119: When IVF Doesn’t Work: Grieving the Loss of Hope

Send Jen a Text MessageThere are many ways to lose a baby, and today’s guest Sarah Osborne shares a rarely-talked-about story of IVF loss—and what it was like to go from a mom of three teenagers to deciding to start over again. As a seasoned doula with years of experience supporting others through pregnancy, birth, and loss, Sarah found herself on the other side of the story when her own fertility journey didn’t go as planned.In this honest and emotional episode, Sarah and I talk about what happens when you follow your heart, take a leap of faith, and still don’t get the outcome you hoped for. From IVF shots and hormone chaos, to grief, healing, and the unexpected way our work and purpose can shift after loss, this is a powerful conversation for anyone who's experienced disappointment, hope, and heartbreak all wrapped up together.You’ll hear how Sarah coped with the grief of losing her only embryo, how she found meaning even without a baby in her arms, and how she continues to show up in the birth space with compassion and resilience.Whether you’ve experienced IVF loss, pregnancy loss, or any other dream-that-didn’t-happen kind of heartbreak—this one will speak to your soul.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How it feels to go through IVF after a full family and a vasectomy reversalThe reality of having "just one" embryo and the pressure that puts on hopeWhy IVF loss is often overlooked—and why it still counts as real griefHow Sarah held space for her own heartbreak while still supporting others in birthWhy grief doesn’t always make you quit—and how it can actually deepen your purposeThe unexpected ways her children and marriage were impacted by the journeyThe difference between a doula and a midwifeWhat Sarah wishes more people knew about doulas and pregnancy lossResources & Links:Find Sarah at: https://www.instagram.com/theexpertdoulaBirth Collective PNW: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthcollectivepnwhttps://navigatingbabyloss.com/workshopFree workshop for moms grieving stillbirth or pregnancy loss. Learn simple, trauma-informed practices to release guilt, calm the what-ifs, and honor your baby's memory with love instead of pain. Includes bonus Grief & Guilt Release Journal. Did you know you can text me right from your podcast app? My podcast host has a new feature that allows you to send a message or ask a question and I will answer them in future episodes! (just an FYI- it's a one-way message so I won't be able to respond unless you leave your name and contact info in the message!) Look under the title where it says Send Jen a message and let me know what’s on your mind.Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalWHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!Website-  https://www.jennifersenn.comTik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabylossInstagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA