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Jennifer Geiss
11-19-2007, 08:25 PM
hi all, sorry to be joining you. I'm a 34 yo SAHM of a beautiful 3.5 yo girl who is the best thing in the world to me. I was pregnant with baby #2, due April 4. at 19 1/2 weeks, I went into premature labor, my water broke as soon as i got to the hospital at 2:30 a.m., and my baby had a heartbeat until he was born. it was the most horrible experience I have ever had, and i miss him horribly. I've been finding some closure after holding him, after making the decision to cremate him and put his remains under a tree in the spring....but still I walk around from this week-long experience feeling a huge part of my heart has been ripped out of my chest and like I'll never be whole again. I want to have another baby so badly, and we were supposed to have the 20 week ultrasound on the afternoon of the day I miscarried. After he was born, I had to have a d&c and i'm finding myself very tired and weak. I didn't sleep for four days (more than maybe 3 hours total) and my doc prescribed Ambien for about 2 weeks, which is the only thing that is keeping me functioning and able to rest at any rate. I am trying my best to pull it together for my daughter and my family. I do have periods where I let myself grieve, usually when my dh can take our dd outside, or to the store, or whatever to give me a bit of breathing room seeing as she is about as active a child as you can imagine. never naps, doesn't much rest. she has a basic understanding of what is going on, and knows she can ask questions if she needs to but it's hard. I see her face and I know he would have looked so much like her. His eyes were still fused shut, but he had definite features, and was not quite a pound in weight. They haven't determined what (if anything) was the cause of the miscarriage, and once I accepted the fact that no matter what i thought or felt about how unfair it was and how much it devastated me, I could not change the fact of what had happened. I miss him so deeply in a way I never imagined possible. My milk came in and i stood in the shower and bawled, knowing it would never nourish my child. In addition to the loss and grieving, there is this wonderful hormonal rollercoaster I'm dealing with. My family and friends have been so very supportive and very loving, adn I have found that many women I know have gone thru miscarriages, most by 7 weeks, but one at about 39. It's been surprising to find so many women i hold in such high regard have suffered tragedies such as this, and i guess misery loves company. But, I do still feel very alone in my misery, since it's such a personal thing, I am the only mother this baby ever had.

I am trying my hardest to find positivity in this. I have decided to focus on making sure I am healthy and providing a good and welcoming space for the next baby to live in, because even though I know it's not my fault, I never was once able to shake a cold or get or feel healthy throughout the pregnancy with my son. I lost 11 lbs. the first trimester, and was never able to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Three days after my loss I was in my skinny jeans again, which isn't right. I had gained over 50 lbs. with my dd, and this time I never had health or a glow or anything,a nd I spotted from 6-13 weeks due to subchorionic hematoma. I had just turned a corner and was feeling better at the time of my loss. I am hoping once I have recovered from the d&c that my doctor will clear me and I can try to make 2008 a positive year with a fresh start, get back into yoga and meditation instead of taebo and kickboxing. I feel like I need to make my body a quiet place in mind, soul and spirit and that it hasn't been for quite a time, and really needs to be. anyways, thanks for reading this if you have gotten this far, I know it's rambling, but I am trying my best to work through the grief, loss and hormones. I hope you all are able to find light and happiness through your losses and sadness.
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Cathy
11-19-2007, 09:08 PM
Jennifer
I am so sorry that you have to join us. But on the other hand you will find that there are some wonderful people here. I lost my daughter at 37 weeks 4 1/2 months ago. The pain is still horrible and I dont think you ever get over it but I am also trying to work through it. The people here are amazing and if you read through some of the posts I am sure you will fine some words to give you strength.
And dont ever care about rambeling we do alot of that here.
Sending you a big hug
Cathy
If you ever need to talk you can PM me and I will give you my number

carissa13
11-19-2007, 10:05 PM
Jennifer ~ keep rambling, it's what we've all done to get through the really tough days. We are all here to listen. Sorry for you loss but thankful you know we are here. Praying for you to find some peace. ~ Carissa

Brooke
11-20-2007, 09:49 AM
Jennifer,

Welcome to our family. I wish I didn't have to welcome you here, but life just isn't fair sometimes. You just ramble all you want like the others have said we all do it and that is the purpose of this wonderful forum and family. We all listen and lend advise when we can. Let yourself grieve and give yourself plenty of time to do it. Life is never the same you will come to realize that you have a "new normal" way of life after the loss of a child. Good luck to you and keep your head up. With time the pain does ease and you do go forward but you will always have your son's memory with you.

Love,
Brooke-Mommy to Carter-5, Ethan-2 1/2, Caden 8 weeks, &

Jennifer Geiss
11-20-2007, 10:33 AM
thank you all, so much. i didn't expect such warmth from strangers, and it's a welcome surprise. I am so sorry to have company here, as I think it's a horrible thing to endure, but I am glad for the empathy I have found.

Last night my dh bought a nice scrapbook so we have made sure Michael isn't a pile of papers and pictures; instead we have taken the cards family and friends have given us and put them in a scrapbook, and I have pressed some of the flowers sent to us by friends. All of it has been very cathartic and the wonderful and supportive nurse we've worked with gave us a memory box with his clothes and blanket and some other stuff in it with his footprints on the inside of the box. He had my husband's feet, and now we have that print forever. every memory has been cherished and now is recorded in a meaningful way, which really helps.

Thanks again, so so much for the kind words and support.

Lyssa Sauer
11-20-2007, 05:24 PM
Jennifer I want to welcome you to our wonderful family. You will find days that all you can do is read and others you feel like you cant shut up, Its apart of healing. I am so sorry to hear of your loss, it gets eaiser but not better. I will pray for you and your family to find some peace in your hearts and a turn around for 08. Hugs Lyssa

Andrea A
11-21-2007, 07:59 PM
So very sorry for your loss, Jennifer. It's a shame any of us must go through this, I know. I'm so glad that you've gotten and started a scrapbook...very sweet thing for your dh to do! I've scrapbooked the memories of my lil' baby girl and it's helped me immensely! Many well-wishes headed your way!

Angela Parler
12-19-2007, 02:11 AM
Dear Jennifer,

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It really hits close to home for me. I too, share your pain. I lost my daughter, Faith Elizabeth, at 20 weeks, in September 2007. We have 2 other daughters (4 & 2.5 - both very busy) & I haven't really talked much about what happened & my feelings & thoughts with anyone except my husband since just after I got home from the hospital. I guess I don't know who to talk to, but then I found this forum a few weeks ago & have found it SO comforting to read others' stories and realize that I really am not alone. I haven't shared my story yet, but plan to start later this week. It's really hard right now with the holidays and all. We are in the process of starting a scrapbook too - I'm scared to start it b/c of all the emotions, but glad to hear it has helped you.

Thank you again for sharing & know my thoughts and prayers are with your & your family!

Angela

Jennifer Geiss
12-19-2007, 10:44 AM
Angela,
Thank you so much for your response. I hope you find support and comfort here as I have. I am so sorry to hear of what you're going through. It does help to start a scrapbook, and I hope it helps you when you are ready to do that. It took me a couple of weeks to get to a place where I could do that. If you ever need a shoulder, please feel free to message me or leave me an email, i'm online pretty much every day. I hope you find peace and have a good network of family and friends to help you through this difficult time. I know what it's like when you're so busy with other kids, i have one and it's hard to find the time to grieve, they don't let you wallow when you're reading them books and fixing them meals, etc. Please know you're not alone, and please take care of yourself.

Jen

ljortiz22
12-19-2007, 02:18 PM
So sorry to welcome you here, but Welcome. I lost my son exactly 2 months ago at 42 weeks 2 days. I haven't had any reasons yet, but my next appointment is Jan 4. we are here to listen and lend a shoulder to cry on. **hugs**

Jessica VV
12-19-2007, 08:31 PM
Jennifer,

I just seen your post and even though we talked via PM your story still rips at my heart. I hope that you will be able to make it to the next SAID meeting the December meeting was very nice, I met some really nice people.

Take care.

Jennifer Geiss
12-20-2007, 09:45 AM
Thank you, Jessica. I am not sure if I will make it to the next meeting or not, but thanks for thinking of me. How have you been?

ljortiz22, thank you. and I hope your appointment in January goes well. It helped me to learn that it was likely a viral infection that resulted in my loss, and there really wasn't anything I could have done differently. I cannot imagine being 42 weeks, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Every loss is terrible, but when I hear of another mom like you going twice as long as I did and suffering a loss, it just breaks my heart. may you find the peace and support you need at this awful time.