Even though pregnancy and infant loss are common, society shrouds them in secrecy and even shame—starving grieving women and their partners of much-needed support.
Women may leave the hospital feeling like strangers in their own bodies, facing postpartum life without a baby in their arms. And the well-intentioned but hurtful comments from loved ones may make them feel lonelier than ever. Rachel Lewis, founder of the Brave Mamas online support group, is the friend bereaved mothers never hoped to need—giving them the practical guide she wished for after each of her five losses. With raw transparency and no pat answers, Rachel helps parents navigate how the loss of a child can affect the body, heart, mind, and soul.
"When you experience pregnancy or infant loss, you find yourself in a life you never expected. And even though pregnancy and infant loss are common, they're not common to you," Rachel explains. "Instead, you feel like a stranger in your own body, surrounded by well-meaning people who often don't know how to support you."
In her new book, Unexpecting: Real talk on pregnancy loss, Rachel helps parents navigate through tough issues such as coping with a postpartum body without a baby in their arms, facing social isolation and grief invalidation and having faith when you feel let down by God.
Today on Connections, Rachel shares her story in hopes of helping others who may be going through the same difficult journey.