In 2005, Dr. Michele Arnold went through a very traumatic loss. Before delivering her daughter Camille, she was told there was no heartbeat at her final OB scan. A few days later, she delivered her stillborn baby girl.
But even though life threw one of the toughest challenges at her, Michele has found ways to create something beautiful from grief. She shares her story openly and with a lot of vulnerability, and I’m so thankful to have her on today’s podcast as she offers so much value that can help others find joy in their journey.
Dr. Michele Arnold is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician. In our conversation, Michele guides us through her experience before, during, and after delivering Camille. She talks about the importance of seeking support and community during challenges like her own and gives great tips on how to process feelings of grief.
You’ll also hear about the “four challenges” she had to overcome: feelings of guilt, feeling like a bad parent, fear for the wellbeing of her other child, and the temporary loss of faith she experienced.
Not only is her story beautiful and inspiring, but it is also a reminder of how real postpartum depression (or baby blues) can be. If you find value in this episode, please share it with a mom or parent who may need to hear this advice, as it could truly make them feel seen, heard, understood, and loved.
Key Takeaways with Michele Arnold
- Michele’s advice for parents who have experienced a stillbirth (before, during, and after)
- How to deal with “mom guilt” and feeling like you didn’t or can’t do enough as a parent.
- How to overcome a temporary loss of faith.
- Two antidotes that can help with grief and depression: community and the right support.
- Signs of postpartum depression (baby blues) to look out for and who to reach out to for help.
- How to find hope again after experiencing a loss, and truly make the best of what life has to offer.
Michele Arnold Tweetables
- “To this day, I still don’t know why we lost her: medically or spiritually. In these 19 years, I’ve come to truly believe that everything was going according to plan. It wasn’t a plan that I would’ve given myself, but it was a plan that came with a lot of learning, a lot of brokenness, and it changed me in ways I could have never imagined.” – Michele Arnold
- “This life is not guaranteed: it’s precious, it’s fleeting, and it’s fragile. If I’m going to live, I’m going to live to the fullest.” – Michele Arnold
- “After a season of brokenness, there is often a season of learning and growth.” – Michele Arnold
Resources
- Find out more about the March of Dimes
- Symptoms and signs of Postpartum Depression
- Up To The Mountain
- Michele’s Mountain Mix Spotify Playlist
- Beautiful Heartbreak by Hilary Weeks
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