It's Okay To Not Be Okay: Child Loss, Grief, and Vulnerability with Taylor Ortolani

Worthy Mother Podcast

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There is so much connection and understanding that can come from sharing and listening to one another's motherhood experiences, and Taylor Ortolani's platform is an incredible example of that. For the past few years, Taylor has shared her life on Instagram, from a triplet pregnancy, the loss of two of her boys, raising a child with disabilities, and so much more. And this week, she is sharing her story with us and opening up about the power of vulnerabilty in her own healing journey.
In this episode, Taylor and I talk about:

• The story of how Taylor became a mother
• How she felt through the time in the NICU and losing two of her boys
• What sharing her story on Instagram has done for her own healing
• The experience of raising a child with multiple disabilities
• A critique of how our culture emphasizes milestones and standardized expectations
• Why Taylor lives by the motto, "try your best"

A little about our guest:
Taylor Ortolani, a 34 year old, Connecticut mom is an open book on social media. She shares about life and loss, grief, motherhood challenges and triumphs. Her son Ryan was born at 23 weeks and has multiple disabilities and delays, including visual impairment. Taylor tries her best to take life one day at a time and enjoys sharing the ups and downs of every day life while navigating infertility, IVF, a medically complex child, and maintaining her own identity through it all.
To connect with Taylor, follow her on Instagram @taylor.ortolani.
If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

Chapters

1. Introduction and Content Warning (00:00:00)

2. Meet Taylor Ortolani (00:01:45)

3. Taylor's Journey to Motherhood (00:02:10)

4. The IVF Experience (00:05:01)

5. Pregnancy and Early Birth (00:07:26)

6. NICU Challenges and Loss (00:10:49)

7. Ryan's Fight and Coming Home (00:18:26)

8. Reflections on Motherhood (00:19:46)

9. Embracing Authenticity Over Aesthetics (00:28:09)

10. The Value of Sharing Personal Experiences (00:29:03)

11. Overcoming Shame and Guilt (00:30:04)

12. The Role of Therapy in Self-Compassion (00:33:10)

13. Navigating Parenting and Milestones (00:34:29)

14. The Power of Trying Your Best (00:37:48)

15. Self-Care Tips for Moms (00:45:41)

16. Final Thoughts and Gratitude (00:49:19)