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Eastenders Baby Death Storyline

1392 replies

deemented · 28/12/2010 18:30

Once again, no one can live happily ever after Sad

Ronnie's baby James, dies and she puts his body in Kat and Alfies son's crib, and steals their baby boy, Tommy.

Why oh why oh why do scriptwriters insist on portraying bereaved parents - mothers especially - as mad and deranged??? Maybe it's because they can't begin to imagine how awful the death of a child is, but really, whilst we are mad with grief, it is our own child that we want back, not someone else's stolen child. When are scriptwriters ever going to understand that?

Still, it'll be a riveting watch, no doubt.

OP posts:
shabbapinkfrog · 02/01/2011 22:07

It depends on the day, the mood and the person I am talking to as to how many children I say I have. I normally say 'I have had four lovely sons.' I dont send Xmas cards now but when I send Birthday cards I always add all my sons names.

I have dear friends in the USA who lost their twin baby boys about 35 years ago. Even to this day those boys names are added at the end of every letter they send.

shabbapinkfrog · 02/01/2011 22:11

Oh it just goes worse.....just flicking through the tv magazine for next week....

and I quote...

Tuesday nights EE - Tonight, Ronnie is panicking she'll be found out, as the midwife notices that baby 'James' is a lot smaller and doesn't have a clubfoot anymore.'

WHAT A CROCK OF SHITE!!

jugglingjo · 02/01/2011 22:11

Maybe Drewsgirl is just a young kid who's just had her first baby.

Luckily for her she's maybe never known anyone who's suffered the loss of a child.

For some reason she thinks writing a complaint letter to the BBC is a huge, big deal, which should not be attempted by ordinary mortals !

PotPourri · 02/01/2011 22:12

Thanks shabba. That's new to me. I can see that saying I've had 4 sons covers it without any need to explain as such.

TheManWhoSoldtheWorld · 02/01/2011 22:13

I have a horrible trait of trying to make other people feel comfortable. I find this negates the memory of DD.

For example we now have DS and DD2, so many people have said "Oh lovely, a gentleman's family. At first I used to correct them and then watch their horrified faces. Now, not so much, but feel horribly guilty that I am somehow not helping DD1 exist I suppose.

I love it when people that knew her talk about her.

TheManWhoSoldtheWorld · 02/01/2011 22:14

Lol habba, crock of shite indeed.Grin

TheManWhoSoldtheWorld · 02/01/2011 22:15

S

PotPourri · 02/01/2011 22:15

As if the midwife wouldn't work that out instantly and call the police. Both women would still be under the care of midwives, so they would be aware of the SIDS.

PotPourri · 02/01/2011 22:18

Something that has been bothering me since the first nasty post (saying pull yourselves together, grow up, stop being precious etc - I didn't actually see post before it was taken out). Is it not ok to say someone has lost a child? It's just that some of you were upset and saying you hadn't 'lost' them, or left them somewhere...

Secretwishescometrue · 02/01/2011 22:20

Sorry didn't mean to double post! Blush mobile interneting and pressed back page and it reposted... Sorry... Thank you to you mumsnetters for telling us a little bit about what are the right things to say, I have truly wanted to ask that before and I think so many of us will be very grateful for what you have shared. I also didn't realise a baby as old as 2 could still die of cot death. I really really didn't and I am so very very sorry this awful thing happened and your little darling Matty isn't with you anymore :(

Secretwishescometrue · 02/01/2011 22:21

Sorry didn't mean to double post! Blush mobile interneting and pressed back page and it reposted... Sorry... Thank you to you mumsnetters for telling us a little bit about what are the right things to say, I have truly wanted to ask that before and I think so many of us will be very grateful for what you have shared. I also didn't realise a baby as old as 2 could still die of cot death. I really really didn't and I am so very very sorry this awful thing happened and your little darling Matty isn't with you anymore :(

shabbapinkfrog · 02/01/2011 22:24

My nephew was 4 when Matty was killed and many people stopped his Mummy (when he was with her) and said 'Im so sorry Shabbs has lost Matty.'

My darling, darling nephew made his Mummy walk all around our local town for hours. Then he started to cry. When she asked what was wrong he said 'Im just trying to find Matty cause Auntie Shabbs has lost him.' Sad

There are times when the word 'loss' or 'lost' grate on my nerves but the poster got to us because it was a kind of 'pull yourselves together' post.

We have a wonderful 'safe haven' thread on MNet. If any of the bereaved Mums want to come and have a gab please feel free.

supernoodlesrock · 02/01/2011 22:28

Shabba - I've often wanted to read/join your thread but somehow feel too sad or just not strong enough to do it. I really want to help my dsis more than I do but I find it easier to not forget (I couldn't if I wanted to) but push the grief to the back of my mind. Is that awful? It helps me cope with day to day life and my own dc. :(

With names on cards, it's what I do for my dsis and another friend who are very open about all of their dc whereas another friend very rarely mentions her first dd so I don't. I sort of play it by ear.

TheManWhoSoldtheWorld · 02/01/2011 22:28

Ahh that's such a bittersweet story Shabba.

shabbapinkfrog · 02/01/2011 22:34

supernoodles - Smile we dont bite you know!! Well not often!!

I had pushed a lot of awful memories to the back of my mind with regards to EE storyline and my baby (Gareth) who died at 7 months. However, I have just stood in my back yard, (having a sneaky ciggie) and talking to myself about that morning -Hmm I do understand what you mean - whatever helps you to cope with it, whatever 'works' for you that is what you have to do xxxx

peterpansmum · 02/01/2011 22:35

Thanks Secretwishes.. Sadly cot deaths do occur although 40 times less likely (than in babies under 1year) in children between one and four. We believed gregor died of cot death for five months until the final post mortem results confirmed an overwhelming virus. An organisation in the US called SUDC (sudden unexplained death of children) provided us with support as have the Scottish cot death trust.

PotPourri · 02/01/2011 22:40

Thank you so much for sharing all of you, and for not taking offence at our clumsy questions. As secret said, I am sure there are more people that this will help with what to say and do.

supernoodlesrock · 02/01/2011 22:43

Thanks Shabba, I know you lot don't bite :o, I just click on ready to post and then click off as your stories bring it all back, I know this is me being really selfish but I'm trying to be honest. A part of me doesn't want to know how awful it must be for my dsis as I know how sad it makes me. I know I'm protecting myself but it also makes me a bad sister though I talk to her about him all the time, visit him on special occasions, have his photo up in my front room. It's just so bloody sad :(

TheManWhoSoldtheWorld · 02/01/2011 22:44

I kind of feel like a fraud for getting involved on EE threads like this one and the other one, I never watch EE but still am aghast at what they have done.

PotPourri · 02/01/2011 22:52

TheManWho - you're not a fraud. You're posting about the issues. Soaps touch our society, whether we watch them or not, others do. They 'inform' alot of people (heaven help us!?!). EE have abused their position. Shame on them

bringmesomeFIGGYpudding · 02/01/2011 23:12

I just wanted to say, am not an ee fan. I occasionally watch when waiting for something else to start but quite often watch it at xmas as the storylines are quite gripping and you can usually work out what is going on without having seen it for a while. This story, ridiculous and unpleasant, and makes me wonder wtf the bbc were thinking. Anyone who has been pg/ expected a child or had children would be made to feel massively uncomfortable just reading it. It then goes on to be completely ridiculous without actually tackling the issue in any sort of manner apart from shockingly poor taste.

Appalling and I will be expressing my views on the bbc website, I expect far more from them.

i am so sorry to the mn's who have lost children, I have lost a brother and my father never speaks of him, it is tragic.

CazandBelle · 02/01/2011 23:44

It is heartening to have come back to this thread and seen some people being brave enough and taking the time to ask and learn how it really is. Its good to see this direction, this is what EE could've been teaching and representing...

I've only been asked twice since belle died if I have children. My answer is clumsy at the moment because I'm so aware of making someone feel awful for asking me, but I have answered I have a DD in heaven. Belle is my firstborn and I will always count her in my total number of children, regardless of how many I go onto have. Regarding cards i would love people to give her a mention, only 3 of all our Xmas cards we had did. All others were quite frankly insensitive wishing us a wonderful Xmas. This would've been belle's first. However, other ppl didn't give us cards but gave us something in memory of belle, for example an angel decoration for the tree, that was really beautiful and thoughtful. We didn't send cards this year, but i fully intend to include belle in someway when i do sign off cards. Don't be scared to mention a child to their mother. When someone mentions or remembers belle it really does make my day.

Sorry for babbling on!

confuddledDOTcom · 02/01/2011 23:46

Potpourri, just don't try to say anything. It always comes across when someone is searching for the right thing. Don't avoid the subject either and don't try to make it better (you won't and can't). Be a friend, follow your friend's lead and be normal - not normal like nothing's happened, normal like "nothing's changed you're still my friend, I'm still here for you".

confuddledDOTcom · 03/01/2011 00:11

You can?t upset the mother, she?s already upset but it will help her to know that you?re thinking of her and her child.

Drewsgirl, as a new mum I?m assuming you?ve never held your dead child or watched their last breath leave their body? Until you have you have no idea the harm and hurt that these stories cause.

?Should people write the child's name on christmas cards, or just a little mention of them?

I often wonder, do you say you have 3 children or 2 (if one died)??

My OH sometimes writes our first baby on Christmas cards to me and I find it a little weird, maybe just a ?thinking of you? message, just really simple would be nice. Forget Christmas though, for me it?s Mother?s Day, especially as it?s also my half year angelversary!

How many children is something I?ve spent a lot of time thinking about. I have two children, I have had three children. It does hurt to think of it that way but it?s the simplest way.

BTW, don?t worry about the questions, I?m sure we can all see the intention behind them and often that?s the most important thing.

A friend of mine lost a son before birth then had a second son prematurely. When she was pregnant for the third time she had people saying ?Oh I bet you want a girl this time to even it out?? Not only did that deny her first son but as someone who had lost a baby and had to go through the ordeal of prematurity her only concern was to have a healthy live baby so she found it quite hurtful.

?Both women would still be under the care of midwives?

The same midwives at that! That thought hadn?t crossed my mind before. Another thing, did anyone notice it was the same baby? Mum said about Ronnie?s baby ?look at his ears!? so when they cut to Kat?s baby we noticed the same ear.

TheLittleRaccoon · 03/01/2011 01:24

I haven't seen EE for years.

Seriously, are they expecting people to believe that someone could swap a baby and nobody would notice?? Just how thick do they think the viewers are? Does anyone really actually still watch this shit?

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