S9 E12 | We need to end silence and increase science. Annie Peppiatt and Sharanam Soni on why science can remove the “what ifs” that plague bereaved mothers

The Worst Girl Gang Ever

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In this powerful episode of The Worst Girl Gang Ever, we sit down with writer and grieving mother Annie Peppiatt, and placental researcher Sharanam Soni, to explore the devastating reality of stillbirth, the silent epidemic of placenta-related complications, and the hope rising through pioneering medical research into delayed villous maturation (DVM).

Annie shares the raw and deeply personal story of losing her daughter, Ness, at 38 weeks of pregnancy, despite a previously healthy pregnancy. She speaks candidly about the trauma, guilt, and the haunting “what ifs” that plague so many bereaved mothers. We also explore her healing journey, including the inception of the Ness Fund, which now supports life-saving research into placental disorders at Tommy’s.

Sharanam, a passionate reproductive science researcher, brings a unique perspective to the discussion - explaining the science behind delayed villous maturation, why it's so under-researched, and how this work could help identify at-risk pregnancies before it’s too late.

This is an essential listen for:

Parents who’ve experienced stillbirth or miscarriage

Advocates of maternal and fetal health

Health professionals seeking to understand grief and placental pathology

Anyone navigating pregnancy after loss, reproductive trauma, or infertility

Together, Annie and Sharanam are changing the narrative - from silence to science, from grief to legacy.

About The Worst Girl Gang Ever:

The Worst Girl Gang Ever is a real, honest, and emotive podcast that covers the heartbreaking subject of miscarriage, infertility, and baby loss. Expect raw conversations about unspoken experiences, hosted by TWGGE founders Bex Gunn and Laura Buckingham. This show aims to break the silence and open dialogue around miscarriage and pregnancy loss. No more shame, no more taboo—let’s change the narrative for future generations.

Support and Resources

Access The Warriorship

The Warriorship is our free peer to peer membership platform, connecting you with others who ‘just get it’ through whats app groups, online drop in sessions, a book club, creative workshops and informative webinars. Join now and instantly connect with others who understand the challenges you face. ⁠https://theworstgirlgangever.co.uk/membership/⁠

Our book

We are here to tell you that you are entitled to grieve, and that your grief is not disproportionate to your loss. We are here to open up the dialogue around miscarriage, so we don’t perpetuate the shame, judgement and isolation so many of us feel following pregnancy loss. We are here to equip you with knowledge, tools and guidance to support and help you in whatever way you need.

⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0008524998/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&

Sharanam’s literature review (it is open access):
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143400424006635?via%3Dihub

Tommy’s leaflet on Delayed Villous Maturation:https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/delayed-villous-maturation-dvm ⁠

Our Instagram accounts

@this_ache_has_a_name (where I write about Ness)
@nessfund (where we speak about our fundraising but also share updates of Sharanam’s work)
@ness_littlelibrary (for book recommendations and to request to borrow a book for free)

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