Losing a loved one & giving birth 3 weeks later - KICBUMP with Katie Lolas
Mar 26, 2024
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Guest Katie Lolas discusses grieving her sister's passing while preparing to welcome her first child. Topics include navigating grief and motherhood, dealing with depression, support networks, and honoring her sister's memory.
Managing grief and postpartum depression simultaneously is challenging, necessitating professional help and supportive outlets.
Balancing the needs of multiple children within a family dynamic requires open communication, patience, and individual relationship development.
Deep dives
Grief and Depression After Childbirth
Katie Lolas shares her experience of dealing with grief and depression after losing her sister, Nadia, around the time her daughter, Harper, was born. Katie discusses the challenges of navigating through grief during the postpartum period and how being diagnosed with depression added to her emotional struggles. She emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help and finding supportive outlets to cope with intense emotions during this challenging time.
Support and Understanding in Motherhood
Katie reflects on the support and understanding needed in motherhood, particularly when transitioning from having one child to two. She talks about the challenges of managing the different needs of her children, Harper and Eli, and the emotional journey of helping Harper adjust to the arrival of her brother. Katie highlights the importance of open communication, patience, and allowing space for children to develop their own relationships within the family dynamic.
Coping Strategies and Mental Health Care
Katie shares her coping strategies and the role of mental health care in her healing process. She discusses how seeking professional help and staying connected to a grief counselor and psychologist were crucial in managing her emotional well-being. Katie encourages others going through similar experiences to reach out for support, emphasizing the value of therapy and the mental health services available to assist individuals in their healing journey.
Honoring Memories and Self-Care Practices
Katie reflects on honoring the memories of her sister, Nadia, in her everyday life and how she has found ways to cherish Nadia's presence without causing herself emotional distress. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and setting boundaries to protect her mental health, such as choosing not to visit Nadia's grave to prevent triggering negative emotions. Katie's journey showcases the significance of finding personal ways to pay respects and cope with grief while prioritizing self-care.
Katie Lolas is beloved by her online community who she shares her life with. When Katie’s sister, Nadia passed away unexpectedly in 2021 at 31 years old, Katie’s community grieved alongside her. But Katie had another job to do: she was 35 weeks pregnant and in three weeks’ time, she was due to deliver her first child, Harper, via C-section. When Katie was trying to grieve one life changing event, she was also trying to celebrate another life changing event, and trying not to feel guilty for doing one or the other.
In this episode, Katie speaks with Steph all about of it.
They discuss how Katie learned that Nadia had passed away, the pressure to feel happy for having a healthy baby while she was grieving her sister, being diagnosed with depression and the support she received to get through it, how she remembers Nadia now, and what life is like with her three-year-old Harper and nine-month-old Eli.