In a recent episode of the Healthful Woman podcast, “Supporting Women With Pregnancy Loss,” Host Dr. Nathan Fox and guest Shira Billet discussed Billet’s story of pregnancy loss and how to support other women who have been through the same experience. Her journey through loss from grief to becoming a support system for others highlights the importance of openness, compassion, and de-stigmatizing conversations around this challenging topic.
The Weight of Grief and the Healing Process
In the podcast, Billet recalls the trauma of losing her daughters, one to Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) and the other to preterm labor. She shares how grief is not a linear process but a deeply personal journey requiring time, patience, and self-compassion. “The only way out is through…If we allow ourselves to go through that process and to feel permission to feel the feelings that we feel, those feelings won’t haunt us anymore. They will actually go away.” she explains that while the pain doesn’t disappear, it transforms into a part of one’s story that can be carried healthily over time.
Transforming Loss into Purpose
Billet’s experience led her to an unexpected role of supporting other women and families navigating pregnancy loss. She describes this as a way of “mothering” her twins and making their brief existence meaningful by helping others. Her advocacy includes speaking publicly, offering one-on-one support, and ensuring that the memories of lost babies are honored. By breaking the silence surrounding pregnancy loss, she encourages others to seek comfort in shared experiences and to build an understanding of pregnancy loss within their communities.
How to Support Families Experiencing Pregnancy Loss
During the podcast, Dr. Fox and Billet discussed how friends, family, and caregivers can best support those grieving a pregnancy loss. Billet urges listeners to resist the instinct to fix or minimize the pain. Instead, she encourages being present, listening, and acknowledging the lost babies as a part of their families. Checking in on milestone dates or offering help can make a difference.
The Importance of Advocacy
Billet’s advocacy demonstrates the healing power of sharing about pregnancy loss and being open with friends and family. By opening up about her loss, she helps others feel less alone and encourages society to approach pregnancy loss more openly with sensitivity and understanding. Her story is a reminder that grief, while deeply painful, can lead to connections, support, growth, and purpose.
Learn More
Shira Billet’s story offers advice on pregnancy loss for those who have experienced it or who wish to better support someone who has. To learn more, listen to the full episode of the Healthful Woman podcast, “Supporting Women With Pregnancy Loss.” Patients can visit Carnegie Women’s Health in New York for their family planning needs. Carnegie Women’s Health offers infertility care, ultrasounds, and pregnancy testing. Contact Carnegie Women’s Health through the online contact form today.