Navigating Miscarriage: Marriage, Faith & Pregnancy After Loss | Episode 115 with Rachel Ramirez

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Episode 115

Today I have the privilege of interviewing Rachel Ramirez about her story of motherhood. Rachel has experienced 3 miscarriages and walked through the subsequent journey of grief and in this episode she is sharing all that she’s learned along the way.

We spend time talking about what miscarriage was like for her and what she wishes others understood about pregnancy loss and what encouragement she would give to a woman who has just experienced a miscarriage.

We talk about marriage after loss and how to navigate the inevitable differences in the ways partners grieve. Her wisdom about marriage and how to love your spouse while grieving is incredibly encouraging and practically helpful.

We also talk about pregnancy after loss and how she made the decision to try again even after multiple losses.

We spend a significant amount of time talking about Rachel’s faith journey. Her answers to my questions about how to navigate faith after loss might surprise you and I am certain they will encourage you.

If Christianity and the Bible and God is something you have never thought about much or are exploring for the first time we have words of hope for you too in this episode.

Whether you are searching for answers about God, angry at God, confused by Him, disappointed in Him or running to Him, or some combination of those, make sure you listen all the way to the end of this episode to hear Rachel’s analogy of God amidst grief -- it’s incredibly hope-filled and encouraging.

If you are unsure about this faith that Rachel and I are talking about, click here for a few resources that might be helpful to you in your faith journey.

QUESTIONS we discuss IN EPISODE 115

Tell me what you wish others knew or understood about miscarriage?
What surprised you most about grief and life after miscarriage?
What resources were the most encouraging or helpful to you after your miscarriages? Did that change in your different experiences?

MARRIAGE AFTER LOSS

How did you grieve differently than your husband and how have you navigated those differences?
What do you think is the most challenging aspect of navigating the marriage relationship after loss?
What advice would you give a grieving couple about how to navigate those challenges?

PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS

How did you make the decision to try again?
How did you keep hopeful during your pregnancy? Especially at the beginning?

FAITH AFTER LOSS

Tell me about your faith during this season -- did you ever get angry with God? Doubt His goodness?
What would you say to the woman whose faith feels wobbly in this season?
What would you say to the woman who is interested in the God of the Bible but is not sure where to start? (https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/12544-7-stages-of-grief-after-miscarriage)
What does it mean to you to find joy amidst mourning? What does it not mean?
Tell me one way you have grown as a result of having experienced miscarriage?
What would you say to a mom who has just experienced a miscarriage? What hope would you give to her?

Resources Mentioned

Meet Rachel

Rachel Ramirez has been the Executive Director at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield since March 2014. She previously worked in IT and as a Financial Team Manager for a nonprofit, an Assistant Branch Manager with First Market Bank in Richmond and a Store Manager at Starbucks Coffee Company. Rachel has enjoyed attending and serving with Cloverhill Church for over 15 years and is grateful for the opportunities she has had to work with Give Hope 2 Kids, a children's home in the mountains of Honduras. Rachel earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from Regent University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from VCU. Rachel and her husband, Luis, live in Midlothian, VA, and love spending time with family and friends, traveling, and excitedly welcomed their firstborn son, Lucas, in August 2018.