The Worst Girl Gang Ever

In this episode of The Worst Girl Gang Ever, Mäela shares her story with honesty, courage, and a depth that stays with you long after the conversation ends. She opens up about experiencing multiple miscarriages, the quiet devastation that so often gets minimised, and the way women are expected to carry on as if nothing happened.Mäela takes us through the moment her pregnancy changed forever, when she received a life-altering diagnosis for her unborn child - complete AVSD - and the impossible reality of making a decision no parent should ever have to face. She speaks candidly about termination for medical reasons, the layers of grief that followed, and the added weight of societal judgement that so often surrounds these experiences.Alongside her personal loss, Mäela reflects on returning to work as a midwife, where holding space for others while tending to her own grief was both deeply challenging and unexpectedly grounding. She also names the impact of systemic racism within maternal healthcare, and how being a woman of colour intensified the barriers she faced - from pregnancy care to accessing mental health support after loss.This episode is a powerful reminder of why these conversations matter. It’s about resilience, about being believed and supported, and about the absolute necessity of compassionate, inclusive care. Above all, Mäela’s story speaks to the importance of community - of finding people who understand, who don’t judge, and who will sit with you in the hardest moments.We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

In this episode of The Worst Girl Gang Ever, Bex & Laura sit down with Sophie Sulehria - content director and host of The Fertility Show - for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about fertility, hormones, and the parts of women’s health we’re still not talking about loudly enough.Sophie shares her own experience of navigating fertility challenges, including living with endometriosis - a condition that is far too often missed, minimised, or diagnosed far too late - and the emotional and physical toll of IVF. She speaks candidly about the strain infertility can place on relationships, the quiet grief that comes with cycles that don’t work, and the anxiety-soaked limbo of the two-week wait.Together, Bex and Sophie dig into the bigger picture - the lack of awareness around IVF success rates, the impact of hormonal treatments on mental health, and the unrealistic societal pressures placed on women to just “get on with it.” As always, the conversation comes back to community: the power of finding people who get it, the importance of sharing stories, and why open, honest conversations are essential if anything is ever going to change.This episode is about advocacy, visibility, and refusing to stay silent about women’s health - because we all deserve better information, better care, and a whole lot more compassion.Key TakeawaysSophie Sulehria is the content director and host of The Fertility Show.Endometriosis can have a significant impact on fertility and is frequently misdiagnosed.Infertility can place enormous emotional strain on relationships.IVF is rarely straightforward and can involve repeated loss and disappointment.The two-week wait during IVF is an intense period of anxiety and uncertainty.Having a supportive community can make a profound difference during fertility challenges.Hormonal treatments can heavily affect mental health and emotional wellbeing.Advocacy is crucial to improving awareness and resources for women’s health.Many people begin IVF without clear information about realistic success rates.Open conversations about fertility and women’s health are vital for meaningful societal change.We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

In this episode, Lauren bravely shares her story of pregnancy loss, including the stillbirth of her twin boys, and the long, winding road that followed. She talks honestly about the emotional weight of carrying grief through subsequent pregnancies - the fear, the hyper-vigilance, and the loneliness that can come with trying to hold hope and heartbreak at the same time.Lauren reflects on how deeply these experiences shaped her, not just as a parent but as a person. We talk about the complicated layers of grief that come with losing one or more babies while still showing up for the life in front of you, and the guilt and self-blame that so often creep in after loss. She opens up about the pivotal moments in her journey, including surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, and the impossible decisions and emotions that followed.Throughout the conversation, community emerges as a lifeline - particularly the comfort of knowing you’re not the only one feeling this way. Lauren speaks about finding solace in shared stories, the importance of talking openly with your partner, and giving yourself permission to grieve without timelines or expectations.At the heart of this episode is Lauren’s ongoing journey towards healing and acceptance, and the quiet, powerful ways motherhood continues to shape her. Her daughter, Edie, carries an understanding of her brothers that reminds us how love and memory can exist side by side, even in the face of profound loss.We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

Sands’ Work with African, Caribbean and South Asian CommunitiesSands pregnancy and baby loss charity is committed to ensuring every bereaved parent has access to compassionate, inclusive, and culturally sensitive support following pregnancy and baby loss. To help achieve this, Sands has two dedicated Outreach Coordinators working with communities that continue to face inequalities in maternity outcomes and barriers to support. Madhuri Bedi, Outreach Coordinator for South Asian Communities, and Jordan Russell, Outreach Coordinator for African and Caribbean Communities, work closely with bereaved parents, community stakeholders, and faith leaders to break the silence and stigma that can surround baby loss. Their work includes creating positive partnerships and spearheading initiatives tailored to the unique needs of both communities. These efforts aim to improve outcomes and provide compassionate support for parents and families navigating their grief.Working alongside all the teams across the charity, their work ensures that Sands is grounded in allyship, representation and cultural understanding. Through their outreach, Madhuri and Jordan help Sands to ensure that every bereaved parent feels seen, supported, and understood, and that no one feels they must face loss alone. If you would like to know more about the support Sands offers to anyone affected by pregnancy or baby loss, or the dedicated culturally sensitive support groups facilitated by Madhuri and Jordan, please visit the Sands pages for more information and culturally specific support: Support for Black and South Asian communities | Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.Sands | Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.Helpline: 0808 164 3332 -10am to 3pm Monday to Friday and 6pm to 9pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. Email: [email protected] Listening Report through which you can read the experiences of bereaved parents from African, Caribbean and South Asian Communities:  Sands_Listening_Project_Report_Publication_of_Findings_2023.pdfWe are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk

Episode take-aways In this emotional episode of The Worst Girl Gang Ever, Joanna shares her story of pregnancy, loss, and the complicated, tender reality of becoming a mother when things don’t go to plan. We talk about the headspace of infertility - the waiting, the wondering, the quiet heartbreak - and how isolating it can feel when everyone else seems to be moving forward.Joanna also speaks to the power of community - of having people who can sit in the hard stuff with you, without trying to fix it or rush you through it. Together, we explore what it means to grieve out loud, to tell the truth about loss, and to keep someone’s memory alive in a world that often expects you to “move on.”At the centre of this episode is Ray - Joanna’s daughter, deeply loved and deeply missed - and Joanna’s determination to honour her while still allowing space for hope, healing, and whatever might come next. This one is about resilience, remembrance, and finding a way to carry love forward.Joanna's journey is filled with emotional highs and lows.The importance of community support during difficult times.IVF is not the only option for those facing infertility.Sharing stories can help others feel less isolated.Grief is a complex process that varies for everyone.Open conversations about loss are crucial for healing.Remembering loved ones keeps their memory alive.Hope can coexist with grief in the journey of motherhood.The impact of shared experiences can be profound.Resilience is key in navigating life's challenges.We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk