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

#29| Why Do I Feel Like I Failed My Baby? Working Through Guilt, Blame, and Self-Criticism

Why Do I Feel Like I Failed My Baby? Working Through Guilt, Blame, and Self-Criticism After Baby Loss This episode contains conversations about pregnancy loss, infant loss, grief, guilt, self-blame, and trauma. Please listen at a pace that feels supportive for you. If you need to pause, take a break, or come back another day, give yourself that permission. Your heart matters here. About This Episode After pregnancy or infant loss, one of the heaviest burdens many mothers carry isn't just grief it's guilt. Maybe you've replayed every appointment. Every decision. Every conversation. Maybe you've asked yourself: "What if I had gone in sooner?" "What if I had noticed something?" "What if I had pushed harder?" "Did I fail my baby?" If those questions sound familiar, I want you to know something before you even press play: You are not alone. In this episode of Holding Women Through Grief, we're talking about why guilt can become one of grief's loudest voices, why our brains often search for someone to blame, and how hindsight can convince us we should have known what was impossible to know in the moment. Together, we'll explore the difference between guilt and responsibility, why self-punishment isn't the same as love, and how to begin replacing self-criticism with compassion. My hope is that by the end of this conversation, you'll begin to understand one simple truth: Your love for your baby has never been measured by your ability to prevent the unimaginable. In This Episode You'll Learn Why guilt is one of the most common emotions after pregnancy and infant loss. Why our brains search for blame after tragedy. The difference between responsibility and self-condemnation. How hindsight distorts our memories and fuels guilt. Gentle ways to begin replacing self-blame with self-compassion. If today's conversation stirred something in your heart that feels too heavy to carry alone, I'd be honored to walk beside you. As a bereavement doula and grief coach, I provide compassionate one-on-one support for women navigating pregnancy and infant loss. Together, we'll create a space where your grief can be spoken, your guilt can be explored with gentleness, and your healing can unfold without judgment or unrealistic expectations. Whether your loss happened recently or years ago, you don't have to carry it alone. Ways We Can Work Together Complimentary Consultation One-on-One Grief Coaching Bereavement Doula Support  Pregnancy & Infant Loss Resources Schedule a Free Consultation omen Through Grief Community: (Insert Email Signup Link) Disclaimer The information shared in this podcast is intended for educational and emotional support purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, mental health counseling, psychological treatment, legal advice, or other professional services. As a bereavement doula and grief coach, I share information, encouragement, and practical support based on my professional training and personal experience. Every grief journey is unique, and the content of this podcast should not replace the individualized care of your physician, licensed mental health professional, or other qualified healthcare providers. If you are experiencing severe emotional distress, thoughts of harming yourself, or are in immediate crisis, please contact 911, your local emergency services, or a licensed mental health professional in your area. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own healthcare decisions and are encouraged to seek professional support when needed. About Holding Women Through Grief Holding Women Through Grief exists to provide compassionate support, practical education, and hope for women navigating pregnancy and infant loss. Through heartfelt conversations, bereavement doula support, grief coaching, and a growing community, my mission is to ensure that no woman has to carry her grief alone. Because every baby matters, every story deserves to be told, and every grieving mother deserves to be held with compassion.

#28| Why Does It Feel Like I’m Grieving Wrong? Understanding Grief Imposter Syndrome

Why Does It Feel Like I'm Grieving Wrong? Understanding Grief Imposter Syndrome 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. In This Episode You'll Learn 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.   Resources 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 Bereavement Doula Support Join [https://www.holdingwomenthroughgrief.com/] the Holding Women Through Grief Email Community 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.

#27 |Why Does Hope Feel So Scary After Baby Loss?

Why Does Hope Feel So Scary After Baby Loss? 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. This Episode Is For You If... * 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.   Resources If you're looking for compassionate support after pregnancy or infant loss, I'd be honored to walk alongside you.  Schedule [https://www.holdingwomenthroughgrief.com/]a coaching session  Learn more about bereavement doula support  Listen to more episodes of Holding Women Through Grief Join our email [https://www.holdingwomenthroughgrief.com/] community for encouragement and resources

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

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 [https://www.holdingwomenthroughgrief.com/] 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.

# 25| Why Do I Feel So Alone After Baby Loss ? Understanding the Isolation Nobody Talks About

Understanding the Isolation Nobody Talks About 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 [https://www.holdingwomenthroughgrief.com/].  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.