Finding Space with Dee Kelly

Today I’m joined by Becky, whose diagnosis of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency led to a long and difficult fertility journey, one that included multiple IVF cycles and miscarriage, before she and her husband made the decision to grow their family through egg donation. They are now parents to three beautiful girls; Mila, Eska and Lena.
From her experience, Becky went on to create DefiningMum, a platform helping others feel less alone, as well as Paths to Parent Hub, a space supporting donor conception families, along with its accompanying podcast.
She is also co-founder of Fertility Matters at Work, where she works alongside Natalie & Claire to raise awareness of fertility struggles in the workplace and support employers to create more compassionate and supportive environments.
In this episode, we talk about her experience of donor conception and the conversations that come with it. We also chat about the reality of navigating fertility treatment while working as well as the amazing platform she has created from her own experience, the work she now does in the area of fertility in the workplace, and why more support and awareness is so needed across all areas of fertility.

This conversation was recorded in September 2025 so be sure to follow Becky to see the amazing work she has continued to do since.
As always, please take care as you listen. This episode includes discussion around infertility and pregnancy loss.

Connect with Becky
Instagram (Defining Mum): https://www.instagram.com/definingmum/

Paths to Parent Hub:https://www.instagram.com/paths_to_parenthub/

Podcast: Paths to Parenthood:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0RVVTwIJYTUjC9eiL2juWPutm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree
Fertility Matters at Work:
⁠https://www.fertilitymattersatwork.com/⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/fertilitymattersatwork/⁠
Fertility Matters at Work Research:
https://fertilitymattersatwork.com/fertility-research/#signup

Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/definingmum?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland
Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Féileacáin
Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Irish Fertility Counsellors Association
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gateway Women
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sands NI
https://www.sands.org.uk/

White Butterfly Foundation
https://thewhitebutterflyfoundation.co.uk/

Miscarriage Association
⁠https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/⁠
https://www.instagram.com/miscarriageassociation/

Miscarriage Association Northern Ireland:
https://www.instagram.com/ma_group_ni/
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
⁠https://ectopic.org.uk/⁠

Simba
https://simbacharity.org.uk/

Other Support Groups:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402

Today on Finding Space I’m joined by Jemma, a CORU registered Dietitian who now works in fertility and IVF nutrition through her own practice, Nourish My Fertility, supporting people navigating fertility treatment.
In this episode, Jemma shares her own fertility story from trying to conceive, moving into IVF and the emotional and physical rollercoaster that came with it.
We talk about the challenges she faced along the way, her donor journey, becoming a mum to Jack, and the impact of comments like “just Jack” and how words like that can land much harder than people realise.
We also speak about secondary infertility and the reality that many people long for a second child but aren’t able to grow their family the way they had hoped.
This is an honest conversation about navigating hope, loss, motherhood, and finding your way through it all.
A small note for listeners, Jack makes a surprise appearance towards the end of the episode
As always, please take care as you listen. This episode includes discussion around infertility, pregnancy loss and IVF.
Support resources are linked in the show notes.
Connect with Jemma / Nourish My Fertility
Website:
https://www.nourishmyfertility.ie/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nourishmyfertility/

Free Resources
You can download Smart Snacks for Your IVF Journey here:
https://www.nourishmyfertility.ie/nourish-my-fertility-smart-snacks
IVF Preparation Chats with Jemma Henry
Jemma will be offering a small number of free 20 minute IVF Preparation Chats at the Future Fertility Show in Dublin this weekend (21–22 March).
Book your IVF Preparation Chat here:
https://www.nourishmyfertility.ie/book-your-free-ivf-preparation-chat
These chats give you the opportunity to talk about your fertility journey and discover the nutrition factors that may be most relevant for you to consider before IVF.
Jemma will also be at the Nourish My Fertility stand throughout the show and may be available for IVF Preparation Chats between sessions. Booking in advance is recommended if you would like a designated time to speak with her.

Speaking at the Future Fertility Show
Saturday at 2:30pm
Panel Discussion: Building the Best Start
Sunday at 12:15pm
Talk: How to Support Egg and Sperm Quality Before IVF Without Letting Preparation Take Over Your Life

Jemma will also be giving away a new fertility resource at the Future Fertility show at the Nourish My Fertility Stand F24

New Programme Launch
Jemma will also be launching her new programme that helps people preparing for IVF understand what actually matters for egg and sperm quality so they can give their egg and sperm the strongest start.

Visitors to the Nourish My Fertility stand can also enter a competition to win a personalised nutrition and supplement plan with Jemma.
If you’re not attending the Future Fertility Show but would like to explore working with Jemma, you can learn more about her services at nourishmyfertility.ie or Instagram @nourishmyfertility

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland
Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Féileacáin
Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Irish Fertility Counsellors Association
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gateway Women
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Other Support Groups:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402

In today's episode I’m joined by Brenda Casey, a registered nurse and midwife with over 27 years’ experience, who since 2015 has been working as the Clinical Midwife Specialist in Bereavement & Loss at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin.

Brenda’s work focuses on supporting families through pregnancy loss, perinatal bereavement, and the often-hidden grief that follows.

She is also deeply passionate about education and improving how we care for families after loss. Through her research into student midwife education, Brenda developed a hands-on bereavement care workshop, which has now been integrated into midwifery programmes in UCD.

In this conversation, we talk about disenfranchised grief, the many ways people experience and express grief, ways families can remember their babies, and how we can better support people after pregnancy loss. We also discuss the gaps that still exist in support, education, and awareness and the changes Brenda believes are needed.

As always, please take care as you listen. This episode includes discussion of infertility and loss.

Support resources are linked in the show notes.

Connect with Brenda:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casey_byrne21/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-case-a27ba1339/

Bereavement & Loss Workshops (Irish Hospice Foundation):
https://hospicefoundation.ie/our-supports-services/education-training/bereavement-workshops/

Bereavement & Loss Supports in the Workplace:
https://hospicefoundation.ie/our-supports-services/bereavement-loss-hub/grief-in-the-workplace/

Brenda’s RTÉ interview on Disenfranchised Grief:
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22525385/

National Maternity Hospital Bereavement Services:
https://www.nmh.ie/support-services/bereavement-chaplaincy.13636.html

https://www.nmh.ie/bereavement-chaplaincy/bereavement-midwives.13935.html

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland
Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

National Maternity Hospital Bereavement
https://www.nmh.ie/support-services/bereavement-chaplaincy.13636.html

Féileacáin
Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gateway Women
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Irish Fertility Counsellors Association
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Other Support Groups:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Mairéad Vaughan, celebrant, podcast host, and someone who has lived through a long and deeply personal journey with infertility and loss.

After years of fertility treatment, heartbreak, and feeling like an outsider in a world that so often equated womanhood with motherhood, Mairéad reached a point where she knew she had to let go.

In this conversation, we talk about infertility in Ireland 20 years ago, the silence and stigma that surrounded it, and in many ways still does. Mairéad shares what it meant to stop trying, the grief that comes with that, and the strength it takes to begin again, even when it looks different from what you once imagined.

Mairéad’s story is one of resilience and finding peace on a path she never expected to walk.

As always, please take care as you listen. This episode includes discussion of infertility and loss. Support resources are linked in the show notes.

Connect with Mairéad and her work here:
• https://www.yourmilestonemoment.ie/
https://www.instagram.com/maireadvaughancelebrant/
• https://www.facebook.com/maireadvaughancelebrant/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/mairead-vaughan-celebrant/
• Mairéad’s podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327276/episodes

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland

Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Féileacáin

Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gateway Women

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Irish Fertility Counsellors Association

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Other Support Groups:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Nicola McGlinchey, who many of you may know from her page Finding Glimmers in Grief.
Nicola is a mum to three beautiful children.  Brógan herfirst love, Lorcán her forever baby in the stars, and Éabha, her little glimmer of light in the dark.
Nicola is here today to share Lorcán with us and she does so with such honesty and openness. She talks about the amazing care she received in hospital, the language around grief, parenting after loss, and what finding glimmers really means, not as a way to move on, but as a way to keep going.
Nicola also shares the work she does supporting other bereaved families through grief journals and bereavement packs, and the people and small acts of kindness that sit behind them.
As always, please take care as you listen. This episode includes discussion of baby loss. Support resources are linked in the show notes.

Connect with Nicola:
https://www.instagram.com/finding.glimmers.in.grief/

Connect with:

Strong Mums NI
https://www.instagram.com/strongmumsni/

Wellness Therapy Sleep Blends
https://www.instagram.com/joq87/

Heartstrings NI
https://www.instagram.com/heartstringsni/

White Orchid Candle Co.
https://www.instagram.com/whiteorchidcandleco/

The White Butterfly Foundation
https://www.instagram.com/thewhitebutterfly_foundation/

Footprints: ⁠
https://www.instagram.com/joq87/⁠

Book: Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You

Connect with Me:
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Findingspace_dk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland
Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland 
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Féileacáin
Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sands NI
https://www.sands.org.uk/

White Butterfly Foundation
https://thewhitebutterflyfoundation.co.uk/

Miscarriage Association
https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
https://ectopic.org.uk/

Simba
https://simbacharity.org.uk/

Gateway Women
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Fertility Counsellors Association
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Other Support Groups:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402