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Rainbow Babies. Making it through the storm, missing our Angels, loving and hoping for Rainbows.

992 replies

RainboxFX · 11/10/2012 09:22

A shiny new thread in memory of our angels. To bring us all BFPs, sticky beans and healthy happy Rainbows.

OP posts:
spilttheteaagain · 27/11/2012 19:00

kleine my lovie, I am so sad for you. So very sorry. Of course I am desperately hoping this is a freaking scary but means nothing bleed, but here for a handhold and a hug whatever comes. Much love to you and MrKleine xxx

wtw gosh poor little Holly. Sounds like she is not entirely cooperating with the feeding tube - can't say I blame her! How's she doing this evening? I hope she's on the mend really really soon.

Freya's got a nasty cold, it sounds quite chesty and after hearing about Holly I am more worried than usual. Think will get her looked at by the docs tomorrow just to be sure.

angel I hope Phebs is getting better?

fan thinking of you lots, hope you are ok xx

elly how fab to hear the hb again and at feeling first flutters. It's magic.

bartlet I read your post a couple of days ago and haven't had a chance to post until now. But it all rings very true. I lost my first DD at 20 weeks 2 years ago, due to an infection. I conceived again very quickly and now have a gorgeous 15 month old little girl. Her pregnancy was everything you describe - so lacking in any faith or belief it would go well, hurting so much whenever things went right for other people. I felt vile about it, but it's true that you are never wishing that they experience the loss and the pain and the fear, but you grieve again for yourself and your baby. It's such a physical pain. I felt so cheated as well out of what I called my "pregnancy innocence". I knew a good 12 week scan was not a sign that we were out of the woods and getting a baby. I knew that babies and children can die. I mean I knew it, not just was aware vaguely. And I knew it didn't necessarily just happen to some faceless stranger. I was so scared (still am!) of losing her, and I really struggled to be excited about having her when I was pregnant. I felt so gutted that my mum, my friends etc were all more excited than I was, I just felt so robbed. Robbed of my missing baby, robbed of the hope and excitement of a new pregnancy, robbed of confidence, robbed of happiness. You are NORMAL. It's shit really. A rainbow pregnancy is an amazing gift but also a torturous experience, more to be endured than anything else, it's so very hard on you emotionally. But you will get there. If it helps, I rarely think about my pregnancy with Freya now, despite how fraught a time it was when I was in it.

blue your birth story was beautiful, as of course is your little Lotta! How are the nights now? have you managed to find an arrangement that pleases both L and DH?! If it makes you feel any better, Freya is still in bed with us. Infact we've brought the spare single into our room too and pushed it against our bed, so we now have an approx 9ft wide bed for us all! Grin Fab. Know what you mean about loving the cuddles and having her close.

babyh thanks for asking, I am doing fine, just struggling to get a chance to post much - I read the thread every day though! I think, rather than actual broody, I have more just reached a point when I have realised that we WILL ttc again one day, not just yet, but we do want to have another, we can face it all again. It's taken a long time to get there, but I feel "right" about that if that makes sense? And thank you for the congrats on my peer supporter-ness, I am quite excited!
Docs was fine the other week, I've had most of the bloods back, will get the rest tomorrow. I have low folate and borderline vit B12. So am on high dose folic acid and have another blood test tomorrow to see if that's coming back up and have to have the B12 rechecked in a few months and may need injections of that. Doing some reading suggests that either of these things left to get too low can cause types of anaemia which prob explain why I feel like shit! Good to be able to do something about it though.

blizy congratulations on your new nephew! And welcome home Smile

Epic post! MN better not eat it now...

BartletForTeamGB · 27/11/2012 16:10

Kleine, very sorry to read that. I do hope that everything is okay, but I hope, if not, you and DH are being looked after well by the hospital.

AngelGeorgie · 27/11/2012 14:54

Kleine sorry, sorry, sorry. Xxxxx take care of you & each other xxxxx
Wtw poor Holly ... Hope u re all bearing up & getting through? Xxxxx love to u all.
Blizy holiday pictures look fab. So glad u had a good time . Huge congrats on your new nephew xxxx
Hope Fan is doing okish?
Blue well done on L's weight gain xxx hope both girls are ok? Xx
Elly hi ... Hope u re ok? Xxx
Hi BabyH ta v much for your kind wishes xx
Hi all; how's everyone doing? Xxx
Phebs slept well last night so optimistically thought we were getting somewhere then this am felt boiling hot although no temperature. So, chanced it by taking her to nursery.. Cue: lasted to 12 then phone call to collect her as temp still up. Since we ve got home she's been fine , asleep now. Not bothering with the drs at the moment will just monitor her for now then attempt work again tomorrow am!!! I m off Thurs & Fri ( had booked Thurs to have a day to myself!!!)

Would just make life so much easier if we had just 1 one person up here who could have Phebs while we re at work...
Hey ho ...
Lets hope life picks up for us all soon xxxxxxx
Extra love to those who need it xxxxx

Babyh200 · 27/11/2012 14:07

Cross post WHATEVER........so sorry poor Holly is in hospital. Hope they get her fixed up with antibiotics or anything else she might need to get well very soon.
Take care chick. Sending big hugs xxxxxxxxx

Babyh200 · 27/11/2012 13:50

See I told you this computer was rubbish........instead of posting the last part of my post the computer chewed it. I frantically pressed the back button but it went back too many times and posted my earlier message. Apologies everyone your not seeing double. Will try and name check all those I missed later including:
BARTLETT! Welcome and congratulations on your Rainbow xx

Kliene: Been thinking of you and Mr Kliene all day.....big hugs xxxx

Babyh200 · 27/11/2012 13:40

Whatever: Poor Poor H......hope everything was ok and you managed to get her seen at the GP today. Try not to worry, (easy for me to say) thinking of you xxxx

Miasmummy: How are you? Hope there havent been any more scares after your Dunelm visit. Your post made me laugh....you should have jumped on one of their beds and had a rest : ) I was thinking of you because its December on Saturday....Hurrah for December and Mias little sibling xxxx

Split: How are you doing? Are you still feeling broody? Hope your feeling ok after your GP visit a couple of weeks ago. Also a big congratulations on becoming a breatfeeding peer supporter xxxx

Angel: Glad your nice and warm but sorry you and Phebs have been ill. Hope your getting back on track especially with all the stress at the clinic!! Oh and Happy Birthday for later in the week xxxx

Amy: Not long until your next scan on Friday. Hope your beautiful boy is doing well x

Little: How are you? I think you were 10+4 last time I read your updates. Hope your little rainbow is ok and you feel more at ease since your scan xx

More below.........

Ellypoo · 27/11/2012 13:37

Oh kleine, I'm so sorry my lovely. Huge hugs and lots of love xxxx

I'm so sorry Holly is poorly WTW, I hope that she starts to recover very soon.

blizy, glad you had a lovely holiday, sorry about the jet lag, but I bet you've some fab memories! Congratulations on the safe arrival of your nephew x

My mum is doing really well thanks baby, how are you getting on? Saw mw again today and it took a while, but heard the hb again. Feeling the odd flutter - can't wait until they are proper movements.

Hurrah for nearly December mias, what date is your elcs booked? I hope it isn't too far now.

A very sad welcome bartlet, the ladies on here are truly supportive. My DD died aged 2 days on 31 Dec 2011, and I am now 17 weeks pg with her sibling. These confused and mixed feelings of guilt, worry, nervousness etc are totally normal, I'm sure. The innocence that we might have had has gone, we know too much about what can & does go wrong - it makes it very difficult. Angel has a great mantra which I am sticking with - 'today I am pregnant'. All you can do is take it a day at a time x

moomins, you are doing really well, how are you feeling?

amy, how are you getting on?

angel sorry you are now poorly - there is so much going around at the moment, I still have a cold and am feeling pants still. Very much hope that Phebs doesn't get it, and that you feel better for your birthday weekend.

Hi to everyone else - spilt, blue, little, and everyone else.

fan, thinking of you, hope your break is helping xxx

Whatevertheweather · 27/11/2012 13:26

Hi guys - haven't read all the way back through as am in hospital with a poorly Holly Sad just wanted to say I saw your post Kleine and I am so so so sorry. Am praying that it's an innocent bleed but sending you strength if it's not.

Love to all xxx

Babyh200 · 27/11/2012 13:05

Whatever: Poor Poor H......hope everything was ok and you managed to get her seen at the GP today. Try not to worry, (easy for me to say) thinking of you xxxx

Miasmummy: How are you? Hope there havent been any more scares after your Dunelm visit. Your post made me laugh....you should have jumped on one of their beds and had a rest : ) I was thinking of you because its December on Saturday....Hurrah for December and Mias little sibling xxxx

Split: How are you doing? Are you still feeling broody? Hope your feeling ok after your GP visit a couple of weeks ago. Also a big congratulations on becoming a breatfeeding peer supporter xxxx

Angel: Glad your nice and warm but sorry you and Phebs have been ill. Hope your getting back on track especially with all the stress at the clinic!! Oh and Happy Birthday for later in the week xxxx

Amy: Not long until your next scan on Friday. Hope your beautiful boy is doing well x

Little: How are you? I think you were 10+4 last time I read your updates. Hope your little rainbow is ok and you feel more at ease since your scan xx

More below.........

Babyh200 · 27/11/2012 12:45

Hello everyone.

Finally managed to catch up on everyones news

Blue: Lotta Beatrice is amazing and I loved reading about your labour and home birth. How are you feeling? Try and take it easy its hard with a newborn, especially with your DH having to go back to work. (Feels sorry for Mr Blue) Hope the midwife/health visitor sort out her wind problem poor little thing. Thinking of you, DH and the girls xxxxx

Moomins: Wow 29 weeks tomorrow....not long to go now. I almost did a double take when I read your DS1 was 11lb 2 oz.......what a big boy. I thought my J was big when she was born at 9lb 7 1/2 oz!! Hope the cold has eased for you and everyone in your house x

Elly: Glad things are going well. Sounds like a good care plan from the consultant! Hows your mum doing? Hope she is ok now x

Continuing my post below so more to follow just dont want to lose it with my rubbish computer skills............

Bluetinkerbell · 27/11/2012 11:01

kleine thinking of you my lovely! Here to hold your hand! X

blizy congratulations auntie! It looks like you had a fabulous holiday!

wtw thinking of you and little miss H!

fan I'm thinking of you too! Hope you're enjoying your break!

Bartlett welcome, but sorry to see you here. I lost my DD2 last year in June when I was 20 weeks pregnant. I had my beautiful rainbow DD3 10 days ago.

Waves at everyone else!

L is doing really well, she's feeding well but sometimes suffers with wind, poor little thing. Midwife is coming today, and health visitor on Thursday.

Babyh200 · 27/11/2012 10:46

Blizy: Congratulations on the safe arrival of your nephew. He must have made a quick entrance judging by your post at 18.27 last night : ) Glad you had an amazing time in Vegas but no wonder your tired. Jet lag is awful from there because its such a long flight!

Waves to everyone else just about to read back on the thread and catch up......have been thinking of you all but gonna do short posts in case my lap top eats them : )

Babyh200 · 27/11/2012 10:40

Kliene: Thinking of you and sending you massive hugs. If sheer will helps please know that I am willing baby poppet to hang in there. Lots of love xxxxxxx

blizy · 27/11/2012 10:30

Oh Kleine my lovely, so very sorry for you. My hand is here for you to hold whenever you need it. I have everything crossed for you.x

I have a new nephew, born last night at 11.10pm.

KleinePoppet · 27/11/2012 08:22

wtw how is Holly doing?

blizy hope all goes well for your sister. I'm thinking of you, as I know this won't be at all easy for you xx

AFM, sadly, bad news. Lots of bleeding. We went to A&E last night, and now are just waiting to hear when our EPU scan will be today. But I don't think there's too much doubt that I will miscarry.
We're just going to put our heads down and get through this - not sure how much I'll be online for a while, but I'll be back soon. Loads of love to you all xx

blizy · 26/11/2012 18:27

Hi Bartlett, I'm so sorry you find yourself here. My dd was stillborn at 41weeks on 28/11/2011. We have been ttc for just over 18 months now with no luck.

Lemon, nice to hear from you, hope you are well.

Kline, how are you feeling?

Wtw, how are you? Hope H is better very soon. Thinking about you x

Moomins, wow to the 29 weeks! When is the stitch coming out?

Big waves to everyone else, I'm way to tired to properly catch up (I will though), jet lag is brutal!

We had an amazing holiday but glad to be home with Alfie cat. My sis still hasn't had her baby, she is now 11 days over due, she is going to be induced tomorrow.

Moominsarescary · 26/11/2012 08:41

Hello bartlet sorry for your loss. Were around the same, I'm 29 weeks on Wednesday, after Jacob was born early at 20 weeks due to incompetant cervix last year.

Were all ill again, some sort of cold thing, I feel bloody awful. It seems to be one thing after another at the moment.

BartletForTeamGB · 25/11/2012 22:35

Thanks for your kind words, everyone. It has made me feel a bit more normal, if not a bit better! Smile I am sorry though to read each of your stories.

Kleine, hope you continue to feel better. Time never goes as slowly as in the first 12 weeks! I can imagine that you are counting down the days/sleeps/hours until your scan.

We don't have a particular birth plan and, after lots of scans, have gone back to being low risk. DD had Turner's syndrome (we discovered after the PM) and we knew she was likely to die from the 12 week scan, but we'd declined a termination, so I spent weeks this time last year carrying her and having lots of repeat scans waiting to see what happened. All the scans are very encouraging this time, so we have been discharged from fetal medicine.

wtw, never worry about phoning the OOH GPs if you have a poorly baby. I hope she improves and that you both get a decent night of sleep. I can never sleep if DS is in with us whether or not he has been poorly. Co-sleeping just wouldn't work for me!

AngelGeorgie · 25/11/2012 21:29

Kleine hope u re ok now? Roll on Thursday xxx
Wtw poor Holly ... It's horrid when they re ill? Hope Holly picks up? Phebs is improving I m just hoping she doesn r get my cold back from me now ... Xxx
Hi all; hope everyone else is well? Had a lazy day today was going to the Xmas market in Leeds but wanted to stay in to get better for the weekend.
Early night tonight , dosed up to get better for Thursday when my bday celebrations start... Love to all xxxx

Whatevertheweather · 25/11/2012 20:40

Oh Kleine how are you feeling now my lovely? Am hoping so much it's just normal early pregnancy niggles as that little bean beds in nice and snug xx

Bit worried here too - Holly had a slight cough yesterday which has got worse today and since about 2ish has had wheezy, crackly breathing. Not struggling for breath though just noisy. She is okay in herself but sleeping more than usual and feeding less than usual. She's sleeping on me at the moment. Will be ringing doctors first thing in the a.m!

Love to all xxxx

KleinePoppet · 25/11/2012 16:49

Ooh look I have the thread all to myself...
Hope everyone is ok?

Slightly worrying times here, as I had a lot of abdomen pain, some nausea, and dizziness this morning - not for too long, so we didn't go to hospital, but it was enough to make us come home and plonk me in bed for the day. No bleeding, and I feel fine now, but obviously we'll be keeping an eye on everything.
Luckily, or 'luckily' perhaps, a small tree fell down in our garden overnight, which meant that DH has had lots of sawing and chopping to do this afternoon; otherwise he would have gone mad with worry. So horrible for him to be so stressed about me.
Anyway, scan is on Thursday, so that's something to aim for. We'll see how it goes.

Love to all! xxx

KleinePoppet · 24/11/2012 10:01

Oh dear! My turn to have had a post eaten...
I will try to remember what I wrote (I have time - it's Saturday, and my completely exhausted DH is having a big lie-in...).

elly and wtw such wonderful fundraising totals. A fantastic way to have honoured your beautiful daughters xx
elly REALLY glad you heard HB, and that the midwives are being so understanding. Hopefully it won't be long before you'll be feeling little flutterings, and that might help to reassure you a little bit?
wtw I think it's so lovely that the same priest will have baptised all your girls. Really special. Also, hurrah for sleep! Smile

lemonsherbet I am so sorry to hear about the death of your son, and of your two pregnancy losses since then. I can't imagine how hard it must be, and wholeheartedly wish you your rainbow baby very, very soon. It was so lovely of you to come on here and write that message for fan xx
Which makes me want to say - fan, thinking of you, lovely lady.

bartlet I am very sorry about the loss of your DD - and at Christmas time, too - a particularly hard time of year to experience such a loss, I'd imagine. Our daughter died in June of this year (aged two days; she sustained severe brain damage, due to an undiagnosed problem with the cord, while my labour was being induced at 42 weeks), so I am not as far down this path as you, or as many of the women on this thread - but, I have to say, it sounds to me that all of the feelings you describe are completely normal. In my case, I try to ignore the guilt about the way I'm feeling as regards other people and their pregnancies - but I've done a lot of reading on the topic, and it really does seem that almost all bereaved mothers feel this way to varying extents. I have been honest with my friends about it, which has helped, as they understand that it's very difficult for me.
And as for a subsequent pregnancy - well, judging by the experiences I've heard on this thread, sadly it seems almost impossible just to sit back and enjoy it - gritting your teeth and just getting on with it seems to be the norm. Losing a child just changes your perception of almost everything, doesn't it, and worry/terror/anxiety are part of everyday life. Do you have a particular birth plan - ie, would you be induced a bit early, or anything like that (I'm just wondering if having an idea of your 'end date' would help?).

angel glad Phebs is feeling a little better - hope your cold vanishes; you DO get more than your fair share, don't you?!

mias good news about the counsellor. And very glad that all is ok with the LO, but I can understand your anxiety about what would happen if labour were to start before your ELCS. I think I would feel the same. Have you discussed it with your consultant - is there a plan? When did Mia arrive - when did your waters break with her? I don't know for sure, but I am presuming that you had a CS with her, given the vasa previa, so I suspect that you're also concerned about the possibility of a VBAC if baby decides to arrive quickly? I very much hope that all of this will prove to be unnecessary worry, and that baby will be very happy to arrive in luxurious ELCS style, on the appropriate day.
Sorry to hear you're uncomfortable and duck-like...

I have written quite a lot more this time than I did in my last, eaten-up post - so I had better finish soon in case this one vanishes too!
Doing ok here, keeping as relaxed as is possible. Also, our friends had their baby yesterday, and I was very relieved for two reasons: one, baby is fine; two, baby is a boy... it's selfish, of course, but the fact that he's a boy means that we will find it easier to see them sooner. elly I know you'll be going to see your friend's baby, when you're feeling better, and I hope it's ok/manageable/not too awful (delete as appropriate).
Hope everyone has some nice weekend plans - look after yourselves, lovelies xx

MiaAlexandrasmummy · 23/11/2012 22:21

Hello bartlett. I also lost my beautiful red-headed 13-month-old daughter in October of last year, and I am now 38 weeks' pregnant with her sibling. It has been hard for me to enjoy this pregnancy too, simply because that innocence and expectation is now lost. I suspect others will come along soon and say it is a very normal thing. I have particularly been challenged when people blithely say to me "Oh, it will be fine." They just don't know, they cannot guarantee that. I still say "Assuming everything is ok, then..." At the same time, the other women here have been enormously supportive and helpful. Finally, I came to the conclusion that I should not let the dark side of life, the fear, the pain, the grief, be Mia's legacy to her little sibling. She was everything that was good and perfect and wonderful in this world, and I feel as if I owe it to her to bestow these gifts upon her little brother or sister.

kleine I also had no symptoms this time, yet I knew straight away I was pg with Mia. Don't panic! Follow angel's mantra - For today, I am pregnant.

elly the heartbeat is still the best bit of every scan and check-up for me. Although the sonographer this week commented on how much hair baby has. Confused

Blue impressive!

green what a great outcome for J, he must be so pleased.

angel hope you have a quiet weekend planned, maybe a duvet day?

whatever I know exactly what you mean about doing something especially for E. That is why I am engaging with the hospital - it is a way to continue to be Mia's mummy.

GDD test yesterday came back all normal, but have been told by the dietician midwife to limit fruit and carb intakes, so baby doesn't become too enormous. In a way, I realised I was a little disappointed - I would have been quite happy to meet baby next week in a nice, neat controlled ELCS. An ELCS has always been the plan, due to Mia's birth, just later on. Now I have to worry again about it deciding on its own that it is ready, and that is scaring me quite a lot. I am also now quite uncomfortable physically. I am waddling... [duck icon] Blush

Thanks for the advice about bereavement counselling whatever, angel and elly. Not sure how it happened, but I think we were fast-tracked due to baby's imminent arrival, as a counsellor is coming out to our home next week to speak to us both.

Hello to everyone else here, babyH, lemon, rainbox, blizy, little9, moomins, missamel, split, amy and anyone else I may have missed and of course, thinking about our lovely fan.

Whatevertheweather · 23/11/2012 22:21

Yay for good clear hb Elly Grin I cried with relief every single time! I never realised how anxious I was until the swoosh swoosh noise and then my eyes started leaking every time! xx

Kleine I hadn't heard of Sparks - looks like a lovely charity. Between us and my work we've donated about £5k to Sands in Erin's name. I'd like to do some for the bereavement suite at our hospital and also for clic Sargent (children's cancer charity) next I think. There's an abseil down Spinnaker Tower (Portsmouth) on her birthday next year.......seems apt, not sure I could though!! Yes we did get the priest we wanted - thank you for asking. So so so pleased that all 3 of our girls will be baptised by the same lovely man. A small thread that links them.

Sherbet what a kind offer I really hope Fan sees it. Sorry for your losses xx

Bartlet a warm welcome, a very safe haven to voice all those 'unvoiceable' thoughts that go with being pg again after losing a child. I'm similar to you I have a 5yo DD, I lost DD2 shortly after birth in August '11 at 35 weeks, I was fortunate to fall again quite quickly and had my scrummy DD3 in August this year. A real rollercoaster, and yes to all those confusing feelings. Here to hold your hand x

Glad Phebs is feeling better Angel you sound run down. Lots of OJ and vitamins and as many early nights as you can manage.

Well done for the school run Blue Grin

Lovely little Holly has done a week of 7pm to 4am - feel soooo much better for it. She's such a joy to be around, we went to a baby sensory group today was so sweet, she was ever so smiley. Tucked up and watched Arthur Christmas with K tonight, perfect Smile

Love to all xx

AngelGeorgie · 23/11/2012 22:09

Hi BartletforteamGB sorry for your loss. I think what you re experiencing is perfectly normal. My first dd ( after 2 mcs) was stillborn at 41 weeks on 10/10/10 ; Georgie. I had my 2 nd daughter ;Phoebe 18/10/11 . I hated being pg with Phebs , not the physical side but the emotional side, the absolute worry & terror Phebs wouldn t make it. I constantly regret that Georgie isn t here & my one under lying though always comes back to " it's not fair" Georgie & us for not having Georgie here . She's missed/ missing out on such a lot & us too & it's not fair. She was deprived of her chance at life ... & that stinks & always will.
Having Phoebe has helped with the pain as it gives me another focus in life & for me time has helped. I was told this initially after loosing Georgie & didn t believe it but it is true. Time helps dull the pain slightly & I ve found ways of coping with the pain. That's not to say the anniversaries aren t hard & quite often the raw pain will hit me again out of nowhere or for no apparent reason but I ve learnt to go with it.
I envy/ dislike people who have easy stress free pregnancies who ve never understood the pain of loosing a baby... However that / those feelings have also eased after my Phebs is here safely...

Sending u loads of love & good wishes ... Hope u find a way through to help u cope xxxxxx

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