I want to call out to any and all Mommies who are living in the Massachusetts area and close by states (CT, NY, VT, NH) who have suffered the loss of a child (miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS or unexplained death). I want to start a once a month meet-up for us all. A place to meet and share stories about our babies, bring your knitting or crocheting, read poems or stories and or share your artwork. We can drink tea & coffee, eat yummy pastries and offer each other support (etc). This would be a great way for us blogging mommies to come together to form real life relationships, real life support (not that I do not need and appreciate all the fellow blogger support, it is AMAZING). Just that it would be so great to put faces to the blogging names. If there are any of you out there who are interested please contact me.
This is just a thought right now, it depends on if you all want this too. It just seems that it would be a positive step for us all.
To get us away from our computer screens and out into the world, something that I found hard to do on my own.
***Also, I wated to ask you ALL out there if you have heard anything about LEAD and its possible connection to misscariage and stillbirth. I have recently read some information pointing to this link. We live in an old victorian home (apt.) with lead paint our basement & in the soil in the yard (med levels). Has anyone else read about this? Have you had your blood levels for LEAD tested?
All Love to you ALL!
10 comments:
I wish I did still live in MA, so I could join your group.
I'm not an expert, and I meant to respond to your gardening post sooner. I wouldn't recommend gardening in dirt with moderate levels of lead since you're looking to try to conceive again in the next year. And certainly get your water tested, as well as your self.
That said, it's unlikely you're at risk, from what I understand. I'm sure you don't eat paint chips, although perhaps there's some risk if the furnace is in the basement with the lead paint and blows dust around. Very unlikely though.
But still, for your own piece of mind, and the remote risk, it's worth checking into.
Take care
I wish I lived closer to you so we could all meet up because I'm very shy too and need a push, but I'm in Utah. I'm sorry I don't know much about lead, although I should and will be researching it too. I, too, had heard that it was only toxic if you ingested the lead paint from the old homes (painted before 1977?)...however, my sons doctor tested his blood when she found out we were rennovating our house. His levels were fine. We don't drink tap water, I'm sure you don't either. I need to learn more about soil. I have a strong feeling though that if there ever were to be any danger to babies via lead and toxins, that the damage would be done very early on in pregnancy...and not cause the stillbirth of a perfectly formed, perfectly healthy, perfectly beautiful 9 month gestated baby. Thank you for bringing this to my attention now that its spring and I was going to learn how to garden.
Many brightest blessings to you and your beautiful family.
I grew up in NYC (went to grad school, twice, in MA) but now live in Georgia... I wish I could join you as I too lost a baby back in August 2005 (mine was a miscarriage). One day when I'm back in MA I'd love to stop by -- so post if you get a group going!
Good for you for doing something to not only help you but also others! Sometimes it's a great way to further your own healing!
Hi again, Erin,
The more I think about your loss, the more I wonder if maybe you have what I have. It is a medical condition, similar to lupus, called anticardiolipin antibodies. I had NO idea I had this until I got pregnant (through routine blood work done here in Canada at the beginning of a pregnancy). This is known to lead to miscarriages and stillborn births, unfortunately (especially if it goes undetected, which it often does).
You can read more about it here:
http://www.lupus.org/education/brochures/antiphos02.html
There are links for pregnancy. If you read on, you will find more.
I am not sure if this will help you, but it may just be what you are looking for. I just had to share it with you, just in case.
Great idea with the mommy meet up! Birdie must be so proud to have such a wonderful mama!
Let me know if you want more information...I have many stories for you!
My best wishes continue to be sent your way...
Lynda,
Thank you for that info. I had a lot of blood work done when I was pregnant, I mean all the routine blood work in the begining, then for diabetes, to check if I was anemic...then after I had Birdie I had my blood drawn 3 or 4 times a day to see if I had had a seizure from toxemia (and I hadn't!).
I will ask my midwives about this though...thank you!
xo-Erin
I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. Your daughter was beautiful!
I wish I could join your group, but it is too far away.
Rachel
Hi Erin. I would LOVE to come along but I am down here in Oz. I hope you hook up with some of the other mums though. Maybe look through my list of SB mums and see where they all live and write to them directly (Just a thought). I remember some of them live in NY... and the Lead thing. Yes I knew about that becuase I'm a painter/ar.tist and unfortunately use paints that I think are too toxic to be compatible with pregnancy. Some have lead and other minerals in them. I have completely stopped painting with oils for this entire pregnancy in the hope it will make a difference.
Anyway, thinking fo you and hoping you are having more good days than bad. xClare
Happy to help, Erin!
I wish I would have "known" you before this happened to you and Birdie.
Your doctor would also be a good source of information about this not-very-well-known disease.
Lupus hides and is hard to diagnose, so you just never know. It can also lay dormant and not always show up in blood work (sort of like being in remission).
Many women who are diagnosed, take a daily baby aspirin throughout most of their pregnancy to keep blood thin to the placenta.
However, do not do this unless you have been advised by a specialist.
Deliveries are considered "high risk" and must be hospital deliveries. Often the mother is induced a few days before her due date, as the longer the gestational period, the greater the chance for a stillbirth.
Still caring, from way up here, up North...
P.S.
Just to explain...
I wish I would have known you because I constantly let new mothers know my story so that they can get checked for lupus, etc.
You are nominated for a Thinking Blogger Award.
Post a Comment