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Bereavement

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

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I'm not going to put a trigger warning. She's still my daughter and I don't need to have a warning to talk about her.

267 replies

Mybeautifullittlegirl · 03/07/2019 17:37

Sorry, I don't want to have to warn people before I talk about my daughter.

She was here, she was a person who was, and is, loved every day, and I shouldn't have to worry about talking about her in case it triggers someone. I'm fed up of worrying about other people's thoughts about my personal tragedy.

I'm having a wobble today. There's nobody around who knew her, nobody who understands what we went through, I can't talk about her because it makes other people sad.

She's a memory and some old photos to most people.

But she was my daughter. I loved her from the moment I knew she was there, until the moment she took her last breath, and every day since.

Her big dark eyes and massive fuzz of dark hair were the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

She was very poorly her whole short life, in so much pain every day. I'm struggling to deal with it more and more as time goes on. She was so delicate she never even had a proper cuddle because she would have broken.

It's been over 10 years, you would think I would feel better now, but I sometimes look at girls her age and wonder why they couldn't be her.

I look at recent cases and wonder if I should have fought more for her, I knew there was nothing they could do, but I would have had more time, and I wouldn't have had to hold her so gently as they removed the machines that kept her alive.

I keep thinking she must have felt so betrayed as I looked at her with love and pain and let her slip away. I worry she was scared but she was so little I would never have known.

I left a window open in that horrible little store cupboard where she died as the hospital had nowhere else to go that was private, I left the window open so her beautiful soul could fly high and free as she never was in her short time here.

I miss her so much.

Sorry for rambling, I have no one to talk to and just want something real that isn't a thought in my head.

Today is a struggle.

OP posts:
kitty4paws · 03/07/2019 22:36

Beautiful, beautiful Emma.
Tell us more about her please

Isleepinahedgefund · 03/07/2019 22:37

Thank you for sharing your story and your beautiful daughter OP. Just thank you.

My best friend's daughter died last year and this is exactly what she needs to know - her beautiful child is not a few photos and a fading memory.

She'll never fade from my memory and she changed my life.

Your Emma is a beautiful thing.

Ariela · 03/07/2019 22:45

I'm so sorry for your loss, Emma is beautiful.
You say I would love a photo of her without the tubes
There are clever people with Photoshop that can edit them out and create a picture of her minus the tubes. I'd suggest ask on a local Facebook page for someone local as it'll be easier to do from the actual print to get a sharp enough image - unless you have the picture digitally.

GreyHairDontCare3 · 03/07/2019 22:46

She eye rolled too Grin I love that! Emma sounds like my kinda girl

Beanosaurus · 03/07/2019 22:50

She's truly beautiful ❤️ thank you for sharing your memories of her x

MissChananderlerbong · 03/07/2019 22:53

What a beautiful baby girl Smile I dont know what you believe but I believe she's in heaven, and she knows just how loved she is by such a wonderful Mum Smile

GrassIsntGreener · 03/07/2019 22:59

What a beautiful baby girl I'm so sorry she was here for such a short time. I can sense your love and pride in her from your replies. I'm thinking of you both tonight. Thanks

Miami81 · 03/07/2019 23:18

Please accept a big non Mumsnetty hug from another bereaved parent. Your girl is absolutely gorgeous. And I can see her personality shining through from your pictures.
We have a sketch of our dd that a very talented artist did for us based on the pictures that we had. I love it and find it is less raw for me to have that picture in pride of place, but I know that at some point I may change my mind and swap it for the photographs.
I know that some pp's have suggested that you seek some counselling and if you feel that would be helpful then getting in touch with SANDS is a great idea, they have really helped us on our journey.
Thank you for posting. I sometimes wonder how best to include dd1 in our lives and I love your description of how your other kids include Emma with them. I hope that we can foster that in our family going forward and it will be because of you and your Emma that we do.

ladypenelopeplum · 03/07/2019 23:28

Emma spent the whole two weeks of her life with people caring for her and loving her, especially you. She was a very lucky little girl despite her condition.

lovetoall · 04/07/2019 00:01

I feel pain for you and her and I'm so sorry that happened. She's beautiful and she still lives on in spirit. Death is so painful especially with young and innocent people and I really am sorry. Sending you all of the love and hugs. You aren't alone in the world and neither is Emma. 💓

itscliffmas · 04/07/2019 00:49

She's beautiful ❤️

PseuDenim · 04/07/2019 00:54

You are not selfish, you are grieving in the most natural way. Emma sounds utterly beautiful and her loss must be heartbreaking. To slightly misquote Wordsworth, “I loved the girl with the utmost love my soul is capable of, and she is taken from me. But in the agony of my sprint in surrendering such a treasure, I feel a thousand times richer than if I had never possessed it.”

PseuDenim · 04/07/2019 00:55

*spirit not sprint

I’m sorry

Dillydallyingthrough · 04/07/2019 06:58

OP your daughter is so beautiful, she has the really wise eyes. Your post has brought a tear to my eye this morning, she is so loved and would have felt that love and care whilst she was physically here.

I'm sure your family and friends do remember her. I remember my niece who passed 15 years ago aged 6 weeks every day (I light a candle for her most nights). We talk about her regularly and even the younger children know how they had a sibling/cousin and how special she is. My Dsis friends never discuss her, as I think they find it awkward. If you let your family and friends know that you would like to talk about Emma, you may be surprised what they remember.

I'm glad this thread has made you feel better, please keep posting any time you need to. I will light a candle for Emma tonight as well as my niece (who knows maybe they are playing together!).

Purpleartichoke · 04/07/2019 07:18

I knew the moment I saw my daughter that the name we had picked was wrong. Her true name was so obvious. It’s a special memory for me and I’m glad it’s a special memory for you too.

fairybeagle · 04/07/2019 07:24

Thinking of you and your beautiful Emma OP Thanks

TheSassyAssassin · 04/07/2019 07:24

I will echo PPs OP and say do ask for this thread to be moved elsewhere by MNHQ if you think it will be of comfort to you. Your words about and pics of your darling daughter, are truly beautiful, as are a lot of the replies you have had, so please make sure this thread isn't deleted if you feel it will help you even in a small way in the months and years to come.

Emma will always be your gorgeous girl and you will always be her amazing mummy. Nothing will ever change that and your love for her shines out through all your posts. Sending love to you both Flowers

Morgan12 · 04/07/2019 07:30

Absolutely breaking my heart reading this.

She is so beautiful and I'm so so sorry for your loss Flowers

Motheroffourdragons · 04/07/2019 07:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on behalf of the poster.

WishingILivedOnAnIsland · 04/07/2019 08:16

OP she is beautiful and so special. She was lucky to have you and be so loved her whole life. I'm sure she knew.

ThanksThanksThanks

Mybeautifullittlegirl · 04/07/2019 09:57

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to post and acknowledge my Emma, and I'm so sorry that there are so many people who are also walking this horrendous path of being a bereaved parent.

I had a really awful day yesterday, it came out of nowhere, it wasn't her birthday or anniversary, nothing specific happened, it was just a really bad day. I posted to have something there that was real and tangible and have ended up being so overwhelmed with support and, as daft as it sounds, I feel so proud to be showing her off, I never got the chance when she was born.

There's nobody around in my life that was around when she was born, and nobody met her because she spent her whole life in intensive care so no visitors.

She never wore any clothes because she was in an incubator, but I have a blanket, and a cuddly toy that she spent the last couple of days of her life with, she wasn't really allowed to have a toy in there but they turned a blind eye when we all realised she was just too poorly for this world.

My memories of her are mostly sad ones, she had lots of tests and procedures and spent a lot of time on very strong pain medication, but there were a lot of moments of just me and her where she would try and squeeze my hand, or where she would stare at me with those beautiful eyes when I was reading to her, and I treasure all of those moments.

Thank you to everyone, today seems much brighter Flowers

OP posts:
Dragonlight · 04/07/2019 10:06

Emma is a beautiful name and I can feel your love for her shining through. You are not selfish, not at all. Your little girl sounds so beautiful.

SushiTime · 04/07/2019 10:17

Beautiful Emma ❤️

Happyandglorious · 04/07/2019 10:26

Sending love for you and Emma and for everyone else missing someone.
Hope you have a better day today.
Thank you for posting, has reminded me of all the things to be grateful for.