The Rainbow Connection – Details, episodes & analysis

Ashley shares the sacred and heart-shattering story of her daughter Marigold, born after a fatal diagnosis. In this deeply moving episode, Ashley walks us through the months of preparing to say goodbye, the home birth she fought for, and the moments of peace, presence, and pain that came after. She also shares the path to her rainbow pregnancy and the emotional birth of her son, Wesley, born just over a year later.

We talk about:

• Receiving a life-limiting diagnosis halfway through pregnancy
• Choosing comfort care and preparing for her daughter’s death
• Planning a home birth for a baby who wouldn’t stay
• The sacred 43 minutes she spent holding Marigold
• The moment her two daughters met— just before Goldie passed
• Navigating postpartum grief, rage, and the aching silence that followed
• Becoming pregnant again just 4.5 months later
• The emotional and physical intensity of birthing after loss
• The healing, heartbreak, and transformation that comes with mothering all her children

This episode is a tender, powerful reminder that grief and beauty can coexist— and that birth, even in loss, can absolutely be sacred.

🕊️ Goldie, this one is for you.

Get to Know Ashley:

Ashley Thorup is a mom to three children, Luca June, Marigold, and Wesley, a wife to Michael, and a home birth midwife from Fayetteville, Arkansas. When she isn’t with her loved ones or attending births, she enjoys being outdoors, reading, writing, gardening, and eating really dark chocolate.

Connect with Ashley: 

Instagram: @ashley.thorup

Website: marigoldmidwifery.com

Connect with Kristin:

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca

🌈 The Haven - Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/the-haven -- use promo code: RAINBOW to save $100 on enrollment

🕊 RECLAIM -- The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim -- use promo code: RECLAIM to save $100

📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review– this helps get the show and resources mentioned into the hands of the women that need them! And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

In this deeply vulnerable episode, Tyla shares the story of her twin daughters, Jhene and Raelyn. From the joyful surprise of a twin pregnancy to the unimaginable heartbreak of a stillbirth at nearly 26 weeks, Tyla takes us through the sacred, painful, and powerful moments that changed her forever.

We talk about:

• Navigating a high-risk twin pregnancy
• The moment she was told there were no heartbeats
• The trauma of birth and hospital decisions
• How she and her husband walked through the days and weeks that followed
• Finding meaning, motherhood, and the courage to try again
• Welcoming her rainbow baby

This episode is an emotional, essential listen for anyone who has loved and lost a baby, and for all of us seeking to better understand the depth of grief— and the depth of love— that loss parents carry.

🕊️ Jhene and Raelyn, this one is for you.

Get to Know Tyla

Tyla lives in Oshawa, ON with her husband, her earthside son, Lincoln and her furbaby Lyla. Outside of constantly colouring with Lincoln, keeping him from feeding Lyla and going on adventures at the park so Lincoln can find all the pinecones and chase all the birds, she is getting back into body movement via Crossfit. She considers herself a reality TV connoisseur; everything from The Real World to Love Island to Traitors, she's seen it all. She also loves a good skincare routine, root beer and sushi. 

Connect with Tyla on instagram: @tylacampbell

Connect with Kristin

📍 Website:The Doula Life

🌈 The Haven - Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/the-haven -- use promo code: RAINBOW to save $100 on enrollment

🕊 RECLAIM -- The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim -- use promo code: RECLAIM to save $100

📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review– this helps get the show and resources mentioned into the hands of the women that need them! And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

In this powerful first episode, Parisa shares her deeply personal story of pregnancy, loss, and life after. From a missed miscarriage and the loss of her daughter, to conceiving again just weeks later, she opens up about how her faith, marriage, and motherhood were transformed.

We talk about:

• Grieving while parenting a toddler
• The emotional aftermath of a D&C
• Coping with Pregnancy After Loss
• Finding strength in surrender and support
• Preparing for birth with fear and faith in hand

If you’re navigating life after loss, TTC again, or pregnant with your rainbow— this story will remind you that you are not alone. 💛

Lily, this one is for you 🕊

Get to Know Parisa

Parisa is a wife, mom of two, and a psychosomatic therapist. She helps clients deepen their connection to both their bodies and their faith while working through personal and generational trauma. Believing that healing these areas is essential for a healthy and peaceful life, Parisa provides practical, accessible tools to achieve lasting well-being.

Connect with Parisa

Instagram: @parisa.living

Website: parisaliving.com

Connect with Kristin

📍 Website: The Doula Life

🌈  The Haven - Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/the-haven -- use promo code: RAINBOW to save $100 on enrollment

🕊 RECLAIM -- The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim -- use promo code: RECLAIM to save $100

📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review– this helps get the show and resources mentioned into the hands of the women that need them! And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much!

Welcome to The Rainbow Connection— a podcast for mothers navigating life, loss, and the sacred space in between. In this short trailer, you'll hear what inspired this space, what you can expect in future episodes, and why your story, no matter where you are on your journey, belongs here.

I can't wait to chat 🤍

In this raw and redemptive episode, Courtney shares the story of her son Beau, who was stillborn at 39 weeks, and her rainbow baby Daisy, born almost exactly one year later — in the very same hospital room.

She takes us through the shocking moment she heard “there’s no heartbeat,” the sacred experience of birthing and holding her son, and the decision to return to that same space to bring Daisy into the world — surrounded by love, memory, and the presence of her firstborn son.

We talk about:

• The unexpected loss of her son Beau at full term
• The out-of-body experience of being told there was no heartbeat
• Choosing to birth Beau unmedicated, and the power in that decision
• Parenting her two younger daughters through grief and sibling loss
• Navigating pregnancy after loss and the decision to be induced
• Returning to the same birth room — and how that became an act of reclamation
• Welcoming Daisy and honouring Beau in every step

Courtney’s story is honest, heartbreaking, and full of the fierce love only a mother could give. It’s a testament to what it means to walk through unimaginable loss — and to find healing in the most unexpected places.

🕊️ Beau, this one is for you.

Get to Know Courtney:

Courtney is a mother of 3 daughters, Taylor, Briar and Daisy, and 1 angel baby boy, Beau, who lives in Collingwood, Ontario. Right now she is on maternity leave with her rainbow baby, but when she is in the working world, she works as an Educational Assistant with the School Board. Courtney enjoys baking sourdough (when she remembers to feed her dying starter), going for hikes, creating new embroidery art and spending time working in the garden planted for Beau. 

Connect with Courtney:

Instagram: @courthodgson

Connect with Kristin

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca 🌈 The Haven - Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/the-haven -- use promo code: RAINBOW to save $100 on enrollment 🕊 RECLAIM -- The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim -- use promo code: RECLAIM to save $100 📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review– this helps get the show and resources mentioned into the hands of the women that need them! And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

Jessalyn shares the deeply personal and emotional story of her angel baby Camila, who was stillborn at 20 weeks, and the high-risk, complicated journey to welcoming her rainbow baby, Colby. In this moving episode, Jessalyn walks us through the shock of pregnancy loss after an uncomplicated first birth, the heartbreaking misidentification of her baby’s gender, and the complex layers of grief that followed. She also opens up about the fear, anxiety, and resilience it took to navigate a subsequent pregnancy filled with complications, including PPROM, hospital bedrest, and a NICU stay.

We talk about:

• Experiencing a missed miscarriage after her first healthy pregnancy 
• Losing her daughter Camila at 20 weeks and discovering her true gender days later 
• The emotional and physical toll of an induction after loss 
• The complicated decision to try again while deep in grief
• Navigating pregnancy after loss with high-risk care 
• A ruptured membrane at 26 weeks and hospital bedrest far from home
• Bringing her son Colby home after a premature birth and three weeks in the NICU 
• The ongoing balance of grief, healing, and joy in parenting both her living and angel children

This episode is a tender, honest reminder of the strength it takes to survive life after loss and how joy and sorrow can exist side by side. Jessalyn’s story is proof that even through the most devastating chapters, we can find our way through.

🕊️ Camila, this one is for you.

Jessalyn is a 35-year-old mom of three — an angel baby and two living children — living in Clarington, Ontario with her husband Carlos and their rescue dog, José. She grew up in Port Perry and still holds a special love for her hometown, with hopes of moving back one day. Jessalyn and Carlos have known each other since their early teens and have been together since their late teens, with a few years apart along the way. She works in Toronto and commutes a couple of days a week, balancing family life, work, and the ongoing journey of mothering all of her children.

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca

🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/the-haven — use promo code RAINBOW to save $100 on enrollment

🕊️ RECLAIM — The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim — use promo code RECLAIM to save $100

📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review– this helps get the show and resources mentioned into the hands of the women that need them! And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

Jasmine shares the heartbreaking story of her daughter Braelynn, who was stillborn at 40 weeks due to a tightly wrapped nuchal cord—a tragedy that could have been prevented. In this vulnerable and powerful episode, Jasmine walks us through her full-term loss, the moments in the hospital that still haunt her, and the journey through postpartum grief, anger, and deep questioning. She also shares the tender and fearful path to her rainbow baby, Archer, and what it took to feel safe enough to give birth again.

We talk about:

• What it’s like to be dismissed by medical professionals while advocating for your baby
• The trauma of leaving the hospital with a box instead of her baby
• The role of grief counselling and community in her healing
• Creating boundaries after loss to protect her space and heart
• The emotional complexity of pregnancy after loss
• The beauty of choosing a birth team you trust
• The empowering birth of her rainbow baby, Archer
• How she keeps Braylon present in their lives every day This episode is a fierce, emotional reminder that mothers know, that advocacy matters, and that healing is possible—even when the pain never fully leaves.

🕊️ Braelynn, this one is for you.

Get to Know Jasmine:

Jasmine lives in Sudbury, Ontario with her husband, their son Archer, and their 12-year-old German Shepherd, Radar—her first and forever furry best friend. She originally studied nursing, but after everything she’s walked through, she’s not sure if returning to the field is part of her future—and she’s learning that sometimes dreams change, and that’s okay. These days, Jasmine is navigating new motherhood while trying to carve out time for connection—with her family, her friends, and herself. You’ll often find her on the dock or curled up on the deck with a good book during quiet moments.

Connect with Jasmine:

Instagram: @jas_kappes

Connect with Kristin:

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca 🌈 The Haven - Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/the-haven — use promo code: RAINBOW to save $100 🤍 Mother Like No Other Community: www.thedoulalife.ca/community 📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review– this helps get the show and resources mentioned into the hands of the women that need them! And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

Brianna shares the sacred and heart breaking story of her daughter Caroline, born with a complex heart condition and an incredibly rare genetic diagnosis. In this tender, raw, and deeply moving episode, Bri walks us through her high-risk pregnancy, the decisions that no parent should have to make, and the immeasurable love that carried her through it all. She also shares the beautiful way she now honours Caroline’s memory— through her nonprofit, Caroline Cares— and opens up about pregnancy after loss and what it’s been like to carry her rainbow baby boy.

We talk about:

• Receiving a fetal heart diagnosis at 29 weeks
• Relocating for high-risk care at Stanford
• Balancing hope and fear while fighting for her daughter’s life
• Caroline’s birth and time in the NICU on ECMO
• An emotional mix-up that changed everything
• Making the heartbreaking choice to remove life support
• Holding Caroline for the first—and last—time
• How grief shaped her purpose and how Caroline Cares was born
• The complicated journey of pregnancy after loss

This episode is a powerful reminder that grief and love are never separate— and that even in the most devastating loss, mothering never ends.

🕊 Caroline, this one is for you.

Get to Know Brianna:

Hi, I’m Bri. My husband and I are parents to our beautiful daughter, Caroline, who passed away at 27 days old in 2023 due to a rare congenital heart condition called Ebstein’s Anomaly. We miss her deeply every single day and continue to honour her life through Caroline Cares, a charity we founded to support other NICU families by delivering care bags to local hospitals.

In 2024, we experienced an ectopic pregnancy — a heartbreaking loss that came just as we were beginning to hope again. After walking through so much grief, we are now joyfully expecting our rainbow baby this August.

Caroline made me a mother. Her story changed everything. And now, I carry her legacy forward—through advocacy, through love, and through every family Caroline Cares is able to reach.

Connect with Brianna:

Instagram: @briannahansen Support Caroline Cares: www.carolinecares.us

Connect with Kristin:

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca 🌈 The Haven - Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/the-haven — use promo code: RAINBOW to save $100 🕊 RECLAIM — The PAL Birth Course: thedoulalife.ca/reclaim — use promo code: RECLAIM to save $100 🤍 Mother Like No Other Community: www.thedoulalife.ca/community 📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review– this helps get the show and resources mentioned into the hands of the women that need them! And please share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.

MJ shares her raw and powerful story of being told she would likely never be able to have children—and the emotional, spiritual, and physical healing journey that followed. After a heartbreaking miscarriage and years without a menstrual cycle, MJ began the work of reconnecting with her body, her nervous system, and her grief. In this conversation, we explore the pain of medical dismissal, the surprising discovery that changed everything, and the deep healing work that eventually brought her to her two living children.

We talk about:

• Growing up without regular periods and being told pregnancy might never be possible
• The trauma and heartbreak of miscarriage after a miracle conception
• Being gaslit by doctors—and trusting her intuition anyway
• The white-knuckling anxiety of pregnancy after loss
• Postpartum OCD and navigating intrusive thoughts
• How somatic healing, breathwork, and nervous system regulation changed everything
• Why creating safety in her body—and her life—was key to welcoming new life
• Her passion for helping others cry, heal, and reconnect with their emotional bodies

This episode is a beautiful reminder that grief and joy can live side by side—and that healing is possible when we honour all that we’ve been through.

🕊️ This one is for MJ’s first baby, never forgotten.

MJ Renshaw is a breathwork facilitator, podcast host, author, and founder of The Being Method, a science-backed spiritual education platform that teaches students to heal and reconnect with their bodies through breathwork. After her own journey overcoming childhood trauma, MJ launched The Being Method in 2020, quickly establishing it as uniquely comprehensive, blending breathwork science, trauma-informed care, and practical business training. Her podcast, also ‘The Being Method,’ explores the intersection between science and spirituality. Her new book, How to Cry, a #1 New Release in Emotional Mental Health, explores the powerful science behind the emotional release of crying.

Connect with MJ: Instagram: @beingmethodbreathwork Get one month free of breathwork with The Being Method here: https://shorturl.at/7HFHv Website: https://www.beingmethod.ca/ How to Cry: www.howtocry.ca

📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca 🌈 The Haven - Pregnancy After Loss Support: thedoulalife.ca/the-haven — use code RAINBOW to save $100 🤍 Mother Like No Other Community: www.thedoulalife.ca/community

📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life

If you enjoyed this episode of The Rainbow Connection, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review. Your support helps get these powerful stories into the hands—and hearts—of those who need them most.

Sarah Herron shares the deeply moving story of her son Oliver, conceived through IVF, and the heartbreaking moment she had to say goodbye. In this powerful conversation, Sarah walks us through the shock of infertility, the devastation of loss, and the sacred ways Oliver’s spirit continues to guide her. She also shares the emotional, high-risk journey of carrying twins after loss, their early arrival at 32 weeks, and what it means to step into motherhood with grief, gratitude, and resilience. We talk about: - Navigating infertility, IVF, and a diminished ovarian reserve diagnosis - The pregnancy and loss of her son, Oliver, at 25 weeks - Moving through postpartum grief, guilt, and spiritual searching - Choosing IVF again and discovering she was pregnant with twins - The anxiety and milestones of pregnancy after loss - Her daughters’ premature birth and NICU stay - The tension between grief and joy, and how Oliver remains present in her motherhood - Parenting twins while navigating physical disability and societal perceptions - The gifts, strength, and perspective loss brought to her life and marriage This episode is a tender, vulnerable reminder that love and grief are forever intertwined— and that it can be a portal in becoming a more compassionate and loving human.

🕊 Oliver, this one is for you. Get to Know Sarah Internationally recognized as “Sarah Herron from The Bachelor,” Sarah is more intimately known as an adventure enthusiast and IVF warrior. She has used the platform she gained from reality TV to build both virtual and real-life communities for women walking vulnerable spectrums of life—disability, infertility, pregnancy loss, grief, and now, motherhood to one-year-old twin girls. Sarah is the founder of the nonprofit SheLift, the virtual support group The Infertile Circle, and the hiking collective Tents Without Gents. Her work continues to inspire and uplift women navigating complex and courageous paths. 🌐 Learn more at walkwithme.org 📸 Instagram: @sarahherron

Connect with Kristin 📍 Website: thedoulalife.ca 🌈 The Haven — Pregnancy After Loss Support Program: thedoulalife.ca/haven 🕊 Mother Like No Other -- TTC Community: thedoulalife.ca/mother 📸 Instagram: @the.doula.life If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review—it helps get the show and these stories into the hands of the women who need them most. And share it with someone who could use this kind of support. Your support means so much.