174. Navigating Medically Complex Fertility Journey & Pregnancy + Parenting a Living Daughter After Infant Loss with Bonnie Bennion

The Joyful Mourning - A Podcast for Women Who Have Experienced Pregnancy or Infant Loss

This week I have the pleasure of interviewing Bonnie Bennion about her motherhood journey and specifically her daughter Ella. We talk about regret and guilt and what to do with those feelings after loss. Bonnie shares what has surprised her about her motherhood journey and the different losses she has experienced – what she has learned and the hope and wisdom she has experienced along the way.

Bonnie gives us an inside look at what it was like to navigate a medically complex fertility journey as well as pregnancy. What it looked like for her to advocate for herself and for her baby and the risks she took to save her daughter’s life.

And then we spend some time talking about how she parented her living daughter Lucy throughout that medically complex pregnancy and then after losing Ella. She shares how she talked to her daughter about what happened to Ella, the challenges she faced in parenting her, how she navigated and still navigates those challenges and how she helps Lucy grieve and cope today. We finish up our time by talking about what it practically looks like to include Ella in the everyday life of their family.

This is beautiful, honest and tender – I know it will remind you that you are not alone in this. I know it will bring you hope today.

QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE NO. 174

1. You said you still wonder about the decision to leave the hospital – what would you say to another mom struggling with decisions she made?
2. What surprised you most about your motherhood journey and the loss and grief you have experienced?
3. Tell me about what it was like to navigate the medical aspect of your journey with Ella? What have you learned about advocating for your child?
4. What was it like to walk your living daughter, Lucy, through that season of hospital stays and doctor visits and uncertainty as you fought to save Ella?
5. After losing Ella, how did you talk to her about what had happened?
6. What other challenges did/do you face in parenting Lucy after you lost Ella? How did you navigate those challenges?
7. How do you help Lucy grieve and cope today?
8. What does it look like for you to include Ella in the life of your family now?

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