How These Proven Coping Strategies Can Help Navigate Pregnancy Loss

We’re digging into how to navigate pregnancy loss with a focus on mental and emotional well-being.

Women still experience enormous stigma and shame when they lose a baby, and they are often not encouraged to talk about the loss.

This can lead to isolation and disconnection from a partner, family and friends, as well as feeling trapped in grief.

What are the signs of negative coping or even avoidance?

And how do we cope with pregnancy loss when we are still trying to conceive?

Our Fab Fertile Mindset Coaches, Samantha and Fatima, join me today! They are an integral part of our Couples Coaching program, which uses functional lab testing, diet, and lifestyle changes to improve conception dramatically. If you are struggling with infertility, your body is desperately trying to tell you something; focusing on your health will either help you get pregnant naturally or if you do need to go to the fertility clinic, it will improve your chances of success.



In this episode, you'll learn:

1. Signs of avoidance and negative coping after pregnancy loss
2. Understanding grief as it relates to pregnancy loss
3. Coping strategies to help navigate the mental and emotional rollercoaster
4. Book recommendations that touch on grief, isolation, the importance of community and recovery after miscarriage

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HIGHLIGHTS:

3:01 WELCOME SAMANTHA COFFIN & FATIMA SHAIKH

• Get Pregnant Naturally | Episode 440: How To Be Your Own Advocate With Pregnancy Loss

3:51 OUR FERTILITY JOURNEYS & EXPERIENCES WITH PREGNANCY LOSS

SARAH’S EXPERIENCE

• The typical Type-A way I respond to challenging situations
• My experience with using donor eggs and having to get a separate donor for my second child

FATIMA’S EXPERIENCE

• There was a lot of confusion, and it was difficult to accept.
• Many of us don’t realize that getting psychological support could be beneficial
• It was a very jarring experience.
• Whatever you’re feeling is valid.

SAMM’S EXPERIENCE

• Any fertility troubles can be traumatic.
• It was very traumatic feeling like she was pregnant every cycle and realizing they were likely chemical pregnancies
• A lot of us try to rationalize our way out of our grief experiences

10:42 SLEEP AFTER LOSS

• Get Pregnant Naturally | Episode 404: Proven Sleep Hacks That Optimize Reproductive Health and Banish Poor Sleep For Good
• Find a support person who can help you to make sure you’re getting at least 8 hours of sleep each day
• Even if you can’t get a long block of sleep, taking naps throughout the day will be helpful
• If you find that you’re constantly sleeping, that’s a sign that you should talk to your doctor

13:51 UNDERSTANDING GRIEF

• While you’re going through this grief, it’s vital to have someone around you at all times if possible
• Setting boundaries with your support person
• WhatsYourGrief.com
• You will grow around your grief.

Growing Around Grief -https://whatsyourgrief.com/growing-around-grief/

16:43 SIGNS OF AVOIDANCE & NEGATIVE COPING

• We all respond differently to traumatic events.
• Avoidance can look like physically isolating yourself or mentally and emotionally avoiding your feelings
• Negative coping mechanisms can also involve substances
• Questions to ask yourself
• Finding ways to bring joy back into your life
• How grief and trauma from pregnancy loss can manifest in unexpected ways
• The secondary losses, including changes in relationships and altered self-perception

28:43 COPING STRATEGIES

• Three main categories of coping strategies: creative, rational, and emotional
• Sometimes, over time, we need to utilize different strategies
• Examples of different strategies that can be very impactful
• Seeking professional support to help you navigate the loss experience
• Be present with your emotions.

36:50 SUPPORT GROUPS

• Finding people who understand your experience can be very validating
• Fab Fertile’s Free Facebook Group | Get Pregnant Naturally with low AMH and/or High FSH

38:26 EDUCATE & EMPOWER YOURSELF

• Educating yourself helps to take the guilt and shame away
• Give yourself space to take a break and avoid the research rabbit hole

41:21 MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION

• Be present and allow your body to get into a parasympathetic pattern.
• Insight Timer App
• Finding the right mindfulness practice for your mental and emotional health
• Sometimes, doing nothing is precisely what you need.
• Othership - Guided Breathwork App

42:52 OPEN COMMUNICATION

• Get comfortable with being uncomfortable for the sake of your mental health
• Express what you’re feeling and what you need

46:23 SELF-COMPASSION

• Be gentle and kind to yourself.
• Acknowledge your pain and give yourself time and space to heal.
• This isn’t going to resolve itself overnight

49:24 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

• Eleanor Haley & Litsa Williams’ Book | What’s Your Grief? Lists to Help you Through Any Loss
• Sherokee Ilse’s Book | Empty Arms: Coping With Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Death
• Megan Devine’s Book | It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand
• Jan Warner’s Book | Grief Day By Day: Simple Practices and Daily Guidance for Living with Loss
• Bex Gunn & Laura Buckingham’s Book | The Worst Girl Gang Ever: The ultimate guide to recovery after miscarriage and baby loss with guidance from experts in mindfulness, grief, therapy and relationships

51:08 FINAL THOUGHTS

• Healing is possible.

Book your Supercharge Your Fertility Discovery call here with your partner

During our call, we’ll be discussing what you have tried so far and where you’ve faced challenges. This can feel stressful but is designed to help us get to the root cause of your fertility issues and will help me to give you the best possible action plan at the end of the call. However, to reassure you – on this call we won’t be digging into the trauma associated with infertility/miscarriage/loss – rather we are focused on solutions and an ACTION PLAN as to how our Fab Fertile Method can help you get pregnant naturally. 

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Connect with Sarah on social media and learn more about functional fertility solutions that will help you have your baby.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabfertileinc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sesacoaching/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fabfertile

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahclarkfertilitycoach/

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LEAVE APPLE PODCASTS REVIEW: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-pregnant-naturally/id1329414094

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