episode is not just about grief; it’s about finding hope after loss and the resilience that can emerge from the darkest moments.
Fernanda opens up about the profound grief that enveloped her during these unimaginable times and the transformative journey that followed. She emphasizes the significance of creating supportive environments for grieving parents, a theme that resonates deeply with anyone who has faced the challenges of pregnancy after loss. Through her experiences, she has become an advocate for others, launching the Natalie Foundation, which aims to establish Rainbow Clinics across the U. S. These clinics will provide specialized care for women who have experienced pregnancy loss, creating safe spaces and tailored medical attention during subsequent pregnancies.
Throughout the episode, the conversation delves into the stigma surrounding pregnancy loss and the urgent need for better awareness and support systems. Fernanda speaks candidly about her personal struggles with navigating pregnancy after loss, shedding light on the emotional well-being in pregnancy and the importance of community for loss and healing. Her message is clear: mothers facing infertility, stillbirth, and recurrent pregnancy loss deserve compassion, understanding, and a network of support.
Listeners will find solace in Fernanda’s stories of resilience and hope after tragedy, as she encourages everyone to seek help, share their stories, and foster healing through connection. This episode is a beacon for those coping with miscarriage, infertility, and the complexities of parenting after loss. Join us as we explore the journey of healing after stillbirth and the powerful narratives that emerge from grief and loss. Together, we can create a community for bereaved parents and advocate for the resources that provide hope after loss.
Whether you’re navigating your own infertility journey, looking for pregnancy loss resources, or seeking inspiration from rainbow baby stories, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to discover how finding hope after trauma can lead to profound healing and a renewed sense of purpose.
In this deeply personal episode, Brittany shares the story of her son Mason and the day she went to the hospital in labor expecting a healthy baby, only to be told there was no heartbeat. She walks us through the shock of full-term stillbirth, the deafening silence in the operating room during her C-section, and the heartbreaking reality of holding her stillborn baby instead of hearing his first cry. Her honesty shines a light on the invisible trauma of stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and the way grief reshapes every part of life for loss parents.
Brittany opens up about life as a mom to both a living child and a baby in Heaven, navigating milestones, triggers, and the hard questions from her three-year-old who wonders why his brother can’t “just wake up.” She shares how compassionate nurses helped her through the worst days of her life, and how even simple things—like a first trip back to Target or seeing pregnant women—became overwhelming after stillbirth. Brittany talks about the mantra “not my baby, not my story,” the pressure she feels during October’s remembrance events, and the ongoing work of giving herself grace in a world that expects parents to move on quickly after pregnancy loss. She describes the loneliness that so often follows loss, the pressure to “be okay,” and how therapy, faith, and connecting with other loss moms have helped her find her footing again. Along the way, she offers compassionate insight into mental health after stillbirth and why both pregnancy loss awareness and stillbirth awareness matter so deeply.
Out of her pain, Brittany created Mason’s Way, offering pregnancy loss support for loss moms and custom memorial bracelets that give families a tangible way to carry their babies with them. Her work is a beautiful example of turning pain into purpose and creating safe, validating spaces for parents grieving a stillborn baby.
If you’ve experienced stillbirth, pregnancy loss, or are walking alongside someone who has, this conversation will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone. Brittany’s story is a powerful reminder that love for our babies never ends—and that there is space for both lifelong grief and life after loss.
Kara shares her journey through infertility, IVF, and the devastating stillbirth of her daughter Haley at 38 weeks. She opens up about the shock of loss, the decisions no parent should have to make, and the lifelong grief that follows. Kara discusses the importance of honoring her daughter’s memory, navigating milestones, and finding hope and resilience in life after loss.
In this powerful episode of Finding Hope After Loss, Sarah sits down with Rachel to share her deeply personal journey of losing a baby, navigating faith, and finding light again after devastating heartbreak. Rachel opens up about the moment she discovered her son, Asher, no longer had a heartbeat at 18 weeks due to complications with the umbilical cord—an experience that forever changed her understanding of pregnancy, grief, and healing. With honesty and compassion, she reflects on the trauma of losing a baby, the shock of unexpected silence in the ultrasound room, and the painful hours that followed as she delivered her son and held his perfect little hands and feet.
Drawing from her background as a nurse and a mother walking through profound loss, Rachel talks about why men and women often grieve so differently, the challenge of supporting a spouse while enduring your own heartbreak, and the complicated emotions that shape parenting after loss. She also shares how journaling, faith, and understanding the history of pregnancy loss helped her process the weight of losing a baby and begin a slow, meaningful journey forward.
Rachel’s book, A Water Lily Among the Wildflowers, is at the heart of this conversation. She explains how it guides loss moms through questions about faith, sorrow, and the search for hope; offers pregnancy loss resources for both moms and dads; and provides practical ways to honor and remember a baby gone too soon. The discussion highlights the importance of support for bereaved parents, understanding how grief evolves over time, and recognizing that love continues long after death.
Throughout the episode, Rachel’s vulnerability shines as she describes trying to reconcile faith with tragedy, learning to trust God again, and slowly finding hope after trauma. She reminds listeners that losing a baby does not diminish the depth of a parent’s love—nor does it erase the possibility of finding joy after loss. Her story is a testament to resilience, the strength of a mother’s heart, and the healing that becomes possible when we allow ourselves to feel, question, and hope again.
This episode is for anyone touched by pregnancy loss, navigating grief, seeking grief and healing, or searching for signs of light after one of life’s darkest moments. It is a gentle reminder that even in the depths of sorrow, you are not alone—and that your journey through loss matters.
In this tender and faith-filled episode, Finding Hope After Loss host Sarah sits down with Ashley Opliger, founder of Bridget’s Cradles and author of Cradled in Hope, to share one of those deep stories of resilience that changes how you see grief and loss. Ashley opens up about losing a baby—her daughter Bridget, who was stillborn at 24 weeks—and how months of complications, bed rest, and a placental abruption led to the heartbreaking moment every parent dreads. She describes the shock, trauma, and the sacred hours her family spent holding Bridget in a tiny knitted cradle made by her mom, and how that small act of love became the start of a nationwide ministry offering support for bereaved parents and practical pregnancy loss resources in more than 1,600 hospitals.
Together, Sarah and Ashley talk honestly about grief and healing when your prayers feel unanswered and your faith feels shattered after baby loss. Ashley shares from her own crisis of faith—asking if God had abandoned her, wondering if she was being punished—and how those questions eventually shaped her book, a gentle biblical guide for loss moms at every stage: strong in faith, doubting, or not sure what they believe at all. They dig into topics like triggers, spiritual warfare, hurtful comments from friends and family, learning to extend grace, and what it looks like to walk with God in the darkest parts of your journey through loss.
The conversation also explores parenting after loss, pregnancy after loss, and the complicated mix of emotions that come with life after loss. Ashley describes celebrating milestones with her living sons while grieving all she missed with Bridget, and how joy and sorrow can coexist as part of ongoing grief and healing. She offers hope for healing after stillbirth, reminding listeners that a new baby never replaces the one who died, and that losing a baby is not something you “get over,” but something you carry with you as you slowly begin finding hope after trauma and finding joy after loss.
If you are losing a baby, have already walked through baby loss, or are supporting a friend who has, this episode is a compassionate companion. You’ll hear a real, honest look at grief and healing, plus encouragement, faith-filled hope, and tangible support for bereaved parents who are trying to piece together a life of meaning and love on the other side of grief and loss.
In this deeply emotional episode, Shannon and Andrew share their powerful story of grief, love, and unwavering resilience as they open up about twin loss, NICU trauma, multiple miscarriages, and welcoming their rainbow baby after profound heartbreak. Their journey began with long-awaited joy when Clomid finally led to a pregnancy with twins—Lucas and Sophia—but early ultrasounds revealed complications for Baby A. Despite countless high-risk appointments, Lucas passed away in utero before 31 weeks, leaving Shannon to deliver both babies: Lucas, born still, and Sophia, born premature and immediately admitted to the NICU.
The couple speaks openly about the raw intensity of grief and loss—holding Lucas in their arms for the first and last time, memorizing every feature, and navigating the impossible shift from saying goodbye to fighting for Sophia’s survival. They describe the emotional whiplash of making funeral decisions while being told their daughter was stable “for now,” and how this trauma deeply affected their mental health.
Shannon and Andrew also reflect on how families often struggle to understand the depth of loss parents’ grief, unintentionally overlooking Lucas. They share the painful but beautiful ways they keep his memory alive through traditions, photos, and educating their living children about their brother.
Their story continues through multiple miscarriages that followed Sophia’s birth—each one reopening wounds and forcing them to confront the long, complicated process of healing after miscarriage. Shannon describes the fear and anxiety of pregnancy after loss, the triggers in every appointment, and the slow, fragile rebuilding of hope. She explains how healing after miscarriage requires emotional support, time, compassion, and community, and how she had to learn to trust her body again after so much pregnancy loss.
Even during her successful pregnancy with Athena, their rainbow baby, Shannon carried the weight of trauma and the constant fear of history repeating itself. Their experience shows how healing after miscarriage and stillbirth is nonlinear and lifelong. They remind listeners that life after loss is not about “getting over it,” but about carrying your child with you in every step forward.
This episode is a testament to the resilience of loss parents, the courage required when coping with loss, and the delicate balance of holding grief in one hand and joy in the other. Their honesty offers comfort to loss moms and families seeking grief and healing, resources for support, and reassurance that they are not alone.
For anyone navigating grief and loss, baby loss, miscarriage, NICU trauma, pregnancy after loss, or the search for life after loss, Shannon and Andrew’s story provides compassion, connection, and profound hope.
In this episode of Finding Hope After Loss, Hayley shares her journey through infertility and the challenges of multiple IVF rounds coupled with recurrent miscarriage. She recounts facing the heartbreaking stillbirth of her daughter, Skylar Hope, at 20 weeks. Hayley also discusses her grief, the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome, and how she continues to honor her baby's memory. Join us as we explore themes of baby loss, the journey through grief, and the search for hope and light after loss.
In this episode, Courtney shares her journey through infertility, four IUIs, and welcoming twins born at 29 weeks who spent time in the NICU. She later faced a miscarriage at 10 weeks due to chromosomal issues. Courtney opens up about grief, perinatal mental health, postpartum anxiety, and the isolation that often follows pregnancy loss.
In this episode, Amy Joy, founder of Sync Botanicals, shares how her herbal tea blends are designed to support women’s cycles, balance hormones, and promote overall health and wellness. She explains the benefits of syncing your cycle with the moon, how herbs can help regulate irregular cycles, and why understanding our hormonal changes is so vital for women’s health.
Amy also talks about the emotional and physical challenges women face when cycles, hormones, and energy are dismissed or misunderstood, and why it’s important to create holistic tools that honor these shifts instead of ignoring them.
From fertility and pregnancy to postpartum recovery and mental health, Amy emphasizes that our cycles touch every part of life.
In this episode, Elle shares her journey through infertility,PCOS, and a triplet pregnancy after fertility treatment. She talks about the heartbreaking neonatal loss of all three of her children due to pregnancy complications, premature birth, and NICU struggles.
Ashley shares her journey through IVF, and the child loss of her son, Luke, due to unexpected heart surgery complications. She also opens up about grief, mental health, parenting after loss, and how her organization, Luke’s Purpose, supports other loss families. Ashley reflects on life after loss, the importance of a strong support system, and finding joy and resilience while coping with loss.
Licensed therapists Mahaley Patel and Emily Souder share their personal and professional insights on NICU trauma, infant loss, and healing through writing and storytelling. Learn about their upcoming book Your NICU Story and how it helps families process grief and trauma after the NICU experience.
In this episode, Karen shares her journey through recurrent miscarriage and infertility, shedding light on the challenges posed by a hidden blood clotting disorder. She candidly discusses the emotional toll of baby loss and the importance of self-advocacy in navigating fertility care. Discover how art and writing have been vital in her process of grief and healing.
In this episode, Texas State Representative Mihaela Plesa joins us to discuss House Bill 37 – Everly’s Law, a groundbreaking step in baby loss legislation. Named in honor of Everly, this law ensures trauma-informed bereavement care in Texas maternity wards, giving grieving families the respect and dignity they deserve. We talk about how this bill became law, the personal stories behind it, and why Texas is the first state to launch a statewide bereavement grant program.
In this episode, Jocelyn opens up about her journey through seven pregnancies, including a missed miscarriage, twin loss, chemical pregnancy, blighted ovum, and secondary infertility. After welcoming her son in 2021, she faced the challenges of four back-to-back losses and was informed that IVF would be her only path forward—until a miracle natural pregnancy reignited her hope. Jocelyn shares how she supports other loss moms through online communities, local support meetings, and photography giveaways, all while navigating her own grief and experiences of pregnancy after loss. We talk openly about miscarriage, infertility, grief, and the emotional toll of working in a field that celebrates life amidst private mourning. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that you are not alone—and that hope can prevail even after unimaginable grief.
Meg shares her powerful 6-year journey through infertility, including 7 heartbreaking miscarriages, IVF, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and autoimmune challenges. She opens up about the emotional toll of going through infertility and loss, finding hope through connection, and preparing for her next FET while working with multiple specialists. This episode is for anyone navigating recurrent loss, IVF, or complex fertility diagnoses.
In this episode, host Sarah Cox speaks with Caitlin, a mother of three living sons and two daughters who were both stillborn due to Turner’s Syndrome. Caitlin opens up about the grief of losing her children and the uncaring treatment from her doctors after both stillbirths. She shares her journey of navigating grief and how these experiences led her to start a business dedicated to supporting women who have faced pregnancy and infant loss.