In this episode, Kara is stepping in with Renee Browning who recounts a long journey of grief and loss as she navigated 4 miscarriages amidst the births of her 2 sons and eventual adoption of their 3rd daughter. Renee shares that after pushing through, stuffing the pain and distracting herself, she eventually hit a wall and realized she needed help processing the deep grief she was feeling. The two talk about how miscarriage is a very lonely and isolating road. Renee shares that doing something to tangibly bring you peace, help you process and remember the lives of miscarried babies is an important part of healing. Her journey and perspectives will touch you deeply.

Highlights:

• Miscarriage is a shocking and unexpected event. We have no idea how to process it. 


• Fear and worry are often present in pregnancies after the loss of a miscarriage.


• Ignoring the grief can happen by: Stuffing the pain, getting pregnant again, pouring into work, focusing on gratitude


• It is common to struggle with a friend having a baby. (common duality of feelings… pain within me and happy for you.)


• Renee talks about when you have faith for an outcome and it doesn’t work out that way. 


• Miscarriage was very lonely and isolating. 


• The experience of people minimizing the loss because it was early.


• Wrote letters to each baby to process and heal. 


• Do something tangible to mark the lives of your babies. Do whatever brings you peace, helps you process and remember.


• Renee shares how the loss of 4 babies shaped her… going through this experience of processing the grief has given her tools to process other hard things in life.


• Peace in the completion of her family with their adopted daughter.


• Gratitude, be more present and step in with others who are going through it, be as open and honest as you can.

Quotes:

• “So my my word for people who are close to someone who's going through miscarriages, get in the trenches with, you know, if they'll let you in, just let them know how sorry you are and how awful it really is and just that you are there for whatever they need and just really show up”


• “I just think that because miscarriage is not that spoken about and not that open people are not that open about it. I think that people don't rally around you in the same way as other situations in life.”


• “Unpacking the grief was horrible and beautiful and tragic and life-changing all at the same time”

Connect with Renee:

Renee Thornton Browning is a busy Mom who strives to love her family well and spend each day living life to the fullest. She loves the Lord with all her heart and this love pours out into everything she does. She loves to travel and help people in any way she can. She helps manage her son Elijah and recently kicked breast cancer. She is the only women I know to go undefeated in chemo sessions with a 16 and 0 record making even Tom Brady jealous! Renee is the most loving person I have ever met. She pours everything she has into seeing the people around her succeed. She has been through so much in her life and has learned so much that she loves to share with other people.

Connect with Kara:

• Website: ⁠https://www.steppinginwithkara.com


• Newsletter: ⁠https://www.karastoltenberg.com/subscribe⁠


• Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/steppinginwithkara⁠


• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/karastoltenberg⁠
  

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