This episode of the AllPaths podcast features Amanda Nordberg, a volunteer for the Footsteps for Family Building Walk, who shares her struggle with recurrent pregnancy loss and the emotional experience of pregnancy after loss. Amanda and her husband Andy began trying to conceive in 2020 and while they discovered that her body was "great at getting pregnant," it struggled to "stay pregnant". Over time, Amanda experienced multiple types of loss: an early miscarriage at 11 weeks (where the baby stopped growing at 9 weeks), which required a D&C procedure; an ectopic pregnancy around 6 weeks that was treated with methotrexate shots; and a chemical pregnancy. Eventually Amanda did have two nerve-racking, yet ultimately successful pregnancies resulting in her son Miles and daughter Zoey. Her journey highlights the multifaceted emotional toll of pregnancy loss, impacting not only the immediate moment of loss but also significantly altering subsequent pregnancies.

Amanda's story also emphasizes the critical role of support and open communication. After her first loss, she decided to share her experience publicly on social media, which led to an outpouring of support from others who had gone through similar struggles. She connected with AllPaths (then Resolve New England) and found solace in their pregnancy loss support groups. Throughout the conversation, we explore how to navigate feelings of grief and hope, and how finding community can work towards ending the stigma surrounding pregnancy loss. Amanda's advocacy for openness and vulnerability shines through as she encourages others to find their people and allow themselves grace in their family building journey.

Learn more about AllPaths’ pregnancy loss support groups and resources.

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Missed miscarriage, D&C, miscarriage management, pregnancy loss, pregnancy loss group, ovulation testing, ectopic pregnancy, methotrexate, chemical pregnancy, recurrent pregnancy loss, Boston IVF, pregnancy after loss, fear, anxiety, jealousy, anger, support, childbirth, therapy, Emily Oster, normalizing loss, find your people, walk, Footsteps for Family Building, AllPaths Family Building, annual walk, family building, pregnancy loss, infertility support, emotional support for pregnancy loss, coping with miscarriage, family growth journey, support groups for loss, navigating pregnancy after loss, community support for families, pregnancy after miscarriage, infertility awareness, mental health in pregnancy, pregnancy loss resources, stories of loss and hope, celebrating family building, sharing your pregnancy story, support for expecting parents, fertility challenges, pregnancy after loss experiences