In this episode of the podcast, I meet with Louise to talk about one of the most disorientating overlaps grief can bring, becoming a first time mother while simultaneously losing your own.

Louise was nine months pregnant when her mum, fit, well, and full of life was given a terminal diagnosis. There was no time to adjust, no space to prepare. Just the shock of impending birth alongside impending loss, and the heartbreak of realising the person she expected to guide her through motherhood wouldn’t be there.

With warmth, sharp humour, and real honesty, Louise shares memories of her mum, the trauma of her death, and the emotional whiplash of early motherhood lived alongside fresh grief. We talk about identity shifts, the loneliness of those early months, the importance of being supported, and how humour can become a lifeline when everything feels too heavy.

It’s a poignant, deeply relatable conversation about love, loss, and what it means to mother without the person who mothered you, an episode I know many grieving daughters will relate too.

If you've lost a parent and you're trying to figure out how to keep living without them, this conversation will help you to feel less alone.

Key Takeaways:

• Grief often begins before the loss, especially with a terminal diagnosis.

• The clash of life events, such as childbirth and loss, can be overwhelming.

• Early grief can be complicated by the responsibilities of new motherhood.

• Support from friends can be invaluable during times of grief.

• Acknowledging the pain of loss is crucial for healing.

• Humour can serve as a coping mechanism in the face of tragedy.

• Losing a parent changes one's sense of identity and confidence.

• Grief is a deeply individual experience that can be hard to comprehend without experiencing it.

• The importance of rituals and memories in keeping a loved one's spirit alive.

• Acknowledgment of grief by others can be incredibly validating.

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If you need a bit more support after listening, you’ll find my grief audios for difficult moments here: ⁠https://grievingdaughters.etsy.com⁠

If you are a grieving daughter and would like the chance to share your story on this podcast please email me on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠elle@grievingdaughtersclub.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or come and find me over on instagram.

Keywords

grief, loss, parental loss, support, coping mechanisms, identity, motherhood, emotional journey, personal stories, mental health.

Follow me on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grieving_daughters_club_⁠⁠