After pregnancy or infant loss, it's easy to believe everyone else is handling grief better than you are.

Maybe you're crying every day and wondering why you can't "move on."

Maybe you've gone back to work, managed your responsibilities, and now you're questioning whether you're grieving enough.

Or maybe you feel numb, disconnected, or emotionally exhausted and wonder if something is wrong with you.

If you've ever found yourself asking, "Am I grieving the right way?" this episode is for you.

There is no perfect way to grieve.

Your grief is not measured by how many tears you cry, how quickly you return to work, or how composed you appear on the outside. Grief is deeply personal, and healing doesn't follow a timeline.

If you've been wondering whether you're doing grief "right," I hope this conversation reminds you that you're not failing.

You're grieving.

And there is a difference.

What grief imposter syndrome is and why so many grieving mothers experience it.

Why comparing your grief to someone else's can be so damaging.

The difference between coping and healing.

Why functioning doesn't always mean you're okay.

How to begin extending yourself the same compassion you offer others.

If you're looking for compassionate support after pregnancy or infant loss, I'd be honored to walk alongside you.

One-on-One Grief Coaching

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Disclaimer

The information shared in this podcast is for educational and emotional support purposes only and is not intended to replace medical, mental health, or professional advice.

Every grief journey is unique, and the thoughts, suggestions, and experiences shared in this episode are offered to provide comfort, encouragement, and understanding not as a substitute for care from your physician, licensed mental health professional, or other qualified healthcare provider.

If you are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself, are in emotional crisis, or believe you need immediate support, please contact a mental health professional, call 911, or reach out to your local crisis resources.

Please remember: you don't have to walk through grief alone.

After pregnancy or infant loss, hope can feel less like comfort and more like risk.

If you've ever found yourself pulling back from excitement, avoiding future dreams, or feeling guilty for hoping again, you're not alone. After experiencing profound loss, your heart and nervous system often learn to associate hope with vulnerability. What once felt natural can suddenly feel dangerous.

In this episode of Holding Women Through Grief, we're having an honest conversation about why hope becomes so complicated after loss. We'll explore how trauma changes the way we experience hope, why fear and hope often coexist, and why protecting your heart makes perfect sense after everything you've been through.

Most importantly, we'll talk about what it looks like to gently invite hope back into your life without forcing it or pretending everything is okay.

Because healing isn't about becoming fearless.

Sometimes it's simply about allowing yourself to believe that life may still hold moments of beauty.

One small breath at a time.

• You feel afraid to get excited about the future.
• You're trying to conceive after loss or navigating pregnancy after loss.
• You've noticed yourself expecting the worst, even during good moments.
• You're protecting your heart because you're afraid of being hurt again.
• You're longing for hope but aren't sure how to let it back in.

If you're looking for compassionate support after pregnancy or infant loss, I'd be honored to walk alongside you.

Schedule a coaching session

Learn more about bereavement doula support

Listen to more episodes of Holding Women Through Grief

Join our email community for encouragement and resources

Episode 26: Ask a Bereavement Doula : The Questions Grieving Moms Are Afraid to Ask Out Loud

Have you ever had a thought in grief that made you immediately feel guilty?

A thought so painful, confusing, or uncomfortable that you wondered:

“What kind of mother thinks that?”

This episode is for those thoughts.

Not the polite questions people ask about grief. The real ones. The ones whispered in the shower, cried through in the car, or searched on Google at 2 a.m.

In this Ask a Bereavement Doula episode, Tasha answers the questions grieving mothers are often too afraid to say out loud with honesty, tenderness, and zero judgment.

Because thoughts in grief do not define your character. They often reflect a nervous system trying to survive devastating loss.

In this episode, we talk about:

What it means if you don’t want to try for another baby Why your body may feel like it betrayed you Why feeling “okay” can trigger guilt Memory loss and brain fog after trauma Why “How are you?” can feel unbearable Fear of forgetting your baby Why other people’s happiness can feel insulting Why joy can feel risky after loss

If you’ve experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, or pregnancy loss, this episode will remind you of something important:

You are not a bad mother because of your thoughts. You are a mother because of your love.

Your grief is valid. Your boundaries are valid. And the questions you’re scared to say out loud are often the exact ones that need compassion the most.

Resources & Support: If you’re looking for deeper support beyond the podcast, I offer grief coaching and resources for women navigating pregnancy and infant loss.

Visit my website to learn more about working together.

And if this episode helped you feel less alone, follow the podcast and share it with another grieving mother who may need these words today.

If you’ve been surrounded by people and still felt completely alone after baby loss, this episode is for you.

After miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, loneliness can feel confusing and even shameful. You may have a partner, family, friends, and people who love you and still feel painfully alone. That doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful or difficult. It means grief is isolating, especially when the world doesn’t know how to hold baby loss.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why baby loss loneliness feels different

The four types of loneliness after loss: social, emotional, identity, and relationship loneliness

Why people often pull away after loss and why their absence is not a measurement of your worth

What to do when you’re craving support but don’t have the energy to explain your pain

How to ask for support in simple, direct ways

What to say when you feel lonely in your relationship

Why your grief deserves to be witnessed, not minimized

We also talk about practical ways to reconnect without exhausting yourself choosing one safe person, giving people a specific “job,” using low-energy connection, and finding support where your grief is understood without you having to prove it.

For more support beyond this episode resources, coaching, and a place to land visit my website.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for supportive and educational purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist. If you need professional mental health support, please reach out to a licensed therapist, grief counselor, or medical provider.

After baby loss, it’s common for couples to grieve differently. One person may want to talk while the other shuts down. One may want closeness while the other needs space. One may be drowning in emotions while the other is just trying to function.

In this episode, we talk about how love languages can become a translation tool during grief not a magic fix, not pressure, and not a cute checklist. Just a simple way to ask: “What kind of love feels possible today?”

We cover:

• why connection can break down after baby loss

• how grief can change the way you give and receive love

• what each love language can look like during grief

• tiny 2–5 minute connection rituals for couples

• scripts to help reduce arguments and misunderstandings

• one simple text you can send your partner when you need closeness

Text to try: “Hey I know we grieve differently. I’m not asking you to be like me. I just need a little closeness. Can we do 5 minutes tonight no fixing, just us?”

If you and your partner are grieving differently, this is your reminder: Different coping doesn’t mean different love. You don’t have to fix each other. You just have to keep choosing small moments of connection.

For more support, resources, and coaching, visit my website.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for supportive and educational purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist. If you need professional mental health support, please reach out to a licensed therapist, grief counselor, or medical provider.

This episode is personal. I’m sharing my miscarriage story because I never want you to feel like you’re listening to someone who only understands grief from the outside. I talk about the whiplash of going from a positive test to a negative one, the silence that can feel like control at first (and loneliness later), and the guilt spiral so many women carry when they’re trying to make sense of something they couldn’t fix.

If you’ve ever minimized your own loss because other people did or felt like you had to grieve quietly to stay “strong” I hope this episode gives you permission to say it out loud: this was a loss. And your grief is valid.

For more support beyond the podcast, my website is here (About Me, the Podcast, and Coaching).No pressure just there when you need it.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for supportive and educational purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist. If you need professional mental health support, please reach out to a licensed therapist or medical provider.

Encore Episode: Loving Yourself After Loss — Finding Your Way Back to You

Some conversations are worth revisiting.

This week, I'm bringing back one of the most meaningful episodes from earlier this season because the message is just as important today as it was when it first aired.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, "I don't recognize myself anymore?"

Do you feel like grief has taken not only your baby, but pieces of who you used to be?

Are you wondering who you are now and whether this version of you is still deserving of love?

In this episode, we explore one of the most tender realities of grief: how loss changes your identity and how difficult it can feel to love the woman you are becoming.

Grief can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself. Your reflection may look different. Your energy may feel unfamiliar. Your purpose may seem unclear. The version of you before loss can begin to feel like someone you used to know rather than someone you still are.

Together, we'll talk about why self-love often feels out of reach after loss, why that distance has nothing to do with your worth, and gentle ways to begin reconnecting with yourself again.

Because loving yourself after loss isn't about returning to who you were before. It's about learning to honor who you are today.

In This Episode You'll Hear: Why grief often impacts your sense of identity The hidden guilt many grieving women carry Gentle ways to reconnect with yourself after loss How self-compassion can become part of your healing journey Why becoming someone different doesn't mean you've lost your value

Related Episodes: • Episode 5: What Healing After Loss Really Looks Like • Episode 6: Am I Still a Mother After Loss?

Resources & Support: Visit Holding Women Through Grief for podcast episodes, grief resources, blog articles, and ways to work together: www.holdingwomenthroughgrief.com

Join the email community for weekly encouragement, reflections, and support delivered directly to your inbox.

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for mental health care. I am not a licensed therapist. Please reach out to a licensed mental health professional if you need additional support.

Next Steps: Follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Share this episode with someone struggling to recognize themselves after loss. Leave a review to help more grieving women find support. Visit www.holdingwomenthroughgrief.com for additional resources and encouragement.

What to Ask Before You Book

If you’ve ever tried to get support after loss and thought, “This person doesn’t get it,” this episode is for you. We’re talking about how to find a therapist or support person who actually understands grief, what to ask before you book, and how to tell if someone is a good fit without wasting your energy explaining your pain to the wrong person.

In this episode, we cover:

how to decide what you need right now: clinical therapy, grief coaching/support, or both

where to look for grief-informed support (directories, loss organizations, hospital programs, referrals, etc.)

the questions to ask before you schedule (experience with pregnancy/infant loss, trauma-informed approach, triggers/anniversaries, faith preferences, virtual options, policies)

the questions to ask yourself after session one: Did I feel safe? Did I feel minimized? Did I leave with even 5% more breath?

reminders you may need to hear: you’re allowed to “interview” support, and you don’t owe loyalty to the first person you try

For more support beyond this episode—resources, coaching, and a place to land—visit my website .

Disclaimer: This podcast is for supportive and educational purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist. This does not replace medical or mental health care. If you need professional support, please reach out to a licensed therapist, grief counselor, or medical provider.