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Pregnancy after loss is both a miracle and an emotional minefield. In Part 1 of Rachel’s story on the Healthful Woman podcast, she shared her difficulties getting pregnant, followed by the heartbreak of losing one twin to TTTS, and then the loss of her second twin after a premature delivery. Despite all of this, she maintained a sense of hope and a profoundly positive outlook, ultimately leading to a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Here is Part 2 of her incredible story.

Relying on Faith Through Grief

In the early days after her loss, Rachel describes a sense of hopelessness and feeling unable to imagine a future, especially with the tragic world events happening at the same time. Surrounded by family, she gave herself permission to grieve fully, treating that first week like an informal Shiva: crying, talking, and sitting in the pain instead of running from it. That time, and a spiritual conversation with a rabbi, helped her begin to feel like a person again, anchored by faith and a mantra that she repeated over and over. Rachel shared that mantra with us during her discussion with Dr. Fox: “This is what was meant to happen. Nothing could have changed it. No doctor could have changed it. I couldn’t have changed it. This is what was supposed to happen. And it would have happened. Whatever we did, this is what would have happened.” Rather than blaming herself for not calling earlier or doing something different, she reminded herself that this outcome was not in her control. That mindset did not erase the grief, but it made it possible to keep living with it.

The Next Pregnancy: Milestones and Staying Grounded

When Rachel became pregnant again, it was sooner than she expected, but she felt that she would find comfort once she had a healthy baby in her hands. However, this new pregnancy was not as simple as celebrating and moving on. Excitement lived right alongside intense anxiety. Instead of letting herself get too excited about the pregnancy, she broke it into emotional milestones, one trimester at a time. Her medical team monitored her more closely, but she also made a conscious choice not to chase constant reassurance the way she had before. She explains that with her previous pregnancy, going to daily appointments, she “got [herself] nervous to be calmed down and nervous again for the next appointment.” This time, Rachel tried to approach care “like a normal pregnant person,” while still requiring extra check‑ins and monitoring.

A Healthy Birth and Thinking Ahead

Once Rachel reached 26 weeks, she says the pregnancy “flew by” because she knew she could deliver a healthy baby at that point. Labor finally began naturally at 36 weeks and progressed quickly and smoothly. Rachel recalls the long-awaited moment of delivering her healthy baby boy, stating, “There’s nothing like that moment. I dreamed of it for so long. I always imagine that moment, just holding the baby in my arms for the first time. It was surreal.” She says that although she will still be nervous during a future pregnancy, being able to deliver smoothly has given her reassurance that it can happen again.

Looking back, Rachel shares that she no longer takes anything for granted, not the hard nights with a newborn, the discomforts of pregnancy, nor the ordinary chaos of family life. “Every minute with my baby, every minute that I was pregnant was such a blessing,” she reflects.

Listen to the Healthful Woman Podcast

Choosing optimism after such profound loss is not an easy task, and we are grateful to Rachel for sharing her journey from loss through a healthy pregnancy. To learn more about her story and other stories from our patients, check out the Healthful Woman podcast.

If you are in need of advanced prenatal or pregnancy care, schedule an appointment with our team of maternal-fetal medicine specialists. We are here to help you navigate the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy with care and support.

Carnegie Imaging for Women blogs are intended for educational purposes only and do not replace certified professional care. Medical conditions vary and change frequently. Please ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding your condition to receive a proper diagnosis or risk analysis. Thank you!