119: When IVF Doesn’t Work: Grieving the Loss of Hope
Send Jen a Text MessageThere are many ways to lose a baby, and today’s guest Sarah Osborne shares a rarely-talked-about story of IVF loss—and what it was like to go from a mom of three teenagers to deciding to start over again. As a seasoned doula with years of experience supporting others through pregnancy, birth, and loss, Sarah found herself on the other side of the story when her own fertility journey didn’t go as planned.In this honest and emotional episode, Sarah and I talk about what happens when you follow your heart, take a leap of faith, and still don’t get the outcome you hoped for. From IVF shots and hormone chaos, to grief, healing, and the unexpected way our work and purpose can shift after loss, this is a powerful conversation for anyone who's experienced disappointment, hope, and heartbreak all wrapped up together.You’ll hear how Sarah coped with the grief of losing her only embryo, how she found meaning even without a baby in her arms, and how she continues to show up in the birth space with compassion and resilience.Whether you’ve experienced IVF loss, pregnancy loss, or any other dream-that-didn’t-happen kind of heartbreak—this one will speak to your soul.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How it feels to go through IVF after a full family and a vasectomy reversalThe reality of having "just one" embryo and the pressure that puts on hopeWhy IVF loss is often overlooked—and why it still counts as real griefHow Sarah held space for her own heartbreak while still supporting others in birthWhy grief doesn’t always make you quit—and how it can actually deepen your purposeThe unexpected ways her children and marriage were impacted by the journeyThe difference between a doula and a midwifeWhat Sarah wishes more people knew about doulas and pregnancy lossResources & Links:Find Sarah at: https://www.instagram.com/theexpertdoulaBirth Collective PNW: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthcollectivepnwOctober is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, so I created Life Beyond Loss—a four-week series of free workshops designed to give you the tools and support you need to navigate life after loss. These sessions will help you quiet the guilt, handle hurtful comments with confidence, rediscover who you are, and prepare for those painful milestone dates with a plan. Join me at navigatingbabyloss.com/october. Stillbirth moms—you don’t have to do this alone. The Always Loved Club is a new monthly space with live workshops, weekly audio support, private community chat, and Q&As for postpartum and pregnancy after loss. Plus, couples calls every few months. Join us at programs.jennifersenn.com/club.CLICK HERE TO JOIN MY OCTOBER WORKSHOP SERIES "LIFE BEYOND LOSS"WHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME! Website- https://www.jennifersenn.com Tik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabyloss Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/ You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA
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