Conversations with a Grieving Mom | with Ashlee Proffitt

Oct 1

Conversations with a Grieving Mom is a mini series on the podcast featuring 3 short mini bonus episodes that highlight specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss. The purpose of the episodes is to give grieving mom’s a voice — you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom.

BONUS 01:

WHY RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS IS VALUABLE & IMPORTANT

October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month. Maybe you’ve seen the statistics as women raise their hand to say “I am 1 in 4” and to share their story of baby loss. Or maybe you didn’t even notice, just another ‘awareness’ month filling up your feed. It’s ok, I didn’t know that October was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month either until it was me. Until I was the 1 in the 4. But here’s the thing, while you may not be the 1 you likely know her. She is your friend. Your sister. Your daughter. Your neighbor. Your coworker. The stranger at the grocery store. The acquaintance at church.

1 in 4 is so much more than a number. Raising awareness is about so much more than a statistic. It's a person. It’s a life.

Hear more about raising awareness and why we do it in this episode.

BONUS 02:

WHY WE TALK ABOUT OUR BABIES & MORE

In this second episode of the series I am talking about why we as loss moms talk about our babies and addressing all the other things someone who has not experienced this kind of loss may find strange or odd, awkward or uncomfortable — or all of the above. If you are a grieving mom I hope this gives you permission to grieve in any way that is helpful to you, and to honor and celebrate your baby in any way you choose. If you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.

BONUS 03:

THINGS A GRIEVING MOM MAY BE THINKING ABOUT

In this third episode of the series I am sharing a non-comprehensive list of the things a grieving mom may be thinking about at any given moment. I say non-comprehensive because the things we think about as grieving moms are often complex and can be difficult to put into words. I am sharing this somewhat seemingly random list of thoughts to do two things:

1) To help a grieving mom hear me say -- you are not alone in the way you are thinking about this nor are you crazy. The way you are seeing this and thinking about this is completely normal and to be expected.

2) To help someone who has not experienced the loss of a baby better understand what is happening inside the head and heart of a grieving mom -- to have compassion and empathy when you might not understand how she is responding or better yet to have compassion and empathy when you judge her response as not appropriate.

So, if you are a grieving mom I hope this reminds you that you aren’t alone. And if you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand how to love her a little better.

Note: This article was originally posted in October 2023. It was updated and expanded in 2024.

click here to LEARN MORE ABOUT PREGNANCY & INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH