In this episode of Finding Hope After Loss, Lonna shares her heartbreaking experience with stillbirth at 38 weeks after being reassured throughout pregnancy that everything was fine. After being diagnosed with PCOS at a young age and told it may be difficult to become pregnant, Lonna unexpectedly conceived naturally and looked forward to welcoming her daughter Eleanor (Ellie).
At 38 weeks pregnant, Lonna went into the hospital expecting an induction, only to learn there was no heartbeat. She shares the shock of losing her daughter, discovering Eleanor’s umbilical cord had wrapped around her multiple times, and navigating the devastating reality of preparing for a funeral instead of bringing a baby home.
Throughout this episode, Lonna opens up about grief after stillbirth, the emotional pain of returning home without her baby, and how her family continues to honor Eleanor’s memory. She also discusses becoming a foster parent after loss, experiencing two miscarriages after stillbirth, and eventually welcoming her rainbow baby after years of heartbreak and healing.
This episode is for anyone navigating stillbirth, pregnancy loss, miscarriage, grief after losing a baby, pregnancy after loss, or the emotional complexity of motherhood after grief.
Table of Contents
In This Episode
- Stillbirth at 38 weeks
- Pregnancy loss and grief
- Losing a baby at full term
- PCOS and pregnancy
- Umbilical cord accident
- Miscarriage after stillbirth
- Pregnancy after loss
- Rainbow baby after loss
- Fostering after pregnancy loss
- Grief after losing a baby
Memorable Quotes
“She said I’m going to go get the doctor. And I knew immediately. I just looked over at my boyfriend and he looked at me. No words were exchanged, we both just started crying because we knew something was wrong.”
“We had all these things ready for her. The last thing we thought was that she wouldn’t make it.”
“Her cord was very long. She had gotten herself wrapped up in it. It was wrapped around her neck three times, her leg twice, and her arm once.”
“That was something my prior OB had never taught me. They never told me about kick counts. They had never told me about lack of movement.”
About Lonna
Lonna shares her experience with stillbirth, miscarriage, pregnancy after loss, and fostering after grief in hopes of helping other bereaved parents feel less alone while navigating life after losing a baby.
Connect with Lonna
- Instagram: @lonnaneedles
Related Episodes
How Do You Survive Stillbirth and Pregnancy Loss?
Why Did My Healthy Pregnancy End in Stillbirth?
How Do You Survive Infertility, Miscarriage, and Stillbirth – and Still Find Hope?
Fernanda’s Story: Stillbirth, Pregnancy Loss, and Supporting Parents at Rainbow Baby Clinics
Tanya & Ken: Stillbirth Due to a Cord Accident, Helping Other Loss Families
If Lonna’s story resonated with you, please consider sharing this episode with someone navigating stillbirth, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, or grief after losing a baby. Stories like these help grieving parents feel seen, supported, and less alone.
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