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Bereavement

Find bereavement help and support from other Mumsnetters. See also your choices after baby loss.

"You Light The Skies Up Above Me, A Star So Bright You Blind Me" Remembering all our precious children.

999 replies

fioled · 25/08/2012 11:45

For my beautiful baby Anabelle Violet, loved and missed to the moon and back, always xxx How hard we wish that you were here baby girl.

Twinkle twinkle little star,
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

For all our babies and children, big and small xx

OP posts:
shabbatheGreek · 06/11/2012 19:22

Hiya Cup glad you found us but so sorry you had to.

I went back to work a week after my DS3 was killed. I had to. I had to get out of the house - everybody was crying and it was driving me crazy. I worked in a cafe/sandwich shop so I had to pin on a smile and get on with it. My DH was made redundant about two weeks after Matt died as well. Everybody is different, everybody takes a different amount of time.

My personality is that I have to be 'doing something' and, for me, it was going back to work. I know thats not right for everybody but it was for me.

Just read that back and I sound heartless and un-caring. I am neither of those things (I hope) Sad

fioled · 06/11/2012 22:17

hi cup sorry you have had to join this thread :(

I went back to work 5 months after Belle died. Tbh that was too soon in hindsight. It wasn't until the Feb (8 months after she died) that I felt 'ok' in work, and if I'm really honest it is only going back to work again recently following my rainbow maternity leave (so 2 years 3 months later) that I really feel I'm at my best in work again.

Sorry that isn't really helpful. Its so hard to say what will be best for you, we're all so different, and that is ok. If you go back and its too soon then you can stop again.

tami I'm sorry to hear your news too. :(

Today was my Grancha's funeral and it affected me far more than I was expecting it too. The man (family friend) who took B's funeral, also conducted this one, and then standing by an open grave again gave me flash backs :(

OP posts:
chipmonkey · 06/11/2012 23:21

cup I was still on maternity leave when Sylvie-Rose died. I went back when my maternity leave ended which was four months later.
I would honestly say do whatever's right for you but do bear in mind that you could very well still be in the shocked stage and that the loss and grief may not have fully hit home yet.
Dh went back after 3 weeks and the head of his company came up to him and told him that if he needed to take time off, just take time off. Which he ended up doing a couple of times.

Oh, Tami I'm so sorry you miscarried.Sad And you know, I think it's all relative. You don't know how to react because you lost Tamsin when she was a fully grown baby. A miscarriage is a loss but because you've suffered a much greater loss, it seems less significant. We all have to numb down our feelings in order to get on with life so you are probably number than you would have been had you miscarried before you lost her. Sorry if that sounds muddled.

fioled, I dread having to attend another funeral for just that reason. The shock of re-living those partially suppressed memories.

chipmonkey · 06/11/2012 23:27

And just wanted to say to Everlong thinking of Oliver today xxxx

giraffesCantLightFireworks · 07/11/2012 01:07

Hello. Infrequent gatecrasher to this thread! But speak to a few of you on fb etc. Just wondering, does anyone ever feel they have a horrible insight in to what can/does go wrong? I have probably spoken about this before. And I can't explain publicly why i am so worried at the moment, but I feel sick with nerves that someone close to me will lose dc. (small chance this is case, likely ok but I dwell on the worry, I feel like I need to take on the full worry of it) Anyone know what I mean? Or am I being too cryptic?!

Cup I was at uni when I lost dd. But you know how close I was to expat and Aillidh, (and I knwo it is not same thing!) and when Aillidh died I was with her as she died on the Sat night/Sun morning and I went back to work on Monday. I coped at work well. I enjoyed being busy - I thrived on it. When 6 came I would sit in my car and not know what to do. I would either sob or find something else to do to be busy busy. I couldn't just "be" sitting still watching TV was torture, I couldn;t sit with my thoughts. She died in July, at end of sept I went on a break given to me by a kind mner, and it was the first time I stopped and relaxed and thought. I wasn;t ready to before then though. On the other hand though I left my work at childline when A was in PICU and I haven't been back yet. So it depends on your work, on you, how you feel etc. There is no right or wrong. Sometimes the idea of sitting is torture. You know where I am :)

MiaAlexandrasmummy · 07/11/2012 10:03

Hello ladies. So sorry to see you here with us cup and mumof, but I would say that this thread has helped me so much. Just knowing that there are others walking the 'crappy path' beside me, and in front of me, gives me some belief that I will manage, with Mia in my heart rather than my arms.

cup when Mia died, I was just going to relaunch myself into my own consultancy, but that has been put off, and I am only doing small things now. But I know what you mean. I was made redundant from my main role, looking after Mia. The days at home seemed so very long and bleak - so empty. So I totally support what others say about wanting to be 'normal' again, and work is a way of doing that. I would also say that despite the best intentions of your colleagues, you still might find yourself inadvertently in awkward situations, having to explain about Beatrice. I find networking, a necessary part of my role, very difficult, because of this. Perhaps you could have a word with your team just to say that you will be doing your best, but there might be tricky moments, and (if you know) whether / how you want these times to be treated.

mumof it's ok not to be great. Truly. I think 'great' is an aspiration for us all. Even a few moments of 'not-so-bad' is good. That sounds so depressing, but all I meant to say was - yes, it is difficult, most of the time, but the good moments will increase gradually.

Speaking of feeling 'great', I was asked series of questions by a midwifery nurse to check my state of mind about this pregnancy. First one - are you feeling depressed, anxious or sad? Rate from 1-10... ummm, impossible. My grief for Mia is not as raw as it was, but it is a constant part of me. No way I can state what that means in a nice, neat numerical rating system!!

fioled it's not surprising you had flashbacks at your Grancha's funeral. Another person you loved dearly is gone.

On Monday, I was supposed to attend the funeral of the father of a good friend who died exactly a year before Mia. I barely knew the father, but I wanted to be there to support my friend's widow. I did wonder how I would cope though. But didn't end up going, as there was an opportunity to link up with two other bereaved mothers and speak to the local media about how we want to be involved in working with the hospital to ensure that changes are real, and will make a difference... fortunately, my friend's widow understood.

Saw this on FB today, and wanted to share As long as we continue to speak about them, their light will never go out Our children will glow and gleam forever, there is so much love for them.

lavandes · 07/11/2012 14:33

Hi ladies x

I am so sorry you find yourself here cup but I am sure you have found the ladies on here understand you. I will never forget the love and support I have been given over the past 2 years, we all try to support eachother because we are the only ones who realy know how we all feel. My son was 34 when he died suddenly in April 2010. I am a receptionist and I returned to work 5 weeks later, I just went back for 2 days then I had a holiday for a week (booked before). It was very difficult but it was the right thing for me. I needed to get out of my house and have some sort of normality for a few hours to stay sane. But it is different for everyone. You must do what is ok for you, don't worry about others you and only you are the important one. Take care xx

lavandes · 07/11/2012 14:36

Thinking of you and your family today ilike. Such a difficult day,and you are so right it is totally shit xx

Have a big hug fioled xx

MiaAlexandrasmummy · 07/11/2012 18:09

tami I am so sorry, I got distracted in my earlier post. So sad to hear you had a MC. What horrible timing too. But yes, I know that feeling of numbness too. It is hard to believe anything good can happen in our lives now, even though I know this is not logical. But then, we all know only too well that life doesn't know about logic or justice...

expatinscotland · 07/11/2012 21:36

Hello, all! We saw a welfare rights adviser this morning who will launch our appeal. She did the form right there. I have also contact our MP and MSP.

Today is 4 months since Aillidh died.

And all these Christmas ads on telly are making me want to switch it off entirely.

Poor DD2 and DS! Poor Aillidh. It is all so bitterly unmerited.

cup, I agree with chip. You have to do what you feel is best but there really is a huge amount of shock even though Bea's death, like Aillidh's, wasn't exactly a bolt out of the blue.

A friend from the unit whose 16-month-old daughter died of the same cancer as Aillidh on 2 September is now feeling this shock wear off. It is hitting her hard Sad.

expatinscotland · 07/11/2012 21:37

tami, I'm sorry about your MC.

whiteandyelloworchid · 07/11/2012 22:09

Expat good to hear from, sounds like a good plan, wish you the best if luck

Tami so sorry to hear about the mc. I hope you taking it easy x

Cup I've spoken to you on other threads, but I'm.sure its all a blur, in so.sorry you've had to come and join this thread but I hope we can support you in some way and be here to.listen to you x

Dd had a nightmare tonight but didn't want to say what it was about. I shall try and talk to her again in the am
I do worry about her, feel so bad that's she's experienced all this at her age. But all j can do is my best to support her. Wish I could wave a magic wand and make all of children.here healthy and well

whiteandyelloworchid · 07/11/2012 22:10

I was going to.open that study for oxford uni today, its still in the envelope unopened. I'm.going to open it next week now

fioled · 07/11/2012 22:22

oh yes the shock. Three months after Belle died my shock bubble burst. I can remember very little from the day after her funeral to the day the bubble burst and I went down hard and fast. I don't know how we functioned, what we really did. I 'know' key events in that time, but I can't remember living it if that makes sense. I've lost three months of my life and so much more.

OP posts:
whiteandyelloworchid · 07/11/2012 22:44

cup, your question about work, for me personally ive been asahm since dd age 5 was born.
the i had my son when she was in reception.
so it would have been quite good timing for us, having a new baby.
but my son died shortly after he was born, the same daySad
and now its almost 9 months later, and i'm at home, and theres where i'm happiest, i feel for me, i only have a certain amount of acting in me a day, a certain amount of time where i can put on a happy face, and i want ot use that energy where i feel it benefit my family most, and thats by using it on them, not sure if what im saying os making sense, but what im trying ot say is for me, if i tried to put on ahppy face allday, i know i would then in the time of being at home, struggling ot put on ahppy face for dd

but i am a homey type pf person and i'm happy being at home.
plus i have alot of friends and family around so have alot of company when i want and with who i want ot spend that time with

but i do feel its very much a personal thing and its whats right for the individual, if you think thats the best thing for you, then it probably is, and if you then decide its too soon, you can always take so stime off later

im so sorry you have to even think about this.

MrsKwazii · 08/11/2012 22:17

Hello everyone, hope you're all doing as well as you can be. Sorry not to be around much, I've hit a funny patch. I'm totally disorganised, don't know whether I'm coming or going and am just so bloody tired all the time. I feel old, and worn-out and heavy both figuratively and literally. I'm a right bundle of laughs!

So sorry for all of you who are having tough times, grieving is hard enough without anything else to deal with on top. So sorry about your miscarriage Tami and those milestone dates Matilda and Ilike and hope your meds settle down soon Mumof2. Glad to hear that people are on the case for you Expat, what a load of bollocks to have to be dealing with.

Fioled am glad to "see" you but so sorry about your Grancha, and how you're feeling following his funeral. I've not been to any funerals since DDs and am dreading having to do it.

White open the envelope when you feel ready. No rush. And Mias how amazing that you and other Mums are talking to the media, I hope that they are gentle and respectful with you and Mia.

Cup I am so, so sorry that you're on this thread. Did you go to work today and if so, how did it go? I had almost five months off from work, but like everyone else has said, we're all different. I think it also depends on what work you do and how understanding your employers are. When I did go back I found it totally draining. My counsellor warned me that it would be, as I would have to push down my grief so that I could present a 'normal' face.

I did find it a relief to be back at work though, it made me feel more like myself again, although I will never be the same person again. The first time that I realised I hadn't thought about DD for a few hours I felt awful, until I realised that when she was alive there were hours that I was so engrossed in work that I didn't think about her then either.

Also, I've had real trouble with my short term memory. Someone can tell me something and it goes in one ear and straight out of the other one. I have to write everything down and I lose my train of thought really easily. Luckily my manager has been really understanding, I think he's terrified that I'll start crying all over him at some point though.

Going to stop blathering on at you all now. Much love to you all.

shabbatheGreek · 09/11/2012 11:02

Morning girls xx

expatinscotland · 09/11/2012 13:33

Hi, all. Not doing so well at the moment. Feel very down about what happened to our family and our beautiful child. The 18th on Nov. was the last time she went to school. She was diagnosed on 25 Nov. Almost one year now, and our family is in bits.

I want her back so bad.

shabbatheGreek · 09/11/2012 13:46

The only words I can offer Expat are that I am always here for you, WE are always here for you. I wish there was a magic spell that would work....I wish there were some words that would heal your broken heart. I wish....I wish...I wish.....Keep talking love....even if your words on here are all swear words. xxxx

whiteandyelloworchid · 09/11/2012 21:07

Hi all, sorry not been on much having a few internet connection probs,

Expat, thinking of you, its impossble to not think this time last year....

I saw a sands counseller this week, went ok, think it helped a bit, she didn't say anything mindblowing just how people need to adjust to the new you, and how its ok to allow yourself to grieve and that you have to wallow in the grief in order to come back from.it.
And to follow yor heart however you feel is right for you, and be selfish if you don't want to do something don't etc

Was good to have a massjve talking session about my son with her though

chipmonkey · 09/11/2012 21:16

expat, I know.Sad When you lose a child, you also lose the family you should have had. There is the missing person, the empty chair, the empty bed. And then the fact that no-one in the family will ever be the same as they should have been either, shattered parents, sad children........
But it is survivable and we can all survive if we are here for each other. Or so I keep telling myself, I hope it's true.

White, I'm glad you got a smidgen of help from your counsellor.

whiteandyelloworchid · 09/11/2012 21:23

Thanks chip, she's asked me to go to one of the sands meetings but I'm.not sure I could cope with that tbh.

Are you vmback from your holiday now?

whiteandyelloworchid · 09/11/2012 21:27

I've got a memorial tree in the garden for ds.just a small one, in a barrel,

And I want to get some Christmas lights for it, and some mini decorations for it, not sure I can reach the power out that ar though as the tree is at the bottom.of the garden, so don't know.if I can get some battery lights but that are suitable for outside

Plus iwould like to get a superspecial tree.decoration , for our tree, plus a special decoration for the sand Christmas tree church service.

chipmonkey · 09/11/2012 21:30

yes, we're back to the cold! Feels like we were never away, tbh. I find that even though the holidays are nice, I just don't get the same enjoyment out of them as I used to. But the boys had a great time, which was the whole point of the exercise. I am hoping that if I do my best to live for them, maybe at some point it will be worth living for myself.

I also have this odd fantasy about just disappearing. Walking from here to China, only taking ferries when necessary and camping along the way. And maybe going to live on the side of a mountain in a cave. I would never do it, of course, I wouldn't leave dh and the boys but it's something that totally appeals to me for some strange reason!

expatinscotland · 09/11/2012 21:41

'I also have this odd fantasy about just disappearing. Walking from here to China, only taking ferries when necessary and camping along the way. And maybe going to live on the side of a mountain in a cave. I would never do it, of course, I wouldn't leave dh and the boys but it's something that totally appeals to me for some strange reason! '

I use fantasies like this for how to get through till the kids grow up. Like that DH and I buy a caravan and live in it, going from here to anywhere.