Eastenders Baby Death Storyline

[deemented]

Once again, no one can live happily ever after

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.

Morning all.

Not showered or eaten yet, as have had to re site DS's feeding tube, and DH has had to take DD out.

But I have had a wee (MrsDeVere, that was just for you!)

TheMan - I'm one of the Brave Babes and a LIGHTer lady.

'Not being a bitch' was meant as I'm not being a bitch because I don't 'know' your name.

Whereas I recognise lots of other posters on here

Right, breakfast and a shower. Back soon.

Good news is that MN have a meeting with the Beeb on Weds to discuss this issue!!

Yes, I saw that too. Are you going to go dee?

I would have loved to, but it's DS3's first birthday, as well as my birthday that day, and i don't want to be away from the others or manshape as we're having a little party for DS3. Plus finances are a bit tight - have you seen how much return train fare is to London nowadays?

I know re the train fare! Madness. It's my birthday on Friday. All the best people are born in January you know

I hope DS3 has a lovely first birthday. So exciting, DS's first birthday was such a huge milestone for us after all he'd been through.

Have a wonderful time x

Well done ladies! They will talk a lot of generic tosh, they will say we are getting hysterical over a story which isn't "real" they will say no one would possible believe any normal bereaved mother would behave as Ronnie did etc etc etc and they will try to play the caring we want to raise awareness line but I'm quite sure Justine or any of the strong women we've been privileged to share this thread with won't be taking a pat on the head and "aren't we wonderful in the BBC that we care so much to give you five minutes of our time" yes it is tv but bloody hell they have gone too far and we will give them a headache about it! I don't believe they will do anything to cut this story short, they couldn't possibly risk their precious ratings falling a week or two early... They will talk so much crap as they already are! But I still bet there's been some ass kicking behind the scenes... As for the actors/actresses who had to do this story I don't hold anything against them and I'm sure they would love to give us their real feelings about it but can't...

I was wondering if Samantha Womack has read any of these threads?

Poor woman. I wish the media would leave her alone. No-one that I know of or have seen on her has a problem with her, just the storyline.

I would but then I'm nosy. Again everyone has been singing her praises, she made it very clear from the start that she was worried about the story. I'm surprised Jessie Wallace has kept quiet though, not in an accusing way but it would be interesting to hear her thoughts. I have a lot of time for her.

Mouseface I agree with you about Samantha Womack. I still cant believe that some idiot called her a "murdering " in the street in front of her children! How bad is that on so many levels - firstly shes an actress playing a part - the character of Ronnie Branning. And secondly her character hasnt murdered anyone - her character has suffered the tragedy of a cot death, appaling!

How can these people not tell the difference between fact and fiction? And regardless of what some people think of the storyline - her character is still a grieving Mum in the show and hasnt murdered anyone, or is that what some poeple think of cot death!

Completely agree with you all, I find it hard to understand that people can't differentiate between her being paid as an actress and her character.

I also agree about how strange it is that Jessie Wallace hasn't been seen. I would have thought at least, that the BBC would be wheeling her out for her say. Maybe this also speaks volumes? Considering she is under contract.

Mouseface, I do recognise your name, but have never been involved in either of those threads

HTheMan - well now you know where to find me if you want to cut down/quit the booze or even the cake and cheese!

The other thing about Samantha Womack is, even though she quit the show in November, she has to work six month's notice.

So that means whatever they write for her character, she has to do.

None of this is her fault. Someone has said just how powerful and heart wrenching 'Kat's' performance was last night.

Just reading what she did in the show made me cry. I just can't belive that the writers are putting 'Ronnie' and 'Kat' through such horrific grief. And their families too.

?H? Not sure where that came from.

Jessie Wallace was amazing last might, I do realise that some people wont have watched it. It was powerful and raw and heartbreaking, as a Mum I dont ever want to feel what she is portraying on screen and my heart goes out to all the Mums who have had to.

I know its not quite the same but my Dad died when I was 18 and I remember seeing my Gran (his Mum) at the funeral and hearing her sobbing to someone "its not right, your children arent meant to die before you". He was 42 and still her child, and shes right.

That's what they want from us though isn't it? They want us to cry, be shocked and talk about it... They don't give a Damn it actually effects people in a true sence not just in a "oh I had a good ol cry at that soppy movie wasn't it great" its just not the same when they are mixing a (yes I know fictional) mothers grief and a baby swap... It just turns my stomach in knots thinking of it and yes I know IT'S NOT REAL! But its still harrowing and a stupid sensational over board story that they just did not give a flying F who would be hurt over it. Including their own actress!

I do also wonder what Jessie Wallace thinks of it? Iv not watched but iv heard she has done herself proud with her acting of it. It must have been truly awful for her I hope she or none of them ever experience anything like it in real life. What you ladies who have lost your children have gone through is hell in no uncertain terms and words seem so nothing when it comes to it, but I'm sure it was rotten acting it. It would be interesting to know what they all really thought if they were allowed to say that is...

This is taken from the Journal for General Practitioners. Link here

It is old (1985) and therefore likely to be outdated in the extreme, but perhaps shows that the BBC are lazy with research, rather than not bothered with researching a storyline at all.

The article is entitled "Cot Death: The Aftermath"

"A frightening feeling experienced by all the mothers interviewed by the author was the urge to 'baby snatch' other children from prams when they were out shopping or visiting friends. Mothers describe the intense urge to hold another living
child, yet fear the adverse publicity involved."

Hmmm. That link doesn't work. It was a pdf of an article.

"A frightening feeling experienced by all the mothers interviewed by the author was the urge to 'baby snatch' other children from prams when they were out shopping or visiting friends. Mothers describe the intense urge to hold another living
child, yet fear the adverse publicity involved."

Can any one of you, as bereaved mothers/fathers say that you felt like that?

Not picking on you EvilTwins

Nothing could be further from my mind. The last thing I wanted was someone else's babies.

My boys were gone. I was in a private room, away from the maternity ward, I had a nurse with me after I can back from theatre as I sat crying, along with DH.

Not once did I think, 'I'll just pop over the way to the maternity ward and find three baby boys'

NOT ONCE!

I never thought when out, 'oh that baby will do, and that one, and erm, that one'

I honestly cannot believe that anyone would think that way. Or even not think that way but act like 'Ronnie' did and NOT undo what she had done, once the realisation hit her.

Sorry but it's ratings and publicity stunts. And utterly farcical.

Sorry for typos - shattered today

I dont know if this has been mentioned already and Im sorry if it has but is it just me that thinks it's a bit wrong to have a massive EASTENDERS picture on the front page of mumsnet? Just seems like a HUGE amount of free publicity for them, no?

Hmm, good point TheUnmentioned

Maybe it's to draw attention to the letter of complaint and views on here?

I don't think MNHQ would want to give anything free to EE currently, other than a piece of thier minds!

Mouseface - Im so very sorry for your loss and cant even begin to imagine the pain and the grief. I dont know your personal circumstances but I hope that you manage your pain in the best way you can and are able to find some sort of peace and happiness in your life - you will always be your boys Mum, no-one, or passage of time can take that away from you.

Newgolddream - Thank you for your kind words. It was 5 years ago last September but they are still with me IYSWIM?

Hard to describe really. Some days, I can feel them next to me. It seems odd to see that in black and white but I'm trying to be honest.

When people ask how many children I have, I say two. For a while after the boys died, I said four and quickly corrected myself

But only because the boys aren't 'here'. Most people can't cope with you telling them about the death of a child, late miscarriage etc...

It's too horrific for them to handle unless they have experienced losses themselves.

I have no idea why. Losing a child isn't catching. Yet there is such a stigma attached to it, even today.

'Shhhhh, there's that women who's baby/babies died' accompanied by a feeble smile because no-one wants to upset you or knows what to say.

I get that, and I suppose I may be the same in their shoes.

Not sure where all that came from, sorry.

I've followed this thread from the beginning, may have posted in the early days but just wanted to let those bereaved on it know how much I support them and how brave I've found them, if I had an ounce of your dignity I'd be a much better person

Just wanted to post now as I have been on another thread re Mumsnet, censorship, Eastenders etc and have found it so frustrating, hurtful on your behalf. Two of my granny's children died at birth (she had ten), she is still alive, 98, but suffers from dementia, I see quite a lot of her, sometimes she has moments of lucidity and talks about all her children and the pain she still feels about those that didn't survive. Her sense of loss has never lessened and I'm glad she has never watched a minute of Eastenders.

Anyway just wanted to add my voice, hope I don't sound too wanky lickey arsey. Good luck and thinking of your children.