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Ep 119: From IVF Loss to Fostering 90+ Children: One Mother's Journey of Love Beyond Biology

When Irina Castellano was just 12 years old, babysitting neighborhood children, she never imagined her path to motherhood would include IVF, miscarriage, a heartbreaking termination, and fostering over 90 children across 25 years.

In this powerful conversation, Irina shares her unique journey—one that began with a childhood dream of fostering, evolved through fertility challenges and reproductive loss, and ultimately led to creating a family through both biological birth and adoption while providing temporary homes for dozens of children in need.

In this episode, we explore:

  • How Irina navigated miscarriage and the devastating decision to terminate a wanted pregnancy due to severe fetal abnormalities
  • Why her first miscarriage felt different from her later loss—and why both experiences were valid
  • The reality of fostering: reunification as success, even when it breaks your heart
  • How partners grieve differently and why we need more support for loss dads
  • The intersection of reproductive grief and foster care—letting go of children who return to birth families
  • Practical guidance for anyone considering fostering or adoption after loss
  • Why Irina advocates for IVF clinics to connect unsuccessful clients with fostering information
  • The foundational role of emotional processing in healing from any loss

Key Themes:

  • Reproductive loss (miscarriage, termination for medical reasons)
  • Fertility challenges and IVF
  • Fostering and adoption pathways
  • Partner grief and support
  • Emotional healing and nervous system regulation
  • Creating family beyond biology

Resources mentioned:

Connect with Irina:

  • Facebook: Irina Castellano
  • LinkedIn: Irina Castellano
  • Instagram: @irinasyd

 

Connect with Sharna:

 

Leave a Review

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help other women find these conversations and realize they're not alone in their journey.

Remember: You don't have to heal alone. Your grief is valid, your babies mattered, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

 

Resources & Support

The Pregnancy Loss Recovery Method™ offers specialised support for bereaved mothers that treats pregnancy loss as reproductive trauma—because your experience deserves more than general grief counseling.

Ready to transform your experience into expertise? If you're a bereaved mother practitioner called to support others through pregnancy loss, explore the Pregnancy Loss & Trauma-Informed Specialist Certification at: https://www.sharnasouthan.com/certification-vsl 

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear Dimi's story.