Grief, Faith, Hope & Pregnancy After 1st Trimester Losses | Episode 196 with Lauren Hendricks

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Episode 196

In this episode I have the joy of hearing from Lauren Hendricks, a precious mama who shares her motherhood journey with me and her experience with two first trimester losses.

Lauren shares what she wished others understood about a first trimester loss and we both get really honest about the most challenging aspect of this journey, the envy, jealousy and anger that can often follow loss; especially when it involves others getting pregnant and having babies. We talk honestly about what that looked like in each of our lives and if that is something that feels hard for you right now, I think this part of the conversation will encourage you. 

Lauren also shares what she learned about navigating the medical aspect of loss after experiencing consecutive losses, and about the importance of having a medical provider you can trust. About this she says: “I just wish other women knew that it's okay to find a doctor that's good for you. The one who takes care of you and your unborn child is no small thing.”

We also spend sometime talking about what it was like for her to try to conceive again after two losses and what her 3rd pregnancy was like.

Throughout our time together Lauren weaves her experience with faith into the conversation and about this she says this: “I just couldn't grasp what the Lord was doing.”

This conversation is tender and honest and I am sure that Lauren’s wisdom and encouragement will bring you hope today.

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QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS

1. What surprised you most about loss and the grief journey? 

2. What do you wish others understood about experiencing back-to-back losses?

3. What are some misconceptions around 1st trimester loss you would like to dispel?

4. What has been the most challenging aspect of this journey and what was helpful as you navigated those challenges? 

5. You wrote this to me: “In the days and weeks after our baby’s death, there was much healing to be done. To be honest, I didn’t want to “be healed.” I wanted our baby back in my womb - to be growing and strong. I didn’t want to face the ever-changing process of grief. But there I was, right in the midst of it.” Tell me more about this – I know in the early days of grief the idea of ‘being healed’ can feel very difficult for a grieving a mom, as if we are leaving our baby behind. 

6. Tell me what it was like to navigate the medical aspect of your losses? What was challenging about this? What do you wish other women knew? 

7. What advice would you give to a woman with a similar story about advocating for herself?

8. Tell me what it was like to make the decision to try to grow your family after experiencing two losses? 

9. What was pregnancy after loss like for you? What was the biggest challenge during your pregnancy? 

10. Any words of wisdom for a mom who is thinking about trying to conceive or is pregnant after loss?

11. Tell me about your faith as you navigated loss and grief – what challenges did you face?   

12. Tell me one way this journey has changed you for the better.

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PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS / GROWING YOUR FAMILY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES

1. Free Pregnancy After Loss Community – it’s a private group and conversation within our main community where you can feel the freedom to have honest conversations about the unique journey that is pregnancy after loss. themorning.com/pal

2. Free Download: 40 Verses for 40 Weeks - this download includes 1 verse to meditate on, pray, or memorize for every week of your pregnancy. themorning.com/pal

3. All of our best and most helpful blog articles and podcast episodes about growing your family after loss into one place. themorning.com/pal

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free coping tools workbook

for coping with grief & anxiety

download the workbook

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in this episode

1. What has surprised you the most about loss and grief? 

2. What was the most challenging aspect of navigating life after the loss?

3. What do you wish others understood about experiencing a 1st trimester loss?

4. What kinds of practical tips would you give a grieving mom about navigating grief and life after loss?

5. What it was like to make the decision to try to grow your family after experiencing multiple losses? 

6. What was the most challenging aspect of your pregnancy after loss? 

7. What are some practical, healthy ways to respond to the anxiety we can often experience in a pregnancy after loss?

8. You said: “the angst of ‘what if’ kept me from enjoying present moments and threatened to steal my joy – what would you say to a mom who is in that spot right now?

9. Tell me about your book The Anxious Lily.

10. You said: “God is trustworthy and faithful even in the darkest valley.” What would you say to a woman who is having a hard time believing that right now?

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Meet Mary

Mary Holloman is passionate about communicating deep truths through story-driven writing. Her first children's picture book, The Anxious Lily, released March 7, 2023. She is a contributing author for three other books, and has written for many online publications, including Her View From Home, Lifeway Research, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Charisma Magazine, and the Christian Broadcasting Network. She and her husband have three beautiful children and live in the Triad of North Carolina. She loves to create rhymes, act silly with her kids, and eat dark chocolate. You can follow along with her at maryholloman.com.

`Read more from Mary:

• herviewfromhome.com/loss-the-only-heart-beating-was-mine/

• herviewfromhome.com/we-grieve-because-we-loved/

• maryholloman.com/2020/10/28/no-bodies-to-bury-the-unspoken-pain-of-early-pregnancy-loss/

Get Mary’s Book: The Anxious Lily here.

Connect with Mary on Instagram: @marytholloman

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free pregnancy after loss resources

+ Join our free private community

+ Download our 40 verses for 40 weeks

take me to the resources

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More on growing your family after loss

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