Olivia of May: Faith, the Build-A-Bear

Have you recently lost a baby?

The first person you should contact is your local SHARE representative - even if, and especially if, you have not had your baby yet. She will talk to you about what to expect, come to the hospital with you if you'd like, dress your baby in special premature-sized clothes if applicable, let you know of support group meetings and activities if you wish, and give you an over all huge helping hand. To find your local SHARE representative click here to visit The National SHARE Office's website, or call 1-800-821-6819. Also, I am here to help. I would love to talk with you. Contact me here. From there we can exchange phone numbers if you wish. Please don't go through this alone. So many people want to help.

How To Be Removed From Baby Product Mailing Lists

A letter to the following address will stop about 75% of baby related mail during the first year after a baby's death: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008. Parents who wish to have their names removed from baby product lists should write to: Direct Marketing Association, Mail Reference Service, 6 East 43rd Street, NYC, NY 10017. To remove your name from the Gerber Baby Products mailing list write to : Gerber Products, 445 State Street, Fremont, MI 48413 or call (616) 928-2000.

Other Helpful Books

"Coping With Miscarriage" by Mimi Luebbermann
"Empty Arms: Hope and Support for Those Who Have Suffered a Miscarriage, Stillbirth or Tubal Pregnancy" by Pam Vredevelt
"Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby" by Deborah L. Davis, PhD
"Grieving the Child I Never Knew" by Kathe Wunneberg
"I Can't Find a Heartbeat" by Melissa Sexson Hanson
"I’ll Hold You In Heaven Remembrance Book" by Debbie Heydrick
"Letters to Gabriel" by Karen Garver Santorum
"Miscarriage: What Every Women Needs To Know-A Positive New Approach" by Professor Lesley Regan
"Miscarriage: Women Sharing From The Heart" by Marie Allen, PhD & Shelly Marks, MS
"Pregnancy After a Loss - A Guide to Pregnancy after a Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Death" by Carol Cirulli Lanham
"Trying Again" by Ann Douglas

02 December 2007

Faith, the Build-A-Bear

Every two months we receive a newsletter from SHARE. The most recent one listed suggestions of how to honor and remember babies during the holiday season. One suggestion was to create a Build-A-Bear in memory of your baby, and include it in a holiday family photo to stand in for your baby. Doug and I decided to do this. At first we felt kinda silly being there, but it really was fun. Somehow picking out a pink and white bear made us feel like we found something we could do for Olivia as parents. Picking out pink hair bows made me tear up as I imagined putting them in Olivia's hair. It was a great idea, and we thank SHARE for the suggestion. Look for Faith on our Christmas card this year.