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  • How to Advocate for your Womb Health after Pregnancy Loss and Infertility with Dr. Kemi Doll

    How to Advocate for your Womb Health after Pregnancy Loss and Infertility with Dr. Kemi Doll
    2026/09/09
    In today's podcast episode, Dr. Kemi Doll, a 43-year-old double board-certified gynecologic oncologist and OBGYN, uterine cancer scientist at the University of Washington, coach for women of color in academic medicine, nonprofit founder supporting Black women with womb cancers, and author of A Terrible Strength, discusses Black womb health and the "terrible strength" that leads Black women to normalize heavy bleeding and pain, endure gynecologic disease, and delay care. She shares her personal history of lifelong painful, heavy periods, infertility labeled "unexplained," and a first endometriosis diagnosis during a C-section despite being a board-certified OBGYN, linking endurance to cognitive load and worsened outcomes. She addresses gynecology's history of experimentation on enslaved Black women and ongoing pain dismissal, and offers steps for healing and advocacy: making space for grief, learning family "womb stories," clarifying medical and physical goals, and bringing a "womb sister" to appointments, plus defining medically and spiritually safe support. Steps for Healing & Medical Advocacy Dr. Doll outlines actionable strategies for Black women to navigate the healthcare system safely and advocate for their reproductive well-being: StrategyActionable StepMake Space for GriefAllow yourself to grieve the time, fertility, or bodily peace lost to undiagnosed or dismissed pain.Learn "Womb Stories"Talk to maternal relatives to uncover family histories of fibroids, heavy bleeding, infertility, or gynecologic cancers.Clarify Your GoalsDetermine both your medical goals (e.g., pain management, fertility preservation) and your physical goals (e.g., daily energy, comfort).Bring a "Womb Sister"Never go to critical appointments alone. Bring a trusted friend, family member, or doula to act as your advocate and take notes.Define Safe SupportActively seek out healthcare providers who offer both medically safe clinical care and spiritually safe emotional support. 🔗 Important Links: Learn more about Sisters in Loss and our Doula Training: sistersinloss.com/course Take the Healing Archetypes Quiz: HAQuiz.com Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @sistersinloss Join the private Sisters in Loss Facebook community: Join Us Timestamps 00:00 Meet Dr. Kemi Doll 02:11 Book Praise And Chapter Nine 05:18 Why She Told Her Story 08:14 Infertility And Endometriosis 11:41 Defining Terrible Strength 17:02 Medicine And Black Pain History 22:00 Puberty Pain And Grief Space 26:24 Survival Guide To Healing 27:17 Grief And Emotions 28:03 Family Womb Stories 30:03 Medical Goals And Questions 32:19 Define How You Want Feel 33:21 Bring A Womb Sister 36:08 Building A Safe Village 37:05 Medical Trust And Expertise 39:44 Spiritual Safety And Support 41:47 Her Own Village 44:28 Encouragement And Next Steps 46:44 Where To Find Dr Kemi 48:36 Final Book Recommendations
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    52 分
  • Tending to Your Womb: Pelvic Floor Therapy, Grief in the Body, and Pregnancy After Loss with Anietie Tia Ukpe-Wallace

    Tending to Your Womb: Pelvic Floor Therapy, Grief in the Body, and Pregnancy After Loss with Anietie Tia Ukpe-Wallace
    2026/09/02
    In today's episode, Anietie Tia Ukpe-Wallace, a pelvic health physical therapist and author of Tending to Your Womb, shares how relocating from Northern California to Lisbon, Portugal will shape her continued work virtually and internationally. She recounts chronic infections and pelvic pain that led her to pelvic health, then details her first pregnancy in 2011 complicated by fibroids and ending in a 20-week loss, followed by a second loss six months later. She explains how grief can manifest physically through posture, breathing, reduced movement, nervous system effects, and pelvic floor tension, and defines pelvic floor therapy's functions and common symptoms. Wallace describes how pelvic therapy after loss may begin with external work (breath, abdominal touch/massage, education) before any internal exam, emphasizes finding therapists comfortable with loss, and discusses surgery, therapy, and practices that supported her later pregnancy and ongoing anxiety. She highlights body literacy as a core takeaway from her book and shares where to buy it and how to connect with her and her retreats. Key Takeaway: Body Literacy The core mission of her book, Tending to Your Womb, is to cultivate body literacy—empowering individuals to deeply understand, listen to, and advocate for their own reproductive and pelvic health. Connect & Learn More: Listeners can purchase Tending to Your Womb through major book retailers and connect with Anietie online to learn more about her virtual pelvic health consulting and upcoming international wellness retreats. 🔗 Important Links: Learn more about Sisters in Loss and our Doula Training: sistersinloss.com/course Take the Healing Archetypes Quiz: HAQuiz.com Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @sistersinloss Join the private Sisters in Loss Facebook community: Join Us Time Stamps 00:00 Meet Tia Wallace 01:00 Yoga to Pelvic Health 04:26 Loss and Fibroids Story 06:47 Grief Becomes Pelvic Pain 08:44 Books That Changed Everything 13:50 What Pelvic Floor Therapy Is 18:54 How Grief Lives in the Body 25:59 When to Seek Pelvic PT 29:21 First Visit What to Expect 32:58 Belly Work First 33:51 Pain Without Aggravation 35:30 Cranial Nerve Connection 36:42 Book And Body Betrayal 38:24 Touch And Pleasure Practices 42:22 Trying Again After Loss 43:15 Her Loss And Surgery Story 47:38 Readiness And Anxiety Tools 50:09 Body Literacy Takeaways 54:59 Where To Buy And Work 57:56 Rapid Fire Reflections 01:00:39 Connect And Closing
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    1 時間 4 分
  • Can you imagine getting pregnant while on birth control? Surviving IUD Infection & Pregnancy After Loss with Jordan Johnson

    Can you imagine getting pregnant while on birth control? Surviving IUD Infection & Pregnancy After Loss with Jordan Johnson
    2026/08/26

    Can you imagine getting pregnant while on birth control? For United States Naval Officer Jordan Johnson, this rare surprise became a reality when she beat the statistical odds and conceived while her IUD was still in place.

    What started as a journey of unexpected joy—complete with a cross-country military relocation and a beautiful baby shower—tragically shifted just two weeks later. At 29 weeks, Jordan rushed to the hospital only to learn her son no longer had a heartbeat. 💔

    In our latest episode, Jordan bravely opens up about the traumatic reality of delivering her son breech, the severe PTSD she experienced in the delivery room, and the shocking clinical discovery that followed. Doctors found that her IUD had caused a silent infection in her womb, leading to a fatal hemorrhage around her son's umbilical cord.

    🎙️ Key Themes in Today's Episode TopicWhat You Will LearnIUD ComplicationsThe hidden risks of silent womb infections caused by intrauterine devices.Delivery Room TraumaNavigating the physical and emotional PTSD of a late-term stillbirth and breech delivery.Pregnancy After LossThe proactive, high-risk medical strategies doctors used to ensure the safety of Jordan and her daughter in a subsequent pregnancy.

    🔗 Important Links:

    • Learn more about Sisters in Loss and our Doula Training: sistersinloss.com/course

    • Take the Healing Archetypes Quiz: HAQuiz.com

    • Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @sistersinloss

    • Join the private Sisters in Loss Facebook community: Join Us
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    30 分
  • The Raw Reality of Loss and Medical Trauma with Kennedy Marie

    The Raw Reality of Loss and Medical Trauma with Kennedy Marie
    2026/08/19

    In this deeply emotional and urgent episode of Sisters in Loss, we sit down with Kennedy Marie, a 26-year-old yogini, doula, and artist from Houston, TX. Kennedy shares her story from the absolute center of her grief—just one month after the devastating loss of her twins.

    Kennedy's pregnancy was beautiful until her water broke prematurely at 20 weeks. She bravely walks us through the trauma that followed: being placed on hospital bedrest, delivering and losing her daughter a week later, and the harrowing delivery of her son just days after that due to suspected infection. Kennedy sheds light on the horrific medical negligence she endured, from delivering her son completely unassisted on a hospital table, to facing overt racial slurs from nursing staff on the darkest night of her life.

    There is no neatly packaged healing journey in this episode. Instead, Kennedy offers a profoundly honest look at the raw, immediate aftermath of loss, the glaring disparities Black women face in maternal healthcare, and the exhausting reality of having to advocate for your basic humanity while saying goodbye to your children.

    Episode Takeaways

    The Rawness of Early Grief
    An honest look at what it means to just survive the first 30 days after unimaginable loss, without the pressure of "healing" yet.

    Systemic Medical Negligence
    Kennedy's firsthand account of being neglected by hospital staff during a traumatic, premature delivery.

    Maternal Healthcare Disparities
    The horrifying reality of facing overt racism and administrative incompetence (including major HIPAA violations) while in active mourning.

    The Strength to Speak
    How Kennedy found the strength to report her experiences to hospital administration the very next morning before discharging herself.

    🔗 Important Links:

    • Learn more about Sisters in Loss and our Doula Training: sistersinloss.com/course

    • Take the Healing Archetypes Quiz: HAQuiz.com

    • Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @sistersinloss

    • Join the private Sisters in Loss Facebook community: Join Us
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    37 分
  • Turning Pain into Poetry: Navigating Premature Ovarian Failure with Melissa Felix

    Turning Pain into Poetry: Navigating Premature Ovarian Failure with Melissa Felix
    2026/08/12

    In this inspiring episode of Sisters in Loss, we are honored to speak with Melissa Felix, an author, poet, storyteller, and the founder of Rhoyal Scribe, LLC. Melissa opens up about her unexpected diagnosis of Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) and the profound emotional challenge of grieving a future she always envisioned. For 13 years, she served as a dedicated educator and beloved "school mom," pouring her heart into her students while silently carrying the weight of her own reproductive loss.

    Melissa shares how she transformed her silent struggle into a powerful voice through writing, ultimately giving birth to her debut poetry collection, Silence Speaks. As a Black woman navigating infertility, she is on a mission to break the stigma, increase awareness, and create safe spaces for honest conversations within Black and Brown communities. Tune in to hear how therapy, online support systems, and the power of the pen helped Melissa find purpose beyond the pain, proving that grief does not have to be the final chapter.

    📌 Episode Takeaways

    Navigating the Dual Reality
    How Melissa balanced the joy of being a "school mom" for 13 years while privately grieving her infertility diagnosis.

    Healing Through Art
    The ways poetry and creative writing can serve as a refuge and a practical tool for processing complex grief.

    Breaking the Stigma
    The critical importance of shattering the silence surrounding reproductive loss in Black and Brown communities.

    Building Support Systems
    How therapy, online communities, and non-judgmental loved ones can provide a safe space for healing.

    🔗 Important Links:

    • Learn more about Sisters in Loss and our Doula Training: sistersinloss.com/course

    • Take the Healing Archetypes Quiz: HAQuiz.com

    • Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @sistersinloss

    • Join the private Sisters in Loss Facebook community: Join Us
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    59 分
  • 9 Years of Sisters in Loss – Replacing Silence with Storytelling

    9 Years of Sisters in Loss – Replacing Silence with Storytelling
    2026/08/05

    Today is an incredibly special episode because we are celebrating our 9-Year Anniversary! 🎉

    Nine years ago, I took my pain and turned it into purpose, launching this platform to highlight the stories of Black mothers navigating pregnancy loss, infant loss, and infertility. In this milestone episode, I'm taking a look back at the origins of Sisters in Loss, the defining moments that shaped our community, and how our mission has expanded into training the next generation of bereavement doulas.

    In this episode, we cover:

    • The Origin Story: Why I started Sisters in Loss in 2017 and the early days of the podcast.

    • Community Impact: How storytelling has helped thousands of Black women heal and break the stigma surrounding maternal loss.

    • The Evolution: Expanding from a podcast to an educational platform and doula training program.

    • What's Next: A sneak peek into the future of Sisters in Loss, including details about my upcoming book, Never Healing Alone.

    Thank you for being part of this journey for the last 9 years. If this podcast has touched your life, please take a moment to celebrate with us by sharing this episode with a sister who needs it, leaving a review, or tagging us on social media!

    🔗 Important Links:

    • Learn more about Sisters in Loss and our Doula Training: sistersinloss.com/course

    • Take the Healing Archetypes Quiz: HAQuiz.com

    • Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @sistersinloss

    • Join the private Sisters in Loss Facebook community: Join Us
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    21 分
  • Stillbirth, Postpartum Depression, Preeclampsia, and Serving in Pregnancy After Loss with Shanna Williams

    Stillbirth, Postpartum Depression, Preeclampsia, and Serving in Pregnancy After Loss with Shanna Williams
    2026/07/29

    Do you know what Stillbirth is?

    A stillbirth is the death or loss of a baby before or during delivery. Both miscarriage and stillbirth describe pregnancy loss, but they differ according to when the loss occurs.

    Today's guest experienced a stillbirth at 21 weeks followed by a missed miscarriage at 9 weeks. She became pregnant again and experienced anxiety, had an upsetting birth experience with her son and developed postpartum depression. Shanna Williams continued to grow her family by having another baby while her son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorder at age 2. During that birth she secured a doula and midwife in an attempt to have a home birth, but had to be transferred to hospital care due to preeclampsia. Shanna focused on therapy work on maternal health and became a Doula and Lactation consultant to serve families in pregnancy and parenting after loss. In this episode, she takes us back to that moment when she heard her son didn't have a heartbeat and what inspired her PhD studies focusing on Historical trauma, Black Maternal Health Outcomes and Pregnancy after loss.

    This episode is for you to listen to if you have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, postpartum depression, pre-eclampisa, or any trauma during childbirth.

    Become a Sisters in Loss Birth Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula Here

    Book Recommendations and Links Below

    You can shop my Amazon Store or ​Bookshop.org for the Book Recommendations

    You can follow Sisters in Loss on Social

    Join our Black Moms in Loss Online Weekly Grief Support Group

    Join the Sisters in Loss Online Community

    Sisters in Loss TV Youtube Channel

    Sisters in Loss Instagram

    Sisters in Loss Facebook
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    48 分
  • Finding Joy and Strength through Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Therapy with Dr. Loree Johnson

    Finding Joy and Strength through Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Therapy with Dr. Loree Johnson
    2026/07/22

    Have you heard of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss?
    Recurrent pregnancy loss is historically defined as 3 or more consecutive pregnancy losses prior to 20 weeks.

    Today's guest has experienced 4 pregnancy losses including losing a son at 15 weeks due to chromosomal abnormalities. Dr. Loree Johnson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, shares her loss story and journey to motherhood. In this episode you will hear Dr. Loree's story of strength and perseverance and how she found joy and peace in the uncertainty of this journey. We all could use more joy and peace as we navigate the current uncertain times. This episode is for you to listen to if you are seeking a story of finding joy and strength after recurrent pregnancy loss.

    Dr. Loree Johnson's Bio
    I'm Dr. Loree Johnson, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with more than 25 years of experience as a clinician, educator, and clinical supervisor.

    I help my clients navigate uncertainty in their relationships, overcome the emotional challenges that come with infertility and the loss of a pregnancy, and strengthen their relationships.

    By combining my licensed clinical background and personal experience into a holistic and therapeutic approach, I support women and couples on their path to parenthood.

    I'm a clinical fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and I've also served on the state and national boards.

    I live in Hermosa Beach, CA with my husband and pampered pooch. In my spare time, I enjoy salsa dancing, traveling, reading, and riding my motorcycle.

    Become a Sisters in Loss Birth Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula Here

    Book Recommendations and Links Below

    You can shop my Amazon Store or ​Bookshop.org for the Book Recommendations

    You can follow Sisters in Loss on Social

    Join our Black Moms in Loss Online Weekly Grief Support Group

    Join the Sisters in Loss Online Community

    Sisters in Loss TV Youtube Channel

    Sisters in Loss Instagram

    Sisters in Loss Facebook
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    41 分