Motherhood Lost Conversations

An educational television series co-produced by Linda Layne and Heather Bailey at George Mason University Television, Fairfax, VA, and hosted by Linda Layne. This series lays out the contours of an innovative women's health approach to pregnancy loss. In conversation with artists, midwives, novelists, doctors, nurses, lawyers, religious leaders, product designers, environmental activists, and pregnancy loss advocates, Layne advocates for improved health care, a better public understanding of loss, prevention, and the creation of feminist rituals. Each episode is thirty minutes in length and has a companion curriculum appropriate for continuing education and college classroom use.

Episode Guide

  1. Normalizing Miscarriage Through Popular Culture: A Conversation with Heather Swain, Author of Luscious Lemon.¹²³
  2. Reducing the Trauma of Loss through Better Preparation and Care: A Conversation with Denise Cote-Arsenault, Ph.D., R.N., and Pam Scarce, R.N.
  3. Preparing for Home Pregnancy Loss: A Conversation with Sandy Maclean of WomenCare.
  4. Protecting the Environment and Preventing Pregnancy Loss: A Conversation with Lois Gibbs, Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice.¹
  5. Combating the Criminalization of Stillbirth and Miscarriage: A Conversation with Lynn Paltrow, Esq., Executive Director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women. Mock Trial Information, referenced from the companion curriculum, is available here.
  6. Making Loss Visible: A Conversation with Joanne Leonard, Distinguished University Professor of Art and Women's Studies, University of Michigan
  7. Midwifery Care for Pregnancy Loss: A Conversation with Ina May Gaskin, Lay Midwife Extraordinaire, author of Spiritual Midwifery.
  8. Feminist Rituals: A Conversation with Rabbi Nina Cardin, Lois Dubin, Ph.D., and Dahlia Lithwick of Slate.com.
  9. Stillbirth Prevention: A Conversation with Dr. J. Frederik Froen, Dept. of Pediatric Research and OB/Gyn. at Rikshospitalet.
  10. Domestic Violence—A Preventable Cause of Pregnancy Loss: A Conversation with Jacquelyn C. Campbell, Ph.D., Anna D. Wolf Chair, The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

¹ Winner of a Silver Davey Award. "The annual International Davey Awards honor the achievements of the 'Creative Davids,' who derive their strength from big ideas, rather than stratospheric budgets. Winners are selected by the International Academy of the Visual Arts." http://www.daveyawards.com/

² Winner of the 31st Annual Gracie Allen Awards, in the category "Outstanding Talk Show." The Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television "honors programming created for women, by women, and about women, as well as individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the industry. The Gracies strive to encourage the realistic and faceted portrayal of women in entertainment, commercials, news, features, and other programs." http://www.awrt.org/

³ Winner of a Bronze Telly Award. "Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions." http://www.tellyawards.com/

Television Studio Set