The Worst Girl Gang Ever

NOTE : Ollie joins us from the fire station having just gotten back from a call out - the sound is not what it could be - apologies! A break from the norm for us with a mid-week episode for those in Hertfordshire & those willing to travel! Ollie Dent is a fire officer who joined us with his partner for a previous episode talking about their loss and the difficulties he had at work following their experience. Since then, Ollie has done great things in raising awareness within the emergency services and has organised a Baby Loss Awareness Day at his fire station in Hatfield. It's on Tuesday 13th October - 9.30 - 4.30, and will be supported by us, sands, Zion's lighthouse, aching arms and the silence of TFMR - all organisations looking for the same thing - a change in how these experiences are supported. If you'd like more info - please email Ollie Oliver.dent@hertfordshire.gov.uk We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

Cathryn shares her story of IVF, the devastating loss of her daughter Freya, and what it really means to keep living when your world has completely changed. She talks openly about the relentless highs and lows of fertility treatment, the heartbreak of losing Freya, and trying to navigate grief in a world that doesn’t always know what to say or how to show up. Cathryn also shares the importance of keeping Freya’s memory alive and creating a legacy for her, the people and support that helped her through the darkest days, and why we desperately need to keep talking about baby loss - even when those conversations are difficult. We also talk about parenting after loss, the complicated emotions that come with moving forward while carrying someone with you, and the impact grief can have on relationships, family and everything you thought life was going to look like. It’s raw, heartbreaking and full of love - a conversation about Freya, grief, survival and finding a way to carry it all. During this episode we talk about a facebook group for those in Bristol and Bath - here is the link to join if you are local https://www.facebook.com/groups/1219410566556112 We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

This week we chat to Liz from oop north. Liz suffered the loss of her baby whilst on holiday for her 30th in Portugal. She and her husband Chris faced language barriers, different hospital procedures and a challenging lack of empathy whilst facing the most difficult days of their lives. Liz talks us through her diagnosis of an incompetent cervix when she got back to the UK and how that medical terminology affected her mental wellbeing. Following their loss, Liz and Chris have gone on to have baby Archie, Liz speaks about the anxiety during her pregnancy and how she advocated for a cervical stitch. Liz wanted to come on the podcast to share a story of hope for anyone diagnosed with an incompetent cervix. We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

This week we talk to Suzanne from Galway about her baby’s diagnosis of T21 and high drops. Suzanne had to have additional scans during her pregnancy because medical professionals ‘hoped’ her baby would die naturally, to prevent her from travelling to England for a termination for medical reasons. This was not the case & the day before she was due to fly, the hospital cancelled her appointment because a lift was broken and then, when she arrived in Liverpool, she was told that they didn’t have a surgeon and would need to be transferred to Middlesborough. All this while trying to navigate the devastation of knowing that she wouldn’t be bringing home her baby. During the transfer, she was asked to take a box with her and later discovered that inside the box were the instruments that were needed to carry out her termination. This is a devastating story and a clear demonstration of the pain caused by current abortion laws. Taboo exists, and Suzanne highlights this bravely and articulately. During the episode we speak about a support group that Suzanne has found huge comfort in, "Let Me Choose" or Leanbh mo Chroí - they can be found at https://lmcsupport.ie/about We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

This week we spoke to Natalie, Following 3 rounds of IVF, the final resulting in a missed miscarriage, Natalie speaks about how she has begun to navigate being childless not by choice. She talks about her experience of fertility testing and IVF and the difficulties she had both physically and emotionally, with medical professionals. We speak about expectations, misconceptions and how to look after yourself properly. As a therapist herself, Natalie learned that she would need to make some changes to protect and restore her mental wellbeing and that those changes would come with guilt. We explore guilt, shame and how it feels to be ambivalent about becoming a parent, before having that decision taken from you. A very thought provoking episode. We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

This week we chat to Nathalie Van Haaren, she shares her profound journey through loss, pregnancy, and healing after the tragic loss of her daughter Amaya. She discusses cultural differences, emotional resilience, spiritual perspectives, and her work supporting women through transitions and grief. We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

During this episode we chat with our pal Jayna about miscarriage, complications, and the difficulties we face when we come face to face with the fact that everything 'might not' be ok. We chat about childhood beliefs and how they are challenged when we don't fall into the 'disney narrative' and how this can shake more than just our confidence in the ability to have a baby. We also talk about testing and the gap in knowledge between natural pregnancy and IVF - if you're in this gap, give this episode a listen! We recorded this in December.... so please excuse the weather chat.... it was a different time!!! We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

In this episode, Amanda shares her personal journey through fertility challenges, including her diagnosis of Mosaic Turner Syndrome and her experiences with IVF. She discusses the emotional rollercoaster of the IVF process, the importance of managing expectations, and the joy of motherhood after a long and difficult journey. Amanda emphasizes the need for support and open conversations about fertility issues, highlighting the significance of having a trusted doctor and community during this challenging time. We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

This week we chat to Louisa, founder of ‘Zion’s Lighthouse’ and host of podcast ‘Love, life & loss’ (links at the bottom of the shownotes) Louisa shares her journey through miscarriage and how the loss of her beautiful Zion after he was born prematurely inspired her to start ‘Zion’s Lighthouse’ an organisation devoted to advocacy, support and education around Baby Loss. Listen to Louisa’s podcast on spotify ‘Love, Life & Loss’ https://open.spotify.com/show/4VTbAKipdy2KGNFN2gkr1k https://www.zionslighthouse.co.uk/ We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

THIS IS A BIG FAT TRIGGER WARNING - In this episode we talk about suicide and mental health. In this episode, Bex shares her recent traumatic experience and how she's managing her mental health while navigating life after a devastating event. Laura and Bex discuss the importance of self-care, community support, and upcoming events to raise awareness and funds. Our autumn campaigns to register, simply fill in this form! London to Brighton cycle ride https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/twggef2026l2b Run 10k to Raise 10k https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/run10koct26 Royal Parks Half Marathon https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/rphmtwgge Little Big Book Drop https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thelittlebigbookdrop Just because we smile, doesn't mean we're over it. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/justbecause We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

Ooof, this is an emotional one people. This week we chat to Sian Gardner https://www.instagram.com/flicks_and_red_lips/ We last had her on the podcast back in season 8 (no one can remember the episode number, but it was forty something) In our previous episode, Sian talked about the loss of her baby boy, Chase to a TFMR (termination for medical reasons) Since we recorded, Sian has gone on to experience another TFMR with her daughter Aubrey. In this epsiode, we talk about the strength of the TFMR community, the help that Sian has sought out and received and the pain of losing a second child in this way, alongside the joy she was able to find during her pregnancy and birth with Aubrey. This is a hugely personal and emotional episode, but one that is full of inspiration and beauty. There’s support for TFMR out there - here are the resources we cover in this podcast episode. Ellie’s Gift - https://www.ellies.gift/ ARC - https://www.arc-uk.org/ Mental health Midwfie - https://www.instagram.com/mentalhealth_midwife/ We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

Do your boobs hang low, can you tie them in a bow? This is basically the energy levels we’re bringing to you this week. Bex is fresh off her UK photography tour for our upcoming exhibition (although is far from being actually fresh) and the girls chat about the tour itself, the exhibition in October at the vagina museum & how you can get involved. It’s a very lighthearted one, with LOTS of singing, bickering and LOL’s. You can find details on our campaign and exhibition here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/justbecause If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved, please email info@twgge.co.uk with Exhibition in the subject line. We are also looking for sponsors & Partnerships xxx We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

This week we chat to Amy & Nat from Riot about the dark comedy they have written ‘A thirty something’s guide to your first miscarriage’ The girls are currently fundraising to make this film a reality and Bex & Laura are getting involved to help bang that drum even louder (they have also been promised cameo roles) We ask that if you’ve ever felt your experience has been minimised, if you’ve ever been the victim of a sentence starting with ‘at least’ donate a pound to help bring this film into existence, not just for now, but so it can be found by women in the future, searching for something that makes them feel less alone. You can donate here: https://greenlit.com/project/thirty-somethings-guide-your-first-miscarriage We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

💔 Episode Summary In this episode, Serena shares her story of pregnancy, loss, and everything that came after. She talks about the early excitement of becoming a mum, and how quickly things changed as she was faced with difficult decisions no one ever expects to make. Serena opens up about the emotional weight of that time, navigating medical conversations, uncertainty, and the kind of grief that’s hard to put into words. We talk about the role of healthcare and how support, or lack of it, can shape your experience during pregnancy and loss. Serena reflects on how grief showed up for her in ways she didn’t expect, and how returning to everyday life, including work, felt far from simple. This episode is about the complexity of loss, the courage it takes to keep going, and the importance of giving yourself the space and care you need along the way. 💬 Key Takeaways Pregnancy can begin with hope and excitement, before everything shifts unexpectedly. Experiences within the healthcare system can deeply affect how loss is processed. Being faced with difficult decisions during pregnancy can feel overwhelming and isolating. Grief after loss is complex and can show up in unexpected ways. Support from healthcare professionals can make a meaningful difference. Returning to work after loss isn’t always straightforward and may take time. Resilience often grows quietly through lived experience. Self-care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity after emotional trauma. We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

Today Bex & Laura get to grips with hard hitting questions such as “Who leaves long voice notes when a text would do fine…” It’s a lighthearted one this week, keep those questions coming, none too silly or too adventurous. We’ll answer anything (as you will hear) email in info@twgge.co.uk Sending so much love. Bex & Laura xx We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

💔 Episode Summary In this episode, Shruti Trivedi shares her deeply personal journey through grief, motherhood, and finding her way back to herself. She opens up about the many layers of loss she has experienced, including pregnancy loss, and how those experiences shaped her path into mental health and life coaching. Shruti talks honestly about what it’s like to carry grief while continuing with everyday life, and how long it can take to truly allow yourself to feel what’s been pushed aside. We also explore the cultural stigma around mental health, and how that can make it even harder to talk about loss or seek support. Shruti reflects on the role therapy played in helping her process emotions she had buried for years, and why being seen and validated can be so powerful. Through everything, she shares how she continues to honour her babies in meaningful ways, and how her work has become part of that legacy. This episode is about resilience, identity, and the slow, ongoing process of healing — and a reminder that you’re allowed to feel it all. 💬 Key Takeaways Shruti’s connection to psychology started early and shaped the path she would eventually return to. Living with epilepsy brought unexpected challenges and changes to her life. Her career shifted over time as she navigated personal circumstances and loss. The pandemic became a turning point, prompting her to pursue her passion for mental health. Pregnancy loss had a profound and lasting impact on her life. Grief needs space — allowing yourself to feel is an important part of healing. Cultural stigma can make it harder to speak openly about mental health and loss. Therapy helped Shruti feel seen and validated after years of holding everything in. She honours her babies through rituals and through the work she now does. Finding purpose and passion can be part of rebuilding after loss. Shruti can be found at @tulsiheals_life_coaching on Instagram or email tulsihealslifecoaching@gmail.com We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

In this episode Bex & Laura answer a question from the community. Bex also tries to make up a jingle for ‘questions from the community’ but it’s fair to say, she fails. The question this week is around navigating life after loss - How to handle pregnant people around you. The girls talk about the importance of boundaries and setting expectations, prepping your partner or friends during social visits, navigating the painful feelings like guilt, shame and ‘feeling like a diva’ They chat about whats app groups, being angry when invited to baby showers, being angry when not invited to baby showers and the injustice and unfairness of the situation as a whole. They also discuss how communication can help almost every situation. If you have any questions you’d like answered in a future episode, please email it over, no question too small or silly - info@twgge.co.uk We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

In this episode, Nicol shares her story of baby loss, opening up about her experiences of recurrent miscarriage and stillbirth, and the impact it’s had on her life. She speaks honestly about the weight of grief and how isolating loss can feel, especially when the world around you keeps moving. Nicol reflects on how finding support through social media and connecting with others who truly understand helped her feel less alone, and gave her a sense of purpose in the midst of everything she was carrying. We talk about the importance of having spaces where grief is welcomed, not silenced, and how sharing your story, even when it feels hard, can be part of healing. Nicol also shares how therapy and self-compassion helped her begin to rebuild her confidence, and how she navigates conversations about loss with her children and the people around her. This episode is about connection, honesty, and the quiet strength that comes from being seen. A reminder that even after the most painful experiences, there can still be moments of hope. 💬 What We Talk About Nicol’s experience of recurrent miscarriage and stillbirth, and the reality of living through both The importance of real, honest support when navigating pregnancy loss How connection and community can ease feelings of isolation Opening up about grief and why it matters Therapy, self-love, and rebuilding confidence after loss Talking about baby loss with children and those around us Finding purpose in sharing your story How loss can shift perspective and change the way you see the world We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

We're taking it back to basics Lads... This week Bex & Laura take on a couple of questions from the community around sharing loss stories - when is the right time? How do we advocate while protecting our wellbeing? and how to navigate the fear of judgement. There's also some singing and some laughter - although Bex's rendition of 'Earth song' was so bad that our editing software recognised it as unwanted background noise so we're afraid that didn't make it to the final cut - she's happy to voice note anyone who wants it. If you have any questions for the next 'community questions' episode, please email them over to us at info@twgge.co.uk - with 'community questions' in the subject line. You can ask anything at all - about us, the work we do or how to navigate certain situations - nothing is off limits! Also, we mention our lovely friends Shaun & Kieran over at NeXYs fertility - you can find them @themalefertilitypodcast & @nexysfertility on instagram - a fantastic support for men & all things male fertility. Ciao for now xxx We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

In this episode, we sit down with Nicola and her dad Steve for a heartfelt conversation about their journey through miscarriage, infertility, and the lasting impact loss can have on families. Together they share their personal experiences, the challenges they’ve faced, and why open conversations and community support are so important when navigating grief. Steve talks about how loss has affected him as a parent and grandparent, and why he wanted to do something meaningful to support families going through similar experiences. Steve is currently fundraising by taking on an incredible challenge throughout March. He is running 5km every day during the week and 10km on weekend days , and last Sunday he completed the Cambridge Half Marathon alongside Nicola and her husband Emmet . His challenge is all about raising awareness and vital funds to support families affected by baby loss. If you’d like to support Steve’s fundraising efforts, you can find his page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/steve-banting-3 This episode is a powerful reminder that loss touches whole families, and that talking about it openly can help create the understanding, support, and community so many people need. We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk