Trigger Warning: This episode discusses Pregnancy Loss and Termination For Medical Reasons

“The Sun shone brightest the day you returned to the sky,” writes Katrina dela Cruz to her son, Zeo Thomas, who was 19 weeks in the womb when she lost him. It happened to be Summer Solstice that day. Not long after, she unexpectedly had a miscarriage of another baby, Solis Vida, and bled over Zeo’s due date.

And despite all of heartbreak, Katrina still finds ways to hold onto joy after these pregnancy losses.

To end Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, we are honored to sit down and speak with Katrina about how her unique experience of motherhood and loss over the past 2 years have heightened her intuition and transformed the way in which she holds space in her own practice as a therapist. 

Katrina dela Cruz is a licensed mental health professional (LCSW), psychotherapist, spiritual coach, counselor, and the mother of two Spirit babies. She worked with patients in hospitals for over a decade, including in care for maternal mental health on OB/GYN and L&D units, before beginning her private practice, where she integrates Western psychological theory with energy work, sound healing, plant spiritism, and ancestral healing traditions.

Katrina is also a HOPEtober Ambassador for RTZ Hope--a national non-profit organization that provides holistic support, resources, and community for all people who have experience pregnancy and infant loss. She is Filipino American and proud to be 100% Ilocano (indigenous to Ilocos, the northernmost region of the Philippines). She discusses with us how Filipinos are known for their optimism but how discussing something as tragic as miscarriage and loss can feel unnatural in her community.

1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage but many will suffer in silence. We hope this episode will leave listeners with a better awareness of pregnancy loss and how to better support families going through this extremely difficult time.

Resources and Links mentioned:

• RTZ Hope: https://rtzhope.org/
• Katrina's HOPEtober Ambassador page: https://rtzhope.org/2023-hopetober-ambassadors/2023/katrina-delacruz
• Maternal Mental Health Now Courageous Conversations registration (Free on 11/9/23): https://maternalmentalhealthnow.networkforgood.com/events/63292-courageous-conversations-pregnancy-and-infant-loss
• Postpartum Support International Loss and Grief Support: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/loss-grief-in-pregnancy-postpartum/ 

Find Katrina at:

Website: www.firemoonmedicines.com
IG: @firemoonmedicines

Please share with a friend if you found this helpful, and we always welcome ratings and reviews to help us increase visibility for our AAPI community in the maternal mental health space. Thank you!

Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers' own. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy or professional/medical advice. 

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