Ashlee Schmidt joins Kristin Hernandez for a conversation about drawing near to God in prayer and trusting His love and sovereignty through the journey of pregnancy after loss. Ashlee vulnerably shares her story of losing two babies and navigating the high-risk pregnancy that followed, and how God taught her to lean on Him in the midst of grief, fear, and uncertainty.

Together, Kristin and Ashlee introduce Hope Mommies’ newest Hope Group study, designed to walk alongside women navigating pregnancy after loss through the framework of the Lord’s Prayer. Whether you're in this season yourself or simply seeking to know God more deeply, we invite you to join us as we reflect on the beauty of calling God our Father, trusting His plan in difficult times, anticipating His Kingdom, and living in the freedom of forgiveness.

Ashlee and her husband, Jesse, live in Milwaukee with their children—five on earth and two in heaven. She loves curling up with a good book and a cup of matcha on cozy rainy days (and all the other days), camping in the mountains with her family, and summer afternoons tending to the garden.

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Amazon: Studies by Ashlee Schmidt

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This episode of the Hope Mommies Podcast is sponsored on behalf of Kim Doolittle, in memory of Quinn, Caleb, Ruben, Vera and Mika-Joy. The beautiful tribute message reads, "You are loved, remembered and treasured. Though your absences are deeply felt here, we take comfort knowing you are with the One who knit you together, who knew your days before they began, and in whose presence you will forever be."

Sponsor an episode of the HM Podcast

The Hope Mommies Podcast is a ministry of Hope Mommies, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that exists to bring bereaved families comfort, encouragement, and relational support as they continue to walk this side of eternity without their beloved son or daughter. The music used is Sparrow Song, courtesy of Katie Cobbs and Flourish Creative.

In this episode, Kristin Hernandez is joined by Eric Schumacher to explore the often-overlooked grief of fathers after the loss of a baby. Eric shares his personal story of fatherhood and loss, the challenges many men face in expressing sorrow, and how cultural expectations can silence grief. Together, they discuss the importance of honest communication in marriage, the vital role of the church community, and how Jesus models the need for support in times of suffering. Eric also offers encouragement to those who feel hesitant to return to church after the loss of a child. Join us as we look to the lasting hope found in the gospel—especially through the lens of the Gospel of Luke—and the promise of resurrection in Christ.

Eric Schumacher is the author of several books including "Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage" and the recent "In His Hands: Prayers for Your Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis," co-authored with Jessika Sanders. Eric and his wife Jenny live in Iowa. They are the proud parents of five living children, a daughter-in-law, and four children lost in the womb. Eric is the Pastoral Ministry Director of the Baptist Convention of Iowa.

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Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage

Dads Hurt Too: A Father’s Memoir of Miscarriage

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Sponsor an episode of the HM Podcast

The Hope Mommies Podcast is a ministry of Hope Mommies, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that exists to bring bereaved families comfort, encouragement, and relational support as they continue to walk this side of eternity without their beloved son or daughter. The music used is Sparrow Song, courtesy of Katie Cobbs and Flourish Creative.

Joy and grief often walk hand in hand for Hope Moms. In this episode, Erin Thibodeaux joins Kristin Hernandez to share her motherhood journey—the excitement of expecting twins and the devastating loss of her daughter, Adalyn Layne, who lived just 26 days.

Together, they talk about the complexities of grieving one child while raising another, the unique challenges of parenting through sorrow, and the ways God’s presence and the compassion of others have met Erin in her deepest pain. With honesty and grace, Erin reflects on the tension of joy and grief coexisting, the role of faith in her healing, and how community—especially through Hope Mommies—helped her feel seen, supported, and strengthened.

Erin Thibodeaux has been married to her husband, Brandon, for 17 years and is the mother of three beautiful children: Aubrey (14), Grayson (9), and Adalyn Layne, who now lives with Jesus. She works as a pediatric speech-language pathologist and finds joy in helping others find their voice. Erin is passionate about encouraging women, serving 7th and 8th grade girls at her church, and walking alongside other grieving moms through her involvement with Hope Mommies.

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Erin’s Story

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Sponsor an episode of the HM Podcast

The Hope Mommies Podcast is a ministry of Hope Mommies, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that exists to bring bereaved families comfort, encouragement, and relational support as they continue to walk this side of eternity without their beloved son or daughter. The music used is Sparrow Song, courtesy of Katie Cobbs and Flourish Creative.

In this tender and theologically rich episode, host Kristin Hernandez is joined by author Abbey Wedgworth to talk about miscarriage, grief, and the unshakable hope we have in Christ. Abbey shares about losing her second baby, the emotional and spiritual wrestling that followed, and how the Lord met her in the midst of her pain.

Kristin and Abbey discuss the unique challenges of miscarriage—including the often “invisible” nature of this kind of loss—and explore how the Church can respond with compassion, truth, and presence. Drawing from Psalm 139 and her devotional Held, Abbey offers biblical encouragement for women who are grieving, practical ways to engage with Scripture when it feels difficult, and the comforting reminder that God's plan of redemption cannot be miscarried.

This conversation touches on finding purpose in suffering, affirming the value of every life in the womb, and encouragement for those who are searching for answers. No matter what kind of suffering you have experienced, this conversation will point you toward the comfort of God's character and the promise of eternal hope.

Abbey Wedgeworth is a wife, mother, and writer. She and her husband David live on the beautiful South Carolina coast, where she enjoys homeschooling their boys, serving at their home church, and helping others see how the gospel transforms every area of life—especially in the midst of shame, suffering, and the joys and trials of motherhood. Abbey is the author of “Held: 31 Biblical Reflections on God’s Comfort and Care in the Sorrow of Miscarriage” and the “Training Young Hearts” series.

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Held: 31 Biblical Reflections on God’s Comfort and Care in the Sorrow of Miscarriage

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This episode of the Hope Mommies Podcast is sponsored by Tim & Kaleigh Britzman in honor of Adalia Faith. Tim and Kaleigh share, "Adalia, through your short life God has given us a greater anticipation and perspective of our eternal life in Jesus' presence. We cannot wait to join you there! Until then, we deeply miss you every day. Two months closer. Love, Mommy, Daddy, & Lilly"

Sponsor an episode of the HM Podcast

The Hope Mommies Podcast is a ministry of Hope Mommies, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that exists to bring bereaved families comfort, encouragement, and relational support as they continue to walk this side of eternity without their beloved son or daughter. The music used is Sparrow Song, courtesy of Katie Cobbs and Flourish Creative.

How do you respond when someone asks how many kids you have? Or when a baby shower invite arrives in your inbox? What about the medical advice you didn’t ask for or the pressure to "move on"?

In this episode, Brooke Schuelke, Jennie Parks, and Kristin Hernandez share personal stories and practical wisdom for navigating the often uncomfortable and unexpected situations that arise after the loss of a baby.

You’ll hear how we respond to…

(4:27) questions about family size

(23:23) invitations to social gatherings like baby showers and birthday parties

(43:35) unsolicited advice

(48:08) timelines placed on grief

(52:39) pressure to grieve a certain way

We open up about the lessons we’ve learned through our own failures, the value of honest communication, receiving accountability even when it hurts, and the lasting encouragement we find in God and His Word.

If you're walking through grief—or walking with someone who is—we pray this conversation helps you as you navigate various scenarios and reminds you that you're not alone!

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Sponsorship

This episode of the Hope Mommies Podcast is sponsored by Kevin and Johanna Klinger in honor of their son, Charles Liam Paul Klinger. They write," We love you and miss you, Charlie! We are so thankful for the gift of your life. May God be honored and glorified as we treasure the precious memory of you until we are all reunited in heaven."

If you’d like to sponsor an episode in honor of your Hope Baby, or on behalf of a Hope Mom you know, visit hopemommies.org.

Sponsor an episode of the HM Podcast

The Hope Mommies Podcast is a ministry of Hope Mommies, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that exists to bring bereaved families comfort, encouragement, and relational support as they continue to walk this side of eternity without their beloved son or daughter. The music used is Sparrow Song, courtesy of Katie Cobbs and Flourish Creative.

Rachel Lohman, author of Miscarried Hope, guides listeners through the events of Holy Week, drawing parallels between a grieving mother’s emotions and the emotions experienced by Jesus’ disciples. She explains how the stages of expectation, shock, despair, grief, and hope mirror the disciples’ journey with Jesus from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday–through the excitement of His arrival, the agony of His death, the silence of Saturday, and the joy of His resurrection.

Rachel shares her personal experiences with motherhood and miscarriage, how grief has deepened her dependence on Jesus, and the heart behind Hope Again Collective, a handmade jewelry line that helps women share their stories of loss. Rachel also discusses the significance of embracing the silence of Saturday, the permission to freely use the word “death” rather than soft alternatives, and the unshakable hope found in Christ’s resurrection. This episode is an invitation to grieve with hope, embrace the truth of the resurrection, and trust that death is not the final word.

Rachel Lohman is the author of Miscarried Hope: Journeying with Jesus through Pregnancy and Infant Loss and the founder of Hope Again Collective, a handmade jewelry line that shares the stories of loss moms and has donated over $13,000 in practical grief resources to women going through miscarriage or stillbirth. She holds a Master's in Theology and Ministry and is a mother to three living children and one in Heaven. Rachel and her husband Mark currently pastor a bilingual church in Southern California.

Links:

Hope Again Collective

Miscarried Hope Book

Hope Mommies Website

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Sponsor an episode of the HM Podcast

The Hope Mommies Podcast is a ministry of Hope Mommies, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that exists to bring bereaved families comfort, encouragement, and relational support as they continue to walk this side of eternity without their beloved son or daughter. The music used is Sparrow Song, courtesy of Katie Cobbs and Flourish Creative.

Friendship after the loss of a baby can feel complicated. In this episode, Kristin Hernandez and Jennie Parks discuss how grief can reshape relationships—deepening some while straining others. They reflect on how their expectations of friendship changed after loss, things they would have done differently, the emotional labor of maintaining connections, and the struggle of navigating grief together. Kristin and Jennie share about the gift of friendship with other Hope Moms who “get it”, as well as the value of friendship with women with different stories. Together we explore the importance of friendship, while fixing our eyes on Jesus–our true source of worth and the friend who never leaves or forsakes.

Links:

Episode 4 - Grace for Hurtful Words

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This episode of the Hope Mommies Podcast is sponsored by Grammie and Pops in loving memory of Eisley Hope Klein Hutchinson. They share, “In honor of your tenth birthday Eisley Hope. Our lives are forever changed because of the privilege of knowing and loving you baby girl.” If you’d like to sponsor an episode in honor of your Hope Baby, or on behalf of a Hope Mom you know, visit hopemommies.org or click the link below.

Sponsor an episode of the HM Podcast

The Hope Mommies Podcast is a ministry of Hope Mommies, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that exists to bring bereaved families comfort, encouragement, and relational support as they continue to walk this side of eternity without their beloved son or daughter. The music used is Sparrow Song, courtesy of Katie Cobbs and Flourish Creative.

Whether you attended this year’s retreat or couldn’t join us in person, we invite you to revisit all four teaching sessions with us. This episode is the final installment in our four-part teaching series on John 15:1-9 and features a re-recording of Session 4 from the 2025 Hope Mommies Retreat.

In this session, Kristin Hernandez shares about the joy of abiding in God’s love. She addresses the question, “Does God really love me?” and reflects on the call to obedience, the importance of biblical community, and the beauty of loving one another as the global Church.

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Hope Mommies Website

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Sponsor an episode of the HM Podcast

The Hope Mommies Podcast is a ministry of Hope Mommies, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that exists to bring bereaved families comfort, encouragement, and relational support as they continue to walk this side of eternity without their beloved son or daughter. The music used is Sparrow Song, courtesy of Katie Cobbs and Flourish Creative.