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In a recent episode of the Healthful Woman podcast, “Shaindie’s Birth Story: Retold,” Dr. Nathan Fox sits down with guest Shaindie to discuss her pregnancy and birth experiences. In this episode, she shares the events surrounding the loss of her first child at 22 weeks and discusses how that experience shaped her next two pregnancies.

First Pregnancy and Loss

During her first pregnancy, Shaindie lived in Israel and had limited access to familiar support. She worried early on but was told everything looked normal. At 22 weeks, she went into labor and was informed by her doctor that the pregnancy would not be viable. She delivered her son and decided not to hold him. She shared, “I really strongly did not want to. I did not want to connect to the baby. I did not want to be emotionally stuck on that pregnancy. I just wanted to have another baby already. I really just wanted to have a baby. So for me, my immediate reaction was, close this chapter.”

Second Pregnancy and Birth

Six weeks after her loss, Shaindie became pregnant with her second child. She shared, “I think my grief just turned into anxiety… I was literally just a mess. I started off the pregnancy in Israel and my plan was that I think it was 16 weeks, I was going to come into America and continue the pregnancy here. So I landed in America and then COVID broke out.” At 20 weeks, she experienced symptoms similar to her first pregnancy and was diagnosed with a short cervix. She underwent a cerclage procedure and began progesterone treatment. Despite her early complications and limited in-person support due to COVID restrictions, and contracting COVID, she carried the pregnancy to 37 weeks and delivered a healthy baby.

Third Pregnancy and Birth

In her third pregnancy, Shaindie followed the same protocol involving the placement of a cerclage, progesterone, and regular monitoring. This pregnancy, she was more familiar with the process and aware of how her body responded to pregnancy. She again delivered at 37 weeks without major complications.

Processing Grief and Offering Support

Shaindie says that her grief and anxiety lessened with time and with the experience of parenting. She emphasizes that people handle pregnancy loss differently and that there is no standard way to recover. When supporting others who are going through similar experiences, she advises people to respond based on what the individual appears to need. Shaindie shares, “You could be going through something challenging, but, you know, life moves forward and chapters close, new chapters open. And I’m very grateful to be where I am today.”

Learn More

To learn more, listen to the full episode of the Healthful Woman podcast on Shaindie’s Birth Story. For high-risk pregnancy care, visit Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates. For imaging services, contact Carnegie Imaging for Women.

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!