Today it is 17 years since our twin sons Alex and Ian were stillborn. It is still sad and painful to think about it, to wonder what they would be like today if they were alive. So I will end my reflections here and share with you articles about others' experiences and their words of wisdom on stillbirth and grief.
'Manifestation of worst fear': They lost a child to stillbirth. No one knew what to say, by David Oliver in USA Today, 18 December 2023.
Twin oaks in the hedgerows: Gypsy child burial tradition (referring to gypsy tradition that when their children die they are buried with an acorn in each hand) by Beck Hemsley in Our Warickshire.
When my doctor couldn't save my pregnancy he did the next best thing, by Ranjana Srivastava in in The Guardian 17 January 2024.
Six Things Everyone Needs to Know About Stillbirths by Sydney Burrows in the University of Rochester Medical Centre Newsroom, 1 March 2024.
Stillbirth rates remain unchanged for 20 years — and data delays are hurting families, experts say by Bethanie Alderson in ABC News on 19 April 2024.
My twin babies didn’t survive their premature birth – and I’m left to wonder why (women of colour), by Sara Mussa in The Guardian, 22 April 2024.
Attending my friends' stillborn baby's funeral was a privilege I won't forget by Ben Millington, in ABC News 10 July 2024.
'I've found my babies' graves 67 years on, by Suzanne Hailey in BBC News, 23 July 2024
First Nations women are at greater risk of stillbirth. Here’s why – and what we can do about it, by Deanna Stuart-Butler, Aleena Wojcieszek, Sarah Graham, Valerie Ah Chee, Vicki Flenady in The Conversation, 1 August, 2024.
The grief of childlessness on Fathers Day, by on ABC News, 30 August 2024.
How tattoos became the ultimate conversation starter about miscarriage by Frances Howe in The Age, 2 September 2024.
A moment that changed me: My miscarriages were devastating – but an orca gave me comfort and hope by Zeynep Gurtin in The Guardian on 30 October 2024.
Alex and Ian are so loved. I'm sending you long-distance hugs, Johanna.
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ReplyDeleteJohanna this is my third trip to this post. There really are no words for this, because they will never heal a mother's heart. Personally I do not know a woman not affected by this sort of personal history. I now have a lovely grandson who is a rainbow baby (here in the US a rainbow baby is the first successful birth after a loss) and I am a surviving twin, myself. May you continue find light and care in all you do. I have no doubt you have many thinking of you and your babies.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how it must feel to have gone through this, and I can only say thank you for posting these resources for me and others to learn more.
ReplyDeleteThank you for inviting us to remember Alex and Ian with you here each year. I feel as if the conversation around stillbirth and grief has gradually expanded over time and really appreciate the resources that you share.
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