Losing a baby is one of the hardest things a mother can experience. It changes everything—your heart, your future, your family. But you don’t have to go through it alone. In this post, I’m sharing highlights from a powerful conversation with Jennifer Sun, a certified coach who supports grieving moms after stillbirth.
Jennifer is a mom to twin daughters who were stillborn at 32 weeks. Her journey through loss, grief, and eventually healing is now the foundation of the work she does to help other moms find peace, comfort, and courage to live again.
Grieving After Stillbirth: What Moms Need Most
Stillbirth grief is complicated. Many moms feel like the world keeps spinning while they are stuck in a moment that changed everything. Jennifer reminds us that it’s okay to feel that way. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to feel lost. It’s okay to not “bounce back.”
What grieving moms need most is space to feel their feelings—without judgment or pressure. Jennifer encourages moms to sit in the pain, because that’s where healing begins. Avoiding it doesn’t make it go away. Sharing it makes it lighter.
How to Support a Mom After Baby Loss
If someone in your life has experienced a stillbirth or miscarriage, you might not know what to say or do. Here are some simple but meaningful ways to show support:
- Say their baby’s name. It brings comfort to know their child is remembered.
- Send a text: “Thinking of you and [baby’s name] today.”
- Drop off a meal, groceries, or a small gift.
- Just sit with them. No advice needed. Your presence is enough.
- Avoid “at least” statements. They often cause more hurt than comfort.
Jennifer shares that the best support comes from those who are willing to sit in the uncomfortable and just be there.
What About the Partner and Other Kids?
Grief often looks different for partners. While the mom may have felt the baby move and bonded in a physical way, the partner may be grieving the future they imagined. That can create tension or misunderstandings.
Jennifer’s advice: Talk openly and kindly. Let your partner know what you need and give them space to grieve in their own way. If communication becomes too difficult, don’t hesitate to seek outside help—especially if resentment starts to grow.
When it comes to children, Jennifer encourages age-appropriate honesty. It’s okay for kids to ask questions and see your tears. Including them in memory-making rituals (like hanging a special ornament or lighting a candle) can help the whole family process the loss together.
Is There Hope After Stillbirth?
Yes. Jennifer wants moms to know that there is hope after loss. It’s not about forgetting your baby—it’s about learning how to carry their memory with you in everyday life. Whether through a piece of jewelry, a tattoo, writing letters, or looking for “signs” from your baby, these small acts can bring comfort.
For moms considering pregnancy after stillbirth, Jennifer says it’s normal to feel both joy and fear. She encourages finding professional and emotional support, staying connected with a compassionate doctor, and giving yourself permission to feel all the emotions.
Stillbirth is a loss that changes you. But it doesn’t mean your life is over. There is still beauty ahead. There is still light, even if it takes time to find it again.
Whether you’ve lived through this loss or are supporting someone who has, you are not alone. Keep showing up. Keep talking about it. And know that your baby’s life, no matter how short, will always matter.
Jennifer Senn is a certified life coach who is also a bereaved mom of twin girls born at 32 weeks. She helps stillbirth moms let go of guilt, process their grief, and figure out what’s next for their future. You can learn more about her and schedule a free support session at jennifersenn.com.
Find out more about Angie Weber and the Parent Toolbox at https://theparenttoolbox.info/
