“Heaven Felt So Close” — Julie Wells on Losing Her Son Gabriel and Navigating Pregnancy After Loss
In this tender and faith-rooted episode, Julie Wells shares the story of her son Gabriel, who she lost at 14 weeks after a traumatic and mishandled ER experience. She walks us through the early joy of his pregnancy, the sudden shift into contractions, her water breaking in the hospital hallway, and the heartbreaking moment she delivered him after a sneeze. Julie speaks vulnerably about holding Gabriel, naming him through tears, and navigating the deep grief that followed — as well as the regret and acceptance that came with his burial.
She also opens her heart about pregnancy after loss, fearfully approaching the 14-week mark again, and the miraculous, spiritually-charged birth of her rainbow baby girl, Amayah, born after a fast labor while her husband was sick with norovirus. This is a story of grief, motherhood, faith, and the thin places between earth and heaven.
We talk about:
The early symptoms, sickness, and intuition Julie had during Gabriel’s pregnancy
The ER experience where her concerns were dismissed and minimized
The moment her water broke, the instant grief, and giving birth in the hallway
Holding Gabriel, naming him, and finding meaning in the sacredness of his life
Navigating postpartum grief without a baby in her arms
Wanting to conceive again and becoming pregnant a month later
The fear of reaching (and passing) 14 weeks in her rainbow pregnancy
The powerful birth of her daughter Ameya and the “veil” feeling thin between worlds
How she honors Gabriel today — scones, ducks, keepsakes, and connection
Walking alongside other loss moms as a way of honoring her son’s life
This episode is a tender, powerful reminder that grief and beauty can coexist — and that birth, even in loss, can absolutely be sacred.
Get to Know Kristine:
Julie Wells is a Minnesota-based mama to three: her toddler son, her angel baby Gabriel, and her rainbow baby girl, Ameya. A former certified midwife for developing nations and a full-time mother, Julie carries a deep passion for maternal health, faith, and creating everyday adventures with her little ones. Her heart for loss families shines through everything she does — honoring Gabriel by supporting other mothers walking through pregnancy after loss.
Instagram: @mrs.juwells
