Olivia of May: rainbow baby

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

09 September 2010

That's Strange

We have adopted a baby girl. Twice now I've called her Livy. That's strange. I'm sure it's just an oopsie like when my momma would call me by one of my sister's names. But it felt like a slap in the face each time I heard myself do it. That's strange. My husband's done it twice now, that I've heard, too. That's strange. I guess she's just on our minds. Having this baby girl reminds us of what we never got to have with Olivia.

22 March 2009

Rainbow Baby

A Rainbow Baby is one who comes after the storm of pregnancy loss. The loss is the storm, not the baby lost.

Livy's little brother arrived safely three weeks ago. We're sure that Olivia helped him along the way. He beat all the odds against him being conceived and gestating, and made it through having the cord wrapped around his neck and meconium in his bag of waters before birth.

Miracles do happen. Here's ours:

Thank you, Olivia, for being his guardian angel. We love you and miss you being here on earth with us.