Type of loss: Stillbirth

More about Stephanie’s story: In this episode of Confessions of a Grieving Mother, Tracy and Julie sit down with Stephanie Casey to talk about the loss of her daughter, Ava. At her 20-week anatomy scan, Stephanie heard the words no parent ever expects: "There's no heartbeat." Based on Ava's size, doctors estimated she passed around 17 weeks gestation. Stephanie was induced and delivered Ava the following day. Later, they learned that Ava had passed away due to cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Stephanie shares her journey through pregnancy, fear, and postpartum anxiety—beginning with complications in her daughter Kaylee’s birth, and continuing into Ava’s pregnancy. She opens up about the trauma surrounding Ava’s delivery, the fear she felt during her D&C procedure, and the intense grief that followed. Stephanie also reflects on the emotional complexities of introducing Ava to her living daughter, the pain of regret, and the impact of delayed fetal demise on her ability to hold and connect with Ava after birth.

Now in trauma therapy, Stephanie shares how she’s learning to say “I’m not okay” and searching for purpose in her pain. Her story is a raw and powerful reminder that no one should walk this road alone.

More about Emma's Footprints:

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