Love, Life and Loss

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Mars Lord, a highly sought-after life coach and birth activist. Mars is a triple award-winning doula, mentor, educator, and coach, known for her powerful voice in birth equity and her unwavering commitment to supporting families and professionals alike. We talk about her inspiring journey, from becoming a doula to leading change as an activist and she opens up about the deeply moving experience of supporting a dear friend through a stillbirth. Mars shares this story with such honesty, grace, and compassion that it’s impossible not to be touched. This conversation is heartfelt, powerful, and full of wisdom. It’s about love, loss, and the strength that comes from showing up for one another, even in the most difficult moments. So please join us. If you’re not following Mars then you need to start now. marslord.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/_marslord?igsh=MWVxajNscDhudnYxOQ== https://www.instagram.com/abueladoulas?igsh=MThqdzAwcWNwcG01Ng==

This week you will hear Emily’s story. Emily was told she would never have children naturally and yet, against the odds, she fell pregnant unexpectedly. She was shocked, nervous, and full of mixed emotions and if she’s honest, terrified, But her nerves soon turned into joy when she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Just six months later, Emily found herself pregnant again, but this time, her joy was cut short when she experienced a missed miscarriage. A heartbreak that was made even harder by the lack of care and compassion she faced in A&E. In this episode, Emily opens up about the whirlwind of emotions, the hidden trauma, and why she’s determined to speak out, not just for herself, but for partners who are too often left out of the conversation. She also shares why it’s so important that we keep talking about these experiences, no matter how difficult they are to hear. This is a story about hope, heartbreak, and the courage to speak out and I’m honoured to share it with you. So please join us

This week you will hear Chris’s story! A father, husband, musician, and brave storyteller. Chris shares his deeply personal journey of loss, love, and healing, after the heartbreaking loss of his twins and supporting his wife through an early miscarriage. But this is also a story of hope. Chris goes on to have two beautiful boys, and he uses his gift of music to honour the lives lost and raise awareness. His powerful song, featuring his wife and sons, called “You are not alone” captures the raw emotions of grief and the strength it takes to move forward. You will get a glimpse of it at the end as I have used it for the outro on this episode. Chris also opens up about facing a major operation shortly after having his son adding another layer to an already life-changing year. This is a conversation filled with honesty, reflection, and the power of creative expression in healing. So please join us Chris can be found on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iamseesings?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MWNvcGg1OXV6c3Jxag==

This week you will hear Peter’s Story. Today is Father’s Day, and in this episode, we honour the grief, strength, and voices of fathers. Peter is a courageous father who shares the heartbreaking story of losing his son at just 25 weeks into the pregnancy. After hours in hospital while his wife was in pain, the devastating words “prolapsed cord” were shouted by doctors.   What followed was a painful loss, and an explanation that Peter and his wife continue to question. They were told their son had “tiny lungs,” but their hearts and instincts tell a different story, and they are still fighting for answers.   In the midst of this grief, Peter has created something powerful: NINE – NOD IS NOT ENOUGH, a WhatsApp group that provides a safe and positive space for men of colour to come together, support one another, and share their experiences of baby loss.   His wife has also channelled her pain into purpose, setting up a charity called Ebony Bonds, dedicated to supporting families of colour through the trauma of baby loss – ensuring no one walks this path alone.   Together, Peter and his wife are a force for change. In the wake of unimaginable loss, they’ve channelled their grief into action, advocating for better outcomes and meaningful support for all families navigating baby loss, with a vital focus on those from communities of colour.   Their lived experience has highlighted the systemic gaps in care and the urgent need for equity, compassion, and accountability. They are determined to ensure that no parent is left unheard, unseen, or unsupported in their time of deepest need.   This episode is a tribute to all grieving fathers. Your pain is real, your voice matters, and your love lives on.   So please join us If you would like to join the group NINE or access the charity Ebony Bonds- the details are below https://www.linkedin.com/posts/peterjtreeves_ive-heard-there-was-a-debate-on-linkedin-activity-7293965295046545408-0JyJ https://www.ebonybonds.org.uk/

This week you will hear Alexa’s Story – From Heartbreak to Healing Shared as part of Black Baby Loss Awareness Week At just 20 weeks pregnant, Alexa experienced every parent’s worst nightmare. After seeking help when she felt something wasn’t right, she was told everything was fine. But later that same day, following a long walk home, her cervix began to open. Doctors attempted to save the pregnancy with an emergency stitch, but it only held for a short time, and she went into early labour. Her precious daughter passed away. What followed was a journey marked by deep grief, therapy, and rediscovery. Over the years, Alexa tried different paths before finding her calling at Sister Circle, where she now supports other families through the pain of baby loss. Through her work with hospitals and the NHS, she advocates for better care, earlier intervention, and improved outcomes — especially for Black families whose voices often go unheard. Alexa’s story is one of unimaginable loss, resilience, and the power of turning pain into purpose. This heartfelt episode honours her experience and the experiences of so many others during Black Baby Loss Awareness Week. So Please Join us

This week is a special episode. Today Sunday 27th April is Zion’s birthday, and he would have been five this year, I still can’t believe it’s been five years since I gave birth to our beautiful baby boy. As a tribute to his birthday Zion’s dad and I are sitting down together to reflect on the journey we’ve been on over the last five years — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. This episode is raw and unedited — just us, being honest about how grief has affected us both in different ways. It hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve always worked hard to stay connected, to keep communicating, and most importantly, to keep Zion’s memory alive. We’ve had to learn, sometimes the hard way, how to communicate, to support each other, and to keep moving forward. We’re still learning even now, but we wanted to share a little bit of our story, for anyone who might be walking a similar path, and for Zion, whose light is always with us. We hope by sharing our journey, it brings a bit of comfort to anyone out there feeling alone in their own grief right now. So please join use

This week you will hear Aisha’s story. Aisha is the founder and creator of mind body revival coach and so much more. Listen as Aisha takes us on her journey of life after infertility without children. Aisha has spent most of her life suffering from endometriosis, spending years not being believed or taken seriously. It wasn’t until after she was married and years of trying for a baby unsuccessful that she was finally diagnosed. By this point her condition was so bad, Aisha’s only hope of conceiving a baby would be through IVF. After a ten yearlong battle, eleven IVF cycles, multiple losses and losing herself in the process, Aisha chose herself! Aisha made the difficult decision to stop treatment without a baby to take home, putting her own mental health and wellbeing first. Listen as Aisha talks about what it is like to live with endometriosis and how this still impacts her everyday life. You will hear about her journey through IVF, the losses she experienced along the way and the ripple effect on her family. Aisha is an inspiration to all women as she advocates for the childless community whether by choice or circumstance. She works hard to raise awareness and be a voice for all experiencing endometriosis and those affected by infertility. She has overcome some enormous challenges and she’s still smiling and thriving. So please join us. https://www.instagram.com/mindbodyrevival_coach?igsh=MTV6cjJiZmh5N3VnZw==

This week you will hear Illiyin’s story. Illiyin Morrison is the founder and creator of mixing up motherhood. Listen as Illiyin takes us on her journey from being a midwife to becoming her own boss. Illiyin has many vocations from public speaking to birth debriefings. From Advocacy to cooking. Although Illiyin hasn’t experienced baby loss personally, she has experienced loss and trauma. This podcast is all about Love, Life and Loss, what ever that looks like to you. Illiyin lost her mum suddenly and then went on to lose her brother in law eight months later. The work Illiyin does is so good in supporting the community of baby loss and grief. She’s doesn’t try to fix you but she helps you to learn to see yourself and understand yourself so much better. When we are grieving we often lose ourselves and it becomes a battle to find a new version of us. With the work Illiyin does she gives you the tools and space you need to do just that and having the expertise of being a midwife is just an added bonus. Illiyin is genuinely invested in what she does, she loves her work and it shines through. There is an aura about Illiyin that is just magic. So please join us.

This week you will hear Bella’s story. The child’s perspective! So far, we have heard from parents and professionals. In this episode you will hear what it is like for a child to lose a sibling. Bella is a very special quest today. She is my youngest daughter and she was two years old when her brother was born. She was too young to fully understand and process what happened, but the impact is still there. Listen as Bella talks about her brother and how she keeps his memory alive. Bella thinks about all my pregnancies. Including the miscarriages I had before she was born, and she includes them as part of her family. Even as young six years old, Bella can read the room. Listen as she talks about navigating her way around other people’s discomfort around baby loss. She feels it and tries to comfort others in a way that doesn’t leave her brother out. Bella then goes on to ask me lots of questions about how I feel. It just shows the types of question and thoughts she has and highlights the impact of baby loss on her as a sibling and a child. It’s an insightful episode and I am very proud of my daughter for taking part and her honestly throughout. It’s not often we hear the child’s perspective and how they are impacted by baby loss. Every child is different and all three of mine have been impacted differently, but our Bella has decided to share her journey and give some useful tips along the way. She is her mother’s daughter.   So please join us. https://www.instagram.com/lovelifeandlosspodcast3?igsh=dTU1azVtYmN1ajln&utm_source=qr

This week you will hear Tara’s story. Tara is the founder of Mother’s of Angels. Listen as she talks about losing her son fourteen years ago and the impact that still has on her life to this day. Tara opens up about the battles she faced including the dreaded Mother’s Day. After many years of feeling isolated and alone, Tara recognised that others could feel the same and decided to start hosting Sunday tea for all of us bereaved parents. This is such a beautiful way to honour your child or children, as well as yourself. Tara has created this space, at what can be a very difficult time of year for many, building an all inclusive community, welcoming to everyone. Tara gives hope to us all and she is a beacon of light for so many. The impact of baby loss is life long and Mother’s of angels are here to support and recognise this. Tara continues to do great work supporting this community and it was a privilege to get to interview her. So please join us

This week you will hear Helena’s story. Listen as she talks about the stillbirth of her daughter Maila. Helena takes us on her journey of navigating baby loss and she talks about what she has done to keep her daughters memory alive and all the lost babies. Since losing her daughter Helena now provides personalised story books honouring baby loss. Providing comfort to grieving families who have experienced baby loss. Helena has managed to create something so beautiful from her experience, which has already touched so many people. Helena continues to do great work supporting this community and raising awareness around the devastating impact of baby loss. So please join us You can find Helena using the following platforms. Website https://mailaspresent.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mailaspresent?igsh=Y3hqYnhkbHdqYTht Tik tok https://www.tiktok.com/@mailaspresent?_t=8rPexXpSst6&_r=1 Spotify & Amazon Music Remember Me - The stories of our babies #babyloss

This week you will hear Trish’s story. Listen as Trish talks about losing her twins. She goes into detail about the impact it had on her and the people around her. During this interview you will hear all about Trish’s following pregnancy with her rainbow baby. And her need to fulfil her hopes and dream of having a baby earth side. We talk about the emotional impact of baby loss and you will hear Trish’s raw honest truth. Even in the darkest of moments we manage to laugh and find joy and talking to Trish was just that. She is a beautiful soul and has a way of telling her story with laughter and smiles. She really is inspirational and a joy to be around. So please join us

⚠️Trigger warning ⚠️ Termination of pregnancy topic. This week you will hear a story of a young lady when she found herself in a difficult situation not knowing what to do. Some people may find this episode upsetting as we talk about abortion or induced miscarriage as I prefer to call it. On this podcast we talk about baby loss from every perspective with no judgment, because whether we had a choice or not the impact is real. Please listen as this young lady opens up and lets us in, as she talks about having to make that difficult decision and the journey she went on. In this episode you will hear the raw honest truth of what it was like to go through a termination of pregnancy. Although there was an element of choice in there she still grieved for her baby. The world is not black and white, there are grey areas in between and this is definitely one of those stories. Listen as we talk about the physical and emotional impact an induced miscarriage can have and the options available. I want to thank this young lady for allowing herself to be so vulnerable.I know it took a lot of courage for her to share her story. And I hope you will all take something away from this as I think it is a power story. There are a lot of us who have found ourselves in similar situations not knowing what to do. I hope this episode can help you make a better informed decision. So please join us …..

This week you will hear Barry’s story. Barry talks for the first time about his son Mason who was diagnosed with peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBD), Zellweger Syndrome at just four months old, when he was only given a year to live. Listen as Barry talks about his journey caring for his son and being a dad for the first time. You will hear how determined Barry was to give his son the best quality of life by thinking outside of the box and challenging where he felt necessary. And what a fantastic job he did. Mason managed to live until he was two and a half years old thanks to the care and determination of his parents. Barry is a proud dad and he talks about the struggles and the highs and lows of his journey caring for his son and what life was like after. Even after losing his son Barry continued to work and support others. It was a privilege to hear his story and hear the perspective of the dad in this episode. Barry is an amazing father and an inspiration to all.

This week you will hear Steffi’s story! Steffi is a mum of three, with two angel babies and one rainbow baby. Listen as Steffi’s takes us on her journey, which started when she was just 11 years old. When she was diagnosed with two different types of cancer. Steffi was told she would be infertile and when the time came she would have to find alternative routes to have a baby. Steffi has been through so much. Listen as she talks about IVF and surrogacy and the loss of her two beautiful babies Ayla and Marley. Steffi has her own charity The Hope and Faith Foundation. Where she is working hard to help other bereaved families. You will hear how Steffi has had to over come so many hurdles and yet she still she finds time to give back. Steffi has so much courage she is inspiring. She is holding a charity ball for her local hospital to raise money to support bereaved parents. If you’d like to contact Steffi or check out her charity details are below https://instagram.com/steffigoodwin?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.facebook.com/thehopeandfaithfoundationbedford

This week you will hear part 2 of Erica’s story. Erica lost her baby 40 years ago on the 29th May, baby Shane sadly passed away. Erica is a mum of 4 and a grandmother. Listen as Erica takes us on her journey of the last 40 years and what that looks like for her. You will hear her talk about her pregnancy with her rainbow baby and the amazing work Erica has done since. Erica is an experienced counsellor and a long time advocate of baby loss awareness and support. She has worked for a number of charities including Sands, helping support bereaved families. Erica has worked with the writers of Eastenders and Coronation street on their storylines around baby loss as well as supporting a number of authors with their books. Erica has contributed so much to our community, I am in awe of her. I feel very lucky to have met her. She has inspired me so much and I imagine anyone who meets her! Now I am sharing her story with you. So please join us.

This week you will hear Erica’s story. Erica lost her baby 40 years ago today 29th May, baby Shane sadly passed away. Listen as Erica takes us on her journey of the last 40 years and what that looks like for her. Erica is a mum of 4 and a grandmother. Listen as she talks about baby loss from both perspectives in the next two episodes . Erica is also an experienced counsellor and a long time advocate of baby loss awareness and support. She has worked for a number of charities including sands helping support bereaved families. Erica has worked with the writers of Eastenders and Coronation street on their storyline around baby loss as well as supporting a number of authors with their books. Erica has contributed so much to our community I am in awe of her. I feel very lucky to have met her and she has inspired me so much and I imaging anyone who meets her! Now I am sharing her story with you. So please join us.

This week you will hear Jess’s story. Listen as Jess tells us what it was like to loose her babies. Jess opens up to us and takes us on her journey. You will hear how Jess’s parents made the difficult decision on her behalf to have a medical termination when she was just a teenager and since then Jess has had experiences ranging from miscarriages,still birth and neonatal deaths. This is a woman who has lost so much but still finds the time and space in her heart to help others. You will hear how Jess has devoted herself to help other women who have similar experiences. She has done such a good job that this year she has been awarded a Citizenship Award for all the hard work she has done. You will hear how Jess has found her purpose and is actively doing great work in her community. Email: Jess@bromorgannwgbabyloss.net /Tara@bromorgannwgbabyloss.net Facebook: Bro Morgannwg Baby Loss Support Group

This week you will hear Alicia Burnett’s story. Alicia is the co founder of black baby loss awareness week. The first ever black baby loss awareness week is this week 15- 19th May 2023 and it’s only fitting that we hear Alicia’s story. Listen as Alicia talks about her passion for what she does and why she does it. Baby loss is highest amongst people of colour and yet we are the least likely to access support. Alicia has her own lived experience of what it is like to lose a baby when she lost her son in 2018 and now she supports other families that look like her. Alicia is a force to be reckoned with. She is on a mission to improve the quality of care for women of colour and their babies. I for one feel honoured to have met her and listened to her story. Alicia is a committed advocate of midwifery and was invited onto the ITV Lunchtime News to speak about her decision to become a midwife, and why college leavers should consider a career in midwifery. She was the first student Editor-in-Chief of The Student Midwife journal, and recently re-joined the journal as an editorial board member. She is also in the process of writing her first academic book. She has co-authored articles in the Nursing Standard, Midwifery and Nurse Education Today, and she penned the article ‘Racism Matters 6. This Hurts Us Much More Than it Hurts You: The Lived Experiences of Black, Asian and Multi-Racial Student Midwives’ for The Practising Midwife. Alicia has also been featured in the RCM's Midwives magazine and written blog posts for the Council of Deans of Health, the Student Leadership Programme and All4Maternity. You can support black baby awareness week using the links below. https://instagram.com/blackbabylossawareness?igshid=ZWQyN2ExYTkwZQ== https://instagram.com/midwife_alicia?igshid=ZWQyN2ExYTkwZQ==

Happy Birthday Zion 💙