As I have shared the past few years, October 15th is designated as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Last year I shared some research on some statistics related to this and found the following...
-According to emedicine, the overall miscarriage rate is 15-20%. Some physicians believe this percentage may even be higher, as miscarriage can often occur before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
- Approximately 25,000 babies are stillborn each year in the United States, and according to the March of Dimes, about 19,000 babies die within the first month of life (called neonatal death).
- SIDS claims the lives of over 7000 babies each year nationally.
-According to emedicine, the overall miscarriage rate is 15-20%. Some physicians believe this percentage may even be higher, as miscarriage can often occur before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
- Approximately 25,000 babies are stillborn each year in the United States, and according to the March of Dimes, about 19,000 babies die within the first month of life (called neonatal death).
- SIDS claims the lives of over 7000 babies each year nationally.
Many, many people are affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. And if you are one of those people I want you to know this: your child matters.
So, once again this year, I would like to do a few things tomorrow, on October 15th.
First, I would like to pray for you. If you are comfortable, please feel free to share as much of or as little of your story in a comment below. Also, I would like to invite those of you reading to pray for the people who have courageously shared their stories.
Secondly, as the http://www.october15th.com/ site has announced, you are invited to light a candle on October 15th at 7pm in your time zone to create a wave of light in remembrance of the child/children that you have lost, or in honor of someone else who has lost a child thought miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death.
So, I will start...
My name is Stacy. In the fall of 2007, we lost baby #1 to a miscarriage due to triploidy discovered at 13 weeks. On October 7, 2008, we met our precious son Isaac at 8:33 am. He passed away due to complications from a series of congenital birth defects 16 minutes later. He is deeply, deeply missed and so incredibly loved. In April of this year, we lost baby #4 to a very early miscarriage.
So, once again this year, I would like to do a few things tomorrow, on October 15th.
First, I would like to pray for you. If you are comfortable, please feel free to share as much of or as little of your story in a comment below. Also, I would like to invite those of you reading to pray for the people who have courageously shared their stories.
Secondly, as the http://www.october15th.com/ site has announced, you are invited to light a candle on October 15th at 7pm in your time zone to create a wave of light in remembrance of the child/children that you have lost, or in honor of someone else who has lost a child thought miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death.
So, I will start...
My name is Stacy. In the fall of 2007, we lost baby #1 to a miscarriage due to triploidy discovered at 13 weeks. On October 7, 2008, we met our precious son Isaac at 8:33 am. He passed away due to complications from a series of congenital birth defects 16 minutes later. He is deeply, deeply missed and so incredibly loved. In April of this year, we lost baby #4 to a very early miscarriage.
27 comments:
I'm Elizabeth and I lost baby #3 early on due to a miscarriage. I never understood how so many of you felt, but I will forever love that baby and I think about s/he EVERYDAY! Praising God for the 2 healthy boys we have and another one on the way!
I'm heather. I have a beautiful 16 1/2 month old daughter through fertility. on our second attempt, we got pregnant with sextuplets. we lost one at 7 weeks, one at 8 weeks and one at 9 weeks. we were doing great with our 3, our triplets. week 14 my water broke for baby a. strong heartbeat carried through though. went on restrictions to save baby a, b and c's life. week 21 perfect ultrasound, except for baby a still had no fluid. b and c were perfect. dr's exact words. 5 days later, while going to the bathroom i noticed an umbilical cord hanging out. i screamed, my husband called 911 and 17 hours later we delivered the triplets. baby a, nathan richard, passed before delivery. baby b, malia elizabeth was born alive and lived just over an hour. baby c, anthony thomas jr was also born alive and lived just over an hour. on august 28th of this year. my heart is broken and my life is forever changed. a day doesn't go by that i don't miss them, grieve them, cry for them. please lift our family up in prayer, as i will lift yours as well.
My name is Lisa & I lost baby #1 around 11 or 12 weeks due to a miscarriage on April 5, 2006. It was a little girl & she would have had something called Turner's Syndrome (gonadal dysgenesis). We currently have 2 bouncing, energetic boys: age 4 & age 2.5. We are trying for another & have been for 6 months with no luck. It brings back a lot of the same fears of my original pregnancy & the months following of "what if we can't get pregnant again".....but I'm trusting/hoping/believing/praying God will answer my heart. Grateful for the ability to have my eyes opened to the tremendous heartache & loss that comes with not being able to conceive & losing.....but missing my lil girl often. many blessings to all who are in these circumstances.
My name is Meegs and I lost baby #1 early on. It was discovered at my NT scan.
I'd also link to send out prayers to a mama I know online (name Ruthy) who just had her second daughter, born sleeping, at 39 weeks. She is in shock and is heartbroken, and if you can send her prayers, that would be appreciated.
I'm Heather. After struggling with infertility, my husband and I were overjoyed when were blessed with a surprise pregnancy. However at 18 weeks I went into pre-term labor due to an infection and our son, Isaac, was only with us briefly before being called home to heaven. We miss Isaac terribly.
Thank you for sharing and inviting others to share.
I'm Jenn. On April 15, 2010 our fourth baby, Noah Tobias, was born sleeping at 31 weeks due to anencephaly. There will forever be one missing in our family.
I'm Tina and I lost my first baby through miscarriage at 18.5 weeks of pregnancy. Our son died from complications of carrying a ringed 18th chromosome. We also lost our 3rd baby to an early miscarriage at 5 weeks pregnant. They will never be forgotten.
Tomorrow I will light a candle for my lost babies, and for all of the women I know who have lost their children as well.
I'm Ashley,
In 2009 my husband and I lost our first child at nearly 38 weeks. I had my weekly dr appointment on the 37th week (a Wed) and everything was fine. I went in to the hospital the 3 days later because she wasn't moving..turns out she was gone and after I gave birth we found out she was gone anywhere from 24-48 hrs (I think)
She looked just like her daddy. Now, we have an almost 11 month old Claire who is getting teeth and learning how to walk!
Ella's autopsy would show that she was perfect and the blood the took from me (way TOO much!!) didn't indicate anything that would have caused her death. The doctor now thinks it was because of diabetes that my first daughter isn't with us any longer (I had a high risk dr and my regular o.b. with Claire) my regular o.b. said she'd seen women with my higher sugars have perfect healthy.ALIVE babies..she said even if I had came in the hospital a 2 days before my baby would have still died probably..I've been living with such guilt ever since for not protecting my baby girl and not being educated on the severity of diabetes
I am Jusika and we lost our second child on October 13, 2009 due to an ectopic pregnancy. We also lost the fallopian tube that day. Nearly a year later we tried again to try to elevate the pain from the surgery we ended up losing our third child on October 13, 2010 due to no heart beat.
You can read the rest of my journey on http://www.justanarizonagirl.com
My name is Lyndsey. We lost our 3rd child, it was just our second pregnancy after a very difficult twin pregnancy. Lucas Michael was born at 30 weeks. I hadn't felt him moving, went in and there was his lifeless heart on the ultrasound. I was induced over night and he was born the next day. May 25, 2011 @ 9:25 am. We long to hold our sweet boy again in Heaven. His sisters miss him so and we long for him every moment of every day.
I'm Jamie and I lost baby #1 at 10.5 weeks due to a miscarriage. It was the most heartbreaking time for my husband and I. We have an amazing and happy little 2.5 year old and we just went through an Ectopic pregnancy at 6 weeks through 8 weeks. (battle of blood work and shots). We aren't loosing faith or hope that we will have a healthy baby soon. Love, prayers, and hugs to all of us women who have suffered the saddest loss of all.
I'm Jennifer... In 2008, we lost baby #3 due to an early miscarriage. I was completely broken and felt so alone. God was faithful and brought us through that very difficult time. Praying for all the moms and families who have lost babies.
Hi, my name is Shelli and I have lost 3 babies to miscarriage and have also lost a baby to an ectopic pregnancy. Most people do not understand the pain felt when you have lost a baby to miscarriage. It is harder than I ever imagined. I do have 2 perfect children now.
My name is Christi, I have a Sweet Son, named Isaac who lives in Heaven. He is our 6th baby. His brothers and sister miss him every day!
We lost Isaac at 15 1/2 weeks due to no heart beat on July 18, 2011. I delivered him on July 21, 2011 I know my Sweet Angel is in Heaven and can't wait to see him again.
We are now pregnant with baby #7, we are only about 4 1/2 weeks along. We are praying for a healthy baby!!
I know so many mama's that have lost sweet babies through miscarriage, stillborn, and infant death. My heart breaks for them as it does for us.
I wouldn't have gotten through losing my Son, if I didn't have Faith in God. My God carried me for most of the 1st 6 weeks after losing my Son. I am forever grateful for the 15 1/2 weeks I carried my Son. I wouldn't change it for the world!
I hope you don't mind Stacy, but I am going to borrow some of your post.
I am Trisha. I gave birth to my first son on 1/5/10. He lived for 22 minutes until he went back to Jesus. I miss him every. single. day.
I'm Kristina. I lost my eight month old daughter's twin at six weeks gestation due to a subchorionic hemorrhage. She is forever missed and remembered.
I already left one comment, but would like to leave another in remembrance of Kaden, Logan, and Genevieve.
Following my daughter Isabella's birth she spent some time in the NICU. During that time we got to know a few of the families. Kaden and Logan were twins born at 26 weeks. We never met Logan, but Kaden not only shared her birthdate, but was also her NICU buddy. He met Jesus on their two-week birthday. Genevieve met Jesus just a few short weeks later.
I would love it if you would lift up their families in prayer.
I'm Nika. I saw my first baby, Lilly Grace, for the first time on the ultrasound screen on July 13, 2010, at 11 weeks. 10 hours later, I woke up in pain, thought I had to pee, and when I got to the bathroom, my baby dropped out at my feet. She lived for about 10 minutes. I got pregnant again in the winter, and on April 5, 2011, I lost her little brother, Brake Patton, at 18 weeks due to pre-term labor, about 4 hours after the doctor had dismissed my complaints about feeling contractions. Everything about him was perfect, and he lived for about 10 minutes, dying just as the medics got to us.
I am Nicole and I lost baby #1 at 20 hours old. Abigail was born 7/19/07 and passed away 7/20/07 from HLHS. We were blessed with her little brother, Oliver who was born healthy 6/18/08.
Not a day goes by that I don't miss her.
My name is Bridget and I lost my first child to a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks. I then went on to have my son Flynn who was born with a serious (fatal) genetic disorder at 37 weeks and he passed away aged 2 and a half years. During the time when Flynn was alive we had our son Bailey who was also born with the same genetic condition as his big brother. He lived for seven precious hours. I miss my babies every day. We have gone on to have a healthy baby girl through an egg donor (my sister) and she is the light in our lives.
Blessings and peace to you all xox
I'm Carly and my first born child was born on January 17, 2008 and passed away to heaven on January 26. He was born way too early due to severe preeclampsia. I love and miss Will with all of my heart. About a year later I lost my second pregnancy to early miscarriage around the 9th week. Thinking of and praying for all of our precious babies in heaven.
My name is Angie I suffered a miscarriage in Oct 2005 at 7 weeks and July 2009 at 10 weeks. I have 2 beautiful healthy boys now.
Thank you for inviting us to share and pray with you.
I'm Krystal. My husband and I lost our first pregnancy at 10 weeks, this after 4-1/2 years of infertility. I named our little scrap of a baby "Kory". We don't know what went wrong.
About four months after that baby was due, we adopted a newborn girl domestically (a total God thing!). The following year when she was 13 months old, I found out I was pregnant again. That baby boy "stuck" and is now 6. God has blessed us.
The scars of infertility and loss remain, though thankfully God, time, and our 2 living blessings have eased the worst of the pain. I long for the day I meet Kory face to face and rejoice with our Savior at the ultimate healing.
Every Mother's Day I spend much time in prayer for women who have lost or who want and haven't been given children. I want God's peace for you, too!
Prayers to all the babies who never made it to their parents arms and for the ones who could not stay in their arms.
My husband and I found out we were pregnant just 2 months after trying. Were were thrilled! At 8 weeks we went in for our first ultrasound. We could not wait to see and hear that little beating heart.....but we did not see or hear anything. Our baby was no longer viable. Measuring only 6 weeks our little one would not be in our arms due to a missed m/c. We were devastated. It was so hard and still is thinking about it. It is amazing how something so small can impact your life. Thankfully we now have a 2 year old. He was born eight weeks early on the one year anniversary of our first m/c. He is healthy and happy as can be. We are truly blessed!
Thank you so much for helping to get awareness out! You are an amazing person! I am amazed by your strength!
My name is Amber. I lost my second child at 14 weeks pregnant. We had an ultrasound at 7 weeks and everything was perfect, it's heart was beating beautifully. I went back for my 12 week ultra sound and the doctor could not find the heart beat, but told me it was no big deal I was still early. At 14 weeks I carried my sweet baby for 7 weeks with it passed away, we lost it at 8 weeks 5 day. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of the baby.
I'm Rebekah. I lost twins in an early miscarriage (7 weeks). I then lost 2 more babies to miscarriages. My son Asa was born healthy and is now 4 years old. I had another miscarriage (9 weeks). My daughter Charlotte was born healthy and is 11 months. Having 2 healthy kids dulls the pain of miscarriages, but I never forget those babies.
My name is Sarah. In December of 2010 I lost my sweet baby daughter, Beatrix Elizabeth, to a lethal birth defect. She lived for 1 hur and 47 heavenly minutes. We were gratified to see her on to her journey home.
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