In this powerful episode, Desere shares her deeply personal journey through miscarriage, stillbirth, and a traumatic pregnancy after loss. From the grief of saying goodbye to her daughter Stella to the anxiety-filled road toward her rainbow baby, Desere opens up about the moments that broke her, the nurse who saw her, and the community that helped rebuild her hope. She explains how her experience transformed from ministry to maternal health advocacy and how MoMMAs Voices empowered her to speak not just for herself but for families who may never get the chance to share their stories. This conversation is a heartfelt reminder that we are never alone, healing is possible, and serving others can become the very path that heals us.

About MoMMAs Voices
MoMMAs Voices (Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Advocates) is the first-ever maternal health patient advocates program bringing together real patient and family voices. We're made up of dozens of maternal health organizations who represent all types of maternal health conditions, as well as cross-cutting topics like maternal mental health, racial equity, healthcare delivery, and patient-provider partnership. We sit at the center of maternal health improvements, connecting and training patients with lived experiences, providers, quality improvement leaders, researchers, and policymakers to move forward improvements in maternal care. We are a program of the Preeclampsia Foundation.

In this episode of The Power of MoMMAs Voices, Nicole is joined by patient family partner Briaa Baldwin, who opens up about her three high-risk pregnancies, the hidden scars she carried, and the moment she realized her story truly mattered. Briaa shares how asking questions became her path to self-advocacy, and why no birthing person should ever feel dismissed or “non-compliant.” She reflects on the support she wished she had, the importance of involving partners in care, and the communication gaps that shaped her birth experiences. Briaa also discusses her current work strengthening connections between outpatient clinics and community organizations, and why MoMMAs Voices’ patient training became a turning point in her advocacy journey

About MoMMAs Voices
MoMMAs Voices (Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Advocates) is the first-ever maternal health patient advocates program bringing together real patient and family voices. We're made up of dozens of maternal health organizations who represent all types of maternal health conditions, as well as cross-cutting topics like maternal mental health, racial equity, healthcare delivery, and patient-provider partnership. We sit at the center of maternal health improvements, connecting and training patients with lived experiences, providers, quality improvement leaders, researchers, and policymakers to move forward improvements in maternal care. We are a program of the Preeclampsia Foundation.

In this episode of The Power of MoMMAs Voices podcast, we sit down with Liz Gray, LCSW, an infertility advocate and trauma therapist, to discuss her journey through infertility, a complicated birth, and the challenges of the fourth trimester.

Liz opens up about how one dismissive interaction during her fertility treatment reshaped her understanding of care and sparked her mission to help others access trauma-informed, compassionate support. She shares what trauma-informed care looks like in practice, why words matter, and how both patients and providers can build trust through empathy and repair.

About MoMMAs Voices
MoMMAs Voices (Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Advocates) is the first-ever maternal health patient advocates program bringing together real patient and family voices. We're made up of dozens of maternal health organizations who represent all types of maternal health conditions, as well as cross-cutting topics like maternal mental health, racial equity, healthcare delivery, and patient-provider partnership. We sit at the center of maternal health improvements, connecting and training patients with lived experiences, providers, quality improvement leaders, researchers, and policymakers to move forward improvements in maternal care. We are a program of the Preeclampsia Foundation.