121: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief with Melissa Hull
Send Jen a Text MessageI sit down with grief educator and author Melissa Hull, who shares the unimaginable story of losing her 4-year-old son, Drew, in a tragic accident. Melissa takes us back to that devastating day and opens up about the shame, guilt, and heartbreak that followed. Through her story, she shows us how grief can become a catalyst for growth, and how one letter from a stranger changed the course of her life.Melissa also shares the heartbreaking journey through multiple pregnancy losses, her struggle to believe in herself as a mother again, and how she rebuilt her life, her identity, and her relationship with grief. She’s now helping others do the same through her books, her voice, and her mission to show that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. This episode is full of truth, tenderness, and hope for any mom navigating life after loss.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:The morning of Drew’s accident and how it changed everythingLiving with overwhelming guilt, shame, and self-blameThe unexpected letter that saved Melissa’s lifeHer heartbreaking journey through IVF and pregnancy lossWhy she believed she didn’t deserve happinessThe moment she decided to see herself with compassionLearning how to talk to herself like someone she lovedHow writing helped her process and healWhat post-traumatic growth really looks likeRebuilding her identity and relationship with griefFinding friendship again with her ex-husbandWhy she doesn’t believe in apologizing for honoring your childThe message she wants every grieving mom to hearResources Mentioned:Melissa's Website: https://melissahull.comHer book: "Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief"Follow her on Instagram at: @melissa_hull_Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalWHERE 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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120: The Hidden Cost of Faking You're Okay
Send Jen a Text MessageWe say "I'm fine" because it feels easier than explaining the truth. But what happens when you're not okay—and you keep pretending that you are? In this episode, I’m talking about what it really costs us when we hide our pain, especially around the holidays, and how we can start being more honest about what grief really looks like.I share my own Thanksgiving story after losing my daughters and the moment I realized I was shortchanging my grief by trying to make everyone else comfortable. If you’re tired of putting on a brave face, this episode will help you feel seen and remind you that it’s okay to stop performing.We talk about the disconnect between what people see and what you’re actually going through. The exhaustion of keeping it together. The fear of what might happen if you actually tell the truth. And why being honest about where you are is not only okay—but necessary.What You'll Hear in This Episode:What pretending to be fine actually costs youWhy people believe you're "doing better"How grief shows up behind closed doorsThe fear of judgment, breakdowns, and being seen as weakWhy it's not your job to make everyone else comfortableHow to start being more honest, even if it feels scaryWhat happened when I finally shared how I really feltA gentle invitation to stop performing and let people inResources Mentioned:Join the Always Loved Club: https://navigatingbabyloss.com/clubStruggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalDownload my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalWHERE 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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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/thebirthcollectivepnwStruggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalDownload my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalWHERE 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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118: Guilt, Grief, and the 3AM Thought Spiral
Send Jen a Text MessageIn this second episode of the "Breaking the Silence of Stillbirth Guilt" series, I'm sharing something I struggled with deeply myself—those relentless 3:00 AM thoughts that make you feel like it's all your fault. If you ever find yourself retracing every moment of your pregnancy looking for what you missed, or blaming yourself for things that felt out of your control, this episode is for you.We'll talk about how trauma brain operates differently from logical brain, why it fixates on blame, and how you can break free from its grip. I’ll share practical steps you can take the next time those "what if" thoughts spiral out of control and how to stop letting guilt steal your memories.You don’t need to carry the weight of this alone. Let’s sort out the truth together.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why trauma brain always looks for someone to blame (usually you)The difference between logical thinking and trauma responsesCommon guilt stories many loss moms replayHow to spot the physical signs of trauma in your bodyA 3-step process to interrupt guilt spirals and reclaim peaceHow holding onto guilt prevents you from honoring your babyThe hidden physical toll of carrying emotional blameResources Mentioned:Join the Life Beyond Loss free workshop series: https://navigatingbabyloss.com/octoberWatch the workshop replay: https://navigatingbabyloss.com/replayLearn more about the Always Loved Club: https://navigatingbabyloss.com/clubStruggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalDownload my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalWHERE 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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117: How Ashlie’s Embrace Is Helping Stillbirth Families Get More Time With Their Babies
Send Jen a Text MessageErin Maroon, the founder of Ashlie’s Embrace, a nonprofit that donates Cuddle Cots to hospitals across the U.S. Erin shares the heartbreaking story of losing her daughter Ashlie to stillbirth in 2015 after what was considered a healthy pregnancy. From the shock of those devastating words “Your daughter is dead,” to the raw, confusing hours that followed, Erin opens up about what it was like to hold her baby—and then be told that time was up.Through her own grief, Erin discovered the Cuddle Cot, a simple but powerful device that helps families spend more time with their babies after stillbirth. What started as a way to see Ashlie's name on something meaningful has grown into a mission that has placed nearly 400 Cuddle Cots in hospitals across the country.If you've ever wished for more time, or wondered how you could make a difference after your loss, this conversation is for you. It’s honest, emotional, and filled with purpose.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What a Cuddle Cot is and why it mattersErin’s personal stillbirth story and the heartbreak of not having enough timeHow Ashlie’s Embrace started (and exploded)Why giving parents time can change the trajectory of their griefThe role of partners, grandparents, and even hospital staff in the grief journeyHow you can support families and hospitals through advocacy and donationsResources Mentioned:Ashlie’s Embrace: https://ashleysembrace.orgConnect with Ashlie’s Embrace on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedInCuddle Cot information: https://www.ashliesembrace.org/Struggling to tell where grief ends and guilt begins? This free journal is for you. Five gentle, trauma-informed prompts to help release the "what ifs" and reconnect with your baby through love instead of blame. Work through it at your own pace — no pressure, just comfort. Download now at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalDownload my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalWHERE 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
This is where we say the things we can't say anywhere else to anyone else. Join certified life coach and stillbirth mom Jennifer Senn as she shares stories and has conversations about what life is like after suffering the loss of your baby and of the future you dreamed of before you heard those awful four words. Grief lasts a lifetime but you don't have to struggle with guilt, fear, and the isolation that is so common for loss moms. Navigating Baby Loss will give you inspiration and hope from hearing others' stories and Jennifer will share valuable information about how you can ease your pain with the things that are hardest to cope with in the months and years following your stillbirth loss.
Netherlands