Release from Grief: Introduction

Introduction

Welcome to my blog series called a Release From Grief. Let me start with that I'm NOT an English major or a perfect writer. I'm SURE you will find mistakes. Try to read the words and meaning of them and understand this isn't meant to be a famous novel. It's merely my sharing how I've found a release from my own grief. This method I know can be used beyond infant loss. I've found ways to incorporate it throughout all my lives struggles. This bit I wrote specifically with infant loss in mind.

I've had two losses myself. I'm not an expert in anything, but can share with you my experience in coping and dealing with them both. Kaitlin is our first child. I had a long difficult pregnancy with her. I was sent for emergency surgery at 20 weeks for a cerlclage (stitch around your cervix). I was also put on complete bedrest. I spent a over month in the hospital. At 29 weeks she was born 2 lbs 10oz. Her health however quickly deteriorated. She had surgery day of birth, fought infections, and ended up at a point of no hope. We choose to take her life support away and hold her. She lived for an hour on her own. Kaitlin changed our lives and made us parents. We did go on to have another child, another loss and another child. Sage is our second angel. A blighted ovum which is where the amniotic sac develops and the placenta do but the baby does not. It's my belief that a baby did form but stopped before we could see it. As the fertilized egg separated into baby and placenta/sac, the baby part stopped moving forward due to chromosome abnormalities. Just like when a baby's heart stop beating at 8 weeks gestation. My losses don't make me an expert, but they do make me experienced.

I truly hope that atleast ONE person can be helped with my words and that is my goal in writing this. I'm always here to talk at just an e-mail away.

The first part of the blog will be released starting on Sage's 2nd Anniversary on July 18th,2014. It will come out a section at time for the next few weeks every Friday.

14-18 week Tiny Diaper

 Tiny Diaper for

14-18 week Angels

Materials:

Diaper Pattern

Flannel

Ribbon (1/8 in)

Sewing Machine

Thread

Scissors

How To:

1. Print and cut out pattern from paper.
2. Lay out your flannel and trace on the diaper pattern. (You can layer your fabric and cut two out at a time). Cut out diaper. You will need two for this project.
3. Lay diaper cuts with right sides facing each other.
4. Stitch around the edge leaving a gap along the long edge of the diaper.
5. Trim around the diaper be careful not to get too close to the stitch. Don't trim gap area (can leave that whole edge alone actually, just round the corner.)
6. Turn the diaper. It will be hard trying to get it through the crotch area. Just keep working it slowly bit by bit it will eventually give.
7. Poke out the edges with a pointy tool of some kind (I like a knitting needle, but I have also used crochet hooks, kabob sticks, etc)
8. Top stitch around the outside closing the gap.
9. Stitch on a 14-16 inch piece of ribbon on the back of the diaper. (about two inches)
10. Fold and tie, you've made a diaper!

These can be donated to your local hospital as keepsakes for losses in this gestation. They could attempt to put them on the baby's as well but most of the time they are too fragile. I like to include two in the kits I made JUST in case they put one one the baby the parents still have one to take home. Add ribbon and turn them into ornaments. 

You can print out these written instructions along with a picture tutorial here 

 

64 Full Kits to Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook is a large hospital in NYC. They have about 140 losses a year between the NICU and the L&D floor. They contacted me about making a donation to them since we did one last year. Last year we only send hat kits and a few smaller full kits. This year I divided it about in half and sent out hat kits already and this is the batch of full kits :)

Alright here's the break down...

	34+ weeks 3 kits
	30-34 weeks 5 kits
	26-30 weeks 10 kits
	18-23 weeks 15 kits
	16-18 weeks 15 kits
	14-16 weeks 16 kits

This donation was made possible by some donations that came in through a few different sources... here are some of the sponsored kits as a result :) :

Can you guess how much this weighs all packaged up? 

Answer: 31lbs!