Sandy Connolly is a mother and independent post-partum doula supporting people on their reproductive journeys and post-partum experiences. She was told at a reasonably young age that she would never be able to have children, but then she went on to get pregnant and have a daughter, Juno. Following that, she suffered a number of losses and years of grief, depression and challenges. In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Sandy about her fertility journey - from the relationship with her body following that initial comment from a doctor, through pregnancy, breastfeeding, miscarriage and bodily grief and to a decision between her and her partner that may surprise many.
Needless to say, if you've suffered pregnancy loss, this episode may be triggering for you. But in addition to sharing some raw, difficult moments, Sandy talks with a great deal with wisdom and perspective about healing rituals, the power of language, the difficulty of jealousy and loss, and the many events of the corridors of the National Maternity Hospital... And yes, there's swearing. Just a sufficient amount of it.
You can follow Sandy on Instagram @sandydoula, and join her private Facebook community group, Sandy Connolly Doula - Your Virtual Village. Bits of Me is also on Instagram, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you want to help me to spread the word about Bits of Me, please share this episode on your socials and rate and review the podcast on Spotify and iTunes.
Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe.
#bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #miscarriage #pregnancyloss #babyloss #infertility #secondaryinfertility #hormones #childbirth #breastfeeding #singletonchild #onlychild #motherhood #grief #loss #depression #postnataldepression #pnd #feminism #perinatalmentalhealth #pregnancy #repealedthe8th #abortionpills #nationalmaternityhospital #nhm #maternitycare #birth #birthing #bleeding