What Kind of Parents Would We Have Been?

In the final episode of Series 6, the three of us explore how grief evolves over time and how we evolve alongside it. We reflect on how our lives have changed since losing our baby boys, Freddie, Eddie and Teddy and we talk about what it means to move forward, find joy again, whilst carrying our babies with us as we embrace life once more.

In this episode, the three of us explore the question: what kind of parents would we have been if our baby had lived? We reflect on the imagined future that was lost alongside our baby and the version of ourselves that never got to unfold. Alongside this, we consider how loss has shaped the parents we have become, and how both realities can exist side by side.

In this powerful episode, we're joined by Alicia Burnett, founder of Black Baby Loss Awareness Week, who shares why this important campaign was created and the work she is doing to help make meaningful change. Alicia opens up about the devastating loss of her baby boy, Micaiah, who passed away at just six months old, and speaks candidly about grief,  motherhood, inequality and the importance of support and awareness within Black communities.   

In today's episode, we're joined by Marina Fogle, journalist, podcaster and co-founder of The Bump Class, to discuss the loss of her baby boy Willem in 2014. She speaks openly about grief, motherhood and remembering Willem in a conversation that is both moving and quietly hopeful.

In this episode, we speak to award-winning journalist, editor and author Amit Katwala who shares his personal story of loss following the stillbirth of his son Rayan. Amit has also shared his deeply moving story for The Guardian, offering a powerful reflection of grief from a father's perspective. It can be read here:  https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/oct/21/how-i-survived-the-stillbirth-of-my-son 

In this episode, we are joined by Lucy Livesey, founder of Ellie's Gift. Lucy shares her story of losing her baby girl Ellie to TFMR (termination for medical reasons) and how she set up Ellie's Gift in her memory to support the baby loss community. The Ellie's Gift App is a free resource to support individuals through baby loss by offering practical assistance, mental health support, and educational resources. More information can be read here: https://www.ellies.gift/ 

To launch Series 6 of The Other Mothers Podcast, we were honoured to speak to journalist and author Ali Harris about her new novel "This Wasn't Meant To Happen" – a love story about a couple, Sofie and Rory, whose world imploded after the stillbirth of their baby boy at 39 weeks. Ali also opens up about the devasting loss of her daughter Poppy and explains how this experience became the inspiration behind her latest novel. This wasn't meant to happen. But it did. "Sofie Jensen knows the safest way to live is by staying in control. And she knows that love can come with a cost. But what she doesn't know is that one unexpected moment will change everything. Because meeting Rory and falling in love wasn't part of the plan. Neither was becoming pregnant or losing her baby. Sofie doesn't know how she'll survive this kind of grief – but she knows life will never be the same again… Told with quiet strength and breathtaking honesty, This Wasn't Meant to Happen is a powerful portrait of love, grief and the tender, complicated path back to hope" Ali's book can be purchased on Amazon here

In our final episode of Series 5, the three of us speak about inherited grief and the impact this has on our subsequent children. We talk about how we raise our loving children in the shadow of grief, and the conversations that come up in daily life.

We are joined by author Ellie Harley-Jones who speaks to us about her baby boy Theo, who she lost to stillbirth in March 2021.  Ellie has channelled her grief for Theo by writing and illustrating 'Theo Bear - A Midnight Wish', a beautiful and heartfelt story which is lovely to read to children, and is also a comfort for bereaved parents. We also speak about how healing and cathartic it has been for Ellie to write in Theo's name.

For Black Baby Loss Awarness Week, we are joined by Rachel Burrell and Gina Reeves, founders of the charity Ebony Bonds, a bereavement charity dedicated to providing support for black bereaved families . We speak about Rachel and Gina's personal experiences of baby loss - Rachel tragically lost her baby Rhema to stillbirth and Gina tragically lost her baby boy Dante to stillbirth. We also speak about the disparities and systemic inequalities of maternity care for black and mixed heritage families, and what is needed to make meaningful change. For more information on Ebony Bonds please visit: https://www.ebonybonds.org.uk/  You can follow them on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/ebonybondsupport