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Bereavement

I know it isn't my loss, but it has deeply touched me and broken my heart.

37 replies

GimmeDaBoobehz · 31/12/2013 16:24

I am sorry as this isn't my loss, it's not really my place to post but am not naming any names, so hope that is OK?

My friend and his partner have lost their baby. It stopped breathing at 36 weeks and she is having to have the baby naturally.

It's completely broken my heart for them. I can't even begin to think what they must be going through. I haven't got to speak to him yet and just don't know what to say (he has spoken to my partner, as we are all friends).

I sincerely hope that I can be of some help and they get some comfort from friends and family.

Is there anything I can do to help if anyone has had anything similar happen?

I could cry I feel so broken hearted for them. :(

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GimmeDaBoobehz · 06/01/2014 20:23

Thank you.

They are pretty torn up as expected but are trying their best to sort things out and have a great family support unit as well as good friends.

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dunkinhobnobs · 06/01/2014 16:58

I just wanted to say that my thoughts are with your friends at this awful time. My DS3 was born sleeping at 37 weeks 11 weeks ago. They have been the hardest 11 weeks of my life. I am so sad that someone else is also walking this sad road. Look after them.
X

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YellowDinosaur · 04/01/2014 20:00

I posted a similar op a few years ago following a similar experience with friends. The things they subsequently said helped was to mention their baby by name, to ask to look at photos and to talk about him / her. Also to remember their birthday. I gave them a rose named after their DD.

I can't imagine how awful this would be and ny heart goes out to those who have experienced this xxx

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GimmeDaBoobehz · 03/01/2014 22:07

They had the baby today. :(

Seeing their poor families post about it just makes it even more real. God, I just couldn't imagine.

:(

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sugarbunza · 31/12/2013 19:30

Heartbreaking story's everyone xxx

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GimmeDaBoobehz · 31/12/2013 19:20

The same thing is happening with my friends. The baby is being delivered in 2 days time naturally.

I'm glad to know I am doing the best I can for them though as it's all I can do.

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MrsHappyBee · 31/12/2013 19:15

Years ago friends of ours were told that their baby had died just before his due date. His poor mother had to undergo a natural delivery 2 days later, which was DH birthday. We still remember him every year despite no longer being in touch with his parents as we've all moved. I remember my friend cuddling the photo album
as she was desperate to nurse, it was heartbreaking. You sound like a lovely friend.

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samsonite86 · 31/12/2013 19:11

Totally natural Gimme, but it's not yours or your daughter's fault. Your guilt is instinctive. I mostly (not always) found comfort in others children. Many of my friends with kids let that guilt and fear keep them away. These children were to be my daughter's friends. I found that important x

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DoItTooBabyJesus · 31/12/2013 19:09

You could direct them to Glow In The Woods. A website for babylost parents. It's amazing.

You sound like a thoughtful friend, so just continue to be in contact and thoughtful.

It's so sad.

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GimmeDaBoobehz · 31/12/2013 19:03

I definitely will offer to go up with them. Individually or separately whether it be once a year or every day.

I honestly just feel so sad and weirdly feel guilty because I have a beautiful little girl who is healthy and when I have looked at her today feel just so sad. :(

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samsonite86 · 31/12/2013 19:03

Whilst I think of it, we got these for friend's and family on what should have been her first birthday... I wish I'd found them for the funeral to put on the grave and save some for home.

Just a thought... xx

www.alexandrasangelgifts.co.uk/funeral-special-dates/handcrafted-baby-loss-memorial-forget-me-not-seed-packs-stillbirth/baby-loss/sids/miscarriage/

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NearTheWindmill · 31/12/2013 18:55

My DS2 died sixteen and a half years ago, 27 weeks - we had him for a few hours - he was terribly ill. I am glad places like Mnet exist now; they didn't then, one just had to get on with it and be bright and accept it would all be brushed under the carpet. My mother has never discussed it since, I tried once and she said how lucky I was that I had dd 51 weeks later, many weren't so lucky. She also once told me I was lucky it worked out the way it did because it meant I didn't have a disabled, sick child to deal with. DH doesn't discuss it all.

After so many years you do come to terms with it and stops hurting in the way it did after 1, or 2 or even 5 years; I look at dd and often get a lump in my throat that had things been different, I might not - probably would not have her and that is truly unimaginable because she has become the light of my life. You never, ever truly get over it though but that doesn't mean that life can't be good again or even better than you might ever have imagined.

Be there for them OP; remember (a little card of bunch of flowers on anniversaries are wonderful and means someone else remembers them too). I go to the cemetery on anniversaries, I used to go a lot more but still at least 4/6 times a year - it does help.

God bless, take care all of you.

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sugarbunza · 31/12/2013 18:51

My friend also made a CD of cbeebes favorites for the church, it sounds strange but listening to firemansam theme tune kind of lightens a extremely difficult and alful day of you life. Its just what I did, I don't no your friends and it was a different thing to do ? X

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sugarbunza · 31/12/2013 18:46

I hope you are right. Gimmee, whatever your friend does after the funeral will be up to them they may go everyday to visit there baby like Sam or they may be like me, and find it to difficult. But please offer to tag along or go and plant blue crocuses as my bf has, whatever you do will help massively honest x

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samsonite86 · 31/12/2013 18:41

xxx

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sugarbunza · 31/12/2013 18:40

As you can read from Sam n my story's aftercare is there for a reason please look into what they offer before your friends due date. They are excellent. The Chaplin too was a god send no pun intended lol he was there everyday for us. When I took Ethan's casts of hands and feet the team were with me in the room they are vital. Yeh I really do no how you feel Sam. Just try and take each day as it comes. Anxious is not a strong enough word is it xxx

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samsonite86 · 31/12/2013 18:36

I had my counselor ask why I go to visit when we aren't religious. I said to her, if I was religious, I'd probably visit her less because I'd feel she was all around me. Obviously, she's forever in my thoughts and my heart, but up at the cemetery, that is her. That's her home.

I can't help but feel if I don't visit that I'm not being her mum. I visited her at the hospital, at the hospice and at the funeral directors, I guess for me, its just an extension of that.

I have visits where it's just too hard and I cry majorly, but they tend to be if I've not been for a while. I always feel great relief after those visits. I wonder if its more compulsion and habit and needing to go that I go rather than being ok with it.

Everyone is different though... you'll go if and when you're ready xx

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sugarbunza · 31/12/2013 18:34

Yeh I agree Sam, gimmee definetly encourage them to associated something with the baby it really helps for some reason. I'm sure your friends will do anyway. And keep baby's memory alive simple chat like bringing his name into conversation 2,3,6 years on. X

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samsonite86 · 31/12/2013 18:30

Oh Sugar, I am sorry. I actually take a lot of comfort visiting Amélie (but knew me going daily for 4months wasn't healthy) and going through her things. Some days I know it's a bad idea when it all feels too much.

Amélie was 10weeks early because I had severe pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. She then got a premature linked condition called N.E.C which took her at 9 days. The first 7 days I was in a lot of pain from the c-section but was so calm. I spent most of my days in SCBU, my doctors were annoyed as I was never on the ward come check up time - sorry, my baby is more important. I got discharged on day 6 and was distraught. On the Sunday (day 7) I knew something was wrong but they had answers for everything. early hours on mMonday we got a call saying to get to the hospital now. She was transferred to another hospital and had an op the next day but it was too late. I didn't leave her side after that call.

They made her comfortable and that's when we got to make her memory things before saying goodbye. We were even more lucky that the hospice have afterlife care and we lived at the hospice for a week with Amélie before the funeral directors took her away. Then had another week visiting her there before she was buried. Always wish we had more time but so thankful for the time we were able to have.

As for this pregnancy, I'm terrified and will be all the way through. I must remember that even if this one is early, it doesn't mean the sane outcome. I bet you've had to tell yourself that too.

Huge hugs!! So glad you're now able to enjoy your daughter with less fear.

Hate being part of this club, but I'll never stop talking about Amélie :) xx

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sugarbunza · 31/12/2013 18:26

Its so similar to eathans. Beautiful arnt they. You sound like you can deal with the grave thing well it looks beautiful. I struggle enormously with it tbh xxx I just want to leave as soon as I get there and that sounds alful. I truly wish I could feel different about it ... how do you do it Sam? Xxx

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samsonite86 · 31/12/2013 18:19

Gimme, this is the present I mentioned from some amazing friends. If you know how they were going to dec the babe's room or something they associate with the baby, then keep your eyes peeled. It's the 'just because' memory gifts that mean the most x


m.facebook.com/sam.baxter.564/albums/10150333570175793/?__user=516315792#!/photo.php?fbid=10151061885055793&id=516315792&set=a.10150333570175793.339928.516315792&source=43&__user=516315792.

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sugarbunza · 31/12/2013 18:19

Our story's and coping mechanisms sound similar. I have boxes but I've not looked in them since I packed them 3 years ago. Still too fresh for me. I was so scared when I had my daughter in February. I didn't enjoy my pregnancy at all sudden infant death syndrome has torn my world apart for too long now I'm just about moving on and my daughter is nearly 1 so I am just starting to enjoy her now. I cryed buckets when I was in hospital after I had her. I also stayed in hospital 5 days they were excellent. I didn't want to go home until 3 days had gone. I hope your pregnancy is going well and you are enjoying it more than me xx

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samsonite86 · 31/12/2013 18:14

What a beautiful mother's day idea Sugar :) x

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samsonite86 · 31/12/2013 18:13

I hope you don't mind me posting this. It's so gorgeous, I love showing it off. This is her headstone looking Christmassy (m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151778078250793&id=516315792&st=14&__user=516315792) x

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samsonite86 · 31/12/2013 18:02

I've got a few elephants and giraffes at home yes. Our very best friends bought us the most gorgeous family of 3 elephants walking, holding tails at sunset on a canvas. It's so beautiful and such a thoughtful gift. Still makes me smile everytime I look at it.
Got a few frogs too as she used to bend her legs like a frog in her SCBU incubator. Means we have little reminders around the house. I like it and as you say, it's not a shrine then.
We've got a couple of photos of her up and a hand print plate out but everything else is in memory boxes. We were so lucky that East Anglia Children's Hospice came to the hospital when we found out she wasn't going to make it - they made it possible to get silver prints for necklaces, printed plates and frames, hair, her cord, all sorts. We didn't get the casts as they said to do those after she was gone but Amélie had so much prodding, we only wanted the memory making things from when she was alive. Little memories like her squirming from the prints - the brush clearly tickled - mean the world to me. But they are safe in their boxes for when I feel I need to visit her and not just her grave. I know how lucky we are but everything is still so painful even 2 years on.

We're now expecting her baby brother or sister and I'm mixed with every emotion but know I love Amélie more than words, no one can replace her and I still think about her constantly.

Truly is a hard one to live with eh? x

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