Trigger Warning: This episode discusses infant loss, including miscarriage and stillbirth. Please listen with care.
At 28 weeks, placental issues led to emergency C-section where Elif gave birth to twins. Tragically, she lost her daughter two hours after birth and her son three days later.
In this episode, Elif and Winter talk about the grief process, cultural practices, and how to memorialize and cope with such profound loss.
Some highlights from our conversation with Elif include:
- Losing her daughter two hours after birth and her son three days later
- Seeking help through couples therapy to navigate grief
- Grief journeys and the importance of not judging others’ experiences
- The need for better parental leave support in the United States
- The fear of children being forgotten
We hope that Elif’s belief in a light at the end of the tunnel and the hope for a better outcome from suffering is encouraging to anyone who’s listening. If you or someone you know is going through a similar journey, we encourage you to reach out for support and know that you are not alone.
Quotes:
“I felt sad, then I felt angry, then I felt devastated. And now I am slowly starting to feel more positive about the whole experience. You know, I am so proud to be their mother.” – Elif (2:25)
“We shouldn’t judge anybody’s grief journey. We can just see someone looking so strong over the whole process and deep inside they can be devastated so we shouldn’t be judgmental.” – Elif (4:33)
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Links:
Grief Support Groups: https://nationalshare.org/
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