I know loss

I know the stabbing, breathtaking, panicking feeling of realizing your baby is gone. I’ve had the racing thoughts. The denial. Hoping to be able to wake yourself up from a terrifying dream. I have held my lifeless child in my hands. I have studied her tiny features. Turning off my phone so no one could reach me, I remember I couldn’t stand one more text message from someone saying they were sorry. I didn’t want to hear anyone’s sympathy.

All I wanted was my baby back

I felt as if something was stolen from me. Ripped out of my arms without my consent and I was left with my empty hands, reaching out needing to grasp something, anything that made sense.

Two pink lines

Lets talk about those two pink lines. Sometimes you pray for them, sometimes they surprise you, and sometimes they are terrifying. I have experienced all three! But nonetheless, when you see them, you become a mom. You see a new life, with a new spirit. Immediately, you imagine every possibility with this new beating heart. It is yours. You created sacred life within you.

Cells are multiplying, blood is flowing, and a tiny heart forms and beats life into an actual human! Your heart beats so fast you can hear it in your ears. Your hand subconciously touches your tummy and a slight smile brushes your mouth because you are going to be a mother. All as you find yourself looking harder to make sure those two pink lines are really there.

Can this be real?

Miracle, seems like an insufficient word for such an astounding series of events. Those two pink lines will change your life forever with just a glance. Is it a boy or a girl? You see yourself holding your newborn, first steps, first day of school, big hugs and tears consoled. It’s all right there, in those pink lines. It is important to understand these emotions as the mother, and as someone supporting a mother, because they are real and they are powerful. And they have got to be remembered if it ends.

When it Ends

Whether its early miscarriage, late term still birth, newborn death, or any kind of infant loss, the pain is just as real. No matter the time of the loss, remember, this mother has already seen the pink lines, experienced everything I have described. Do not discredit the emotions this mother has felt about the life inside her.

Each mother will grieve differently. As there is no right way to grieve. She will take as long as she needs to. And, that is okay. Let her hurt, let her cry, let her talk. But do not push.

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Each mother will grieve differently. As there is no right way to grieve. She will take as long as she needs to. And, that is okay. Let her hurt, let her cry, let her talk. But do not push.
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What to say

It can be difficult to know what to say to a grieving mother. So much so, that lots of people avoid saying anything at all. But it doesnt have to be that way.

Let’s first address what not to say, shall we? Some things are more hurtful than helpful. Please don’t say “Maybe it’s for the best”, “At least you know you can get pregnant”, “At least you have other children.”, “You can try again.”, “At least it happened early.” How about as a general rule, don’t start a sentence with “At least”. Don’t say “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.” Because she won’t.

Instead, let’s say, “What can I do today to help?” “I’m so sorry you are going through this.”, “I am right here whenever you need to talk about it”, “It’s okay to cry.” “I am praying for you.”, “You are important to me.”, “Your baby mattered.”

The Stigma

The world sometimes likes to discredit miscarriage because they think it’s not a real loss, or the mom can get over it easier because it wasn’t “a real baby”. This is simply not true.

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Remember the Two Pink Lines paragraph?

Women don’t need to suffer in silence. They don’t need to feel ashamed or silly about the pain that they feel. They need to feel it and they need to talk about it. There are so many support groups bringing awareness to this. Making sure that the world knows that this is a real loss of a real life, with real pain. You do not need to suffer in silence. To those that still carry the sigma, to them we can say “I hope you never have to go through this.”

The all important healing

After my loss, it took me while to want to talk about it. I felt a lot of anger and confusion. There were so many questions. I needed to feel the hurt and grieve in my own way. 

It was only after many conversations with God, that I was able to feel the heavy burden lifted from me. Suddenly, I no longer felt like I had to carry this hurt by myself. I found myself needing to talk about it. Needing to talk about her. She existed and deserved my praise. I had a great support system who listened and let me cry. Because of this, I felt her presence strongly around me, and that was very peaceful.

I wanted to do something in remberance of her. So we, as a family bought an orange tree and planted it in our back yard for her. It was a reminder that our family is forever. A reminder that we will see her again. It was a few months later that we saw a butterfly hovering endlessly around the tree. I then realised that, that day would have been her due date. And that sweet butterfly was a reminder that she is with us.

Ever since then, when we see butterflies, we say “Baby sister is here!”

I also felt very strongly that I wanted to write a children’s book to help explain to children what happens when mommy’s baby goes to heaven. My children’s book was written and published in the same year as my loss. It changed my life. I was able to start an Instagram account to share the book and also share women’s stories of loss and hope. (@too.perfect.for.this.earth) The women I have met through this have been inspiring and have helped break the silence. It has been an amazing experience.

Book information here

How to support those suffering through child loss

Say the right things. And love that momma unconditionally. If she is open to it, help her think of ways to honor and remember her baby. There are websites that will make jewelry out of your babies ashes or breastmilk. Websites that make amazing plaques or framed art with your childs name. Perhaps plant a tree and bury something of your babies with it.

Having something positive to hold, or see is very validating and healing. Pray. Pray for peace to be brought to her heart and her family. Serve. Take a meal, watch her other children, clean a bathroom, anything to help take the normal life pressures off of her while she heals and grieves. Send a card or a book to let her know she is in your thoughts

In conclusion, infant loss is a real pain that deserves the respect of understanding it. Reach out and tell your story, you never know who’s day you will brighten, or whose heart you will assist in healing. I’ll end with my favorite quote about this subject that inspired the title of my book.

“The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again.”

-Joseph Smith

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts and be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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Andrea Tao

My name is Andrea Tao. I live on the surface of the sun in southern Arizona. I have been married for 13 years and have 6 (yes 6) kids. I am a massage therapist by trade and a total hippy. Hobbies include watercolor painting, fitness, gardening and mommin hard. Pregnancy and infant loss awareness advocate. Wrote a children’s book about miscarriage a few years ago after a loss and it changed my life. Love seeing the humorous side of parenting and try to be as sarcastic as I can. Laughing my way through momhood!

The post I Know Loss – Supporting Those Suffering From Child Loss appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

I’ve been a masseuse for 14 years and I am honored to share my passion and knowledge about infant massage and its benefits. Plus, who doesn’t love grabbing handfuls of baby chub!? So, first…

Why Infant Massage?

• Promotion of bonding and attachment
• Verbal/non-verbal communication
• Development of trust
• Development of all of the sense

Infant Massage May Stimulate

• Circulatory and digestive systems
• Hormonal and immune systems
• Coordination and balance
• Learning and concentration
• Muscular development and growth
• Mind and body awareness

Parents May Find that Infant Massage Helps Relieve

• Gas and colic
• Constipation and elimination issues
• Growing pains and muscular tension
• Teething discomfort
• Cramps

The Massage Promotes Relaxation, Which May be Shown Through

• Improved sleep patterns
• Increased joint and muscle flexibility
• Regulation of behavioral states
• Being calm and a sort of self-soothing capability
• Reduction in stress hormones

How to use infant massage in your routine

Babies thrive on routine, if you haven’t already noticed. They start to get their own rythm to life with feeding, sleeping and wake time. It’s important to know when is the right time to massage your baby. If they are very tired, hungry or over-stimulated; it might not be the best time to try and massage. I like to do it right after a bath in the evening, before bed time. This lets them know that bed time is coming and, starts to help them find their night time sleep rythm. This is especially beneficial if your baby is having a hard time differentiating between day and night.

How to massage your infant

Start with your favorite lotion or baby oil, making sure your baby is not allergic to it. You may choose to use small amounts of essential oils, (I use lavender because, yum!). But, keep in mind that baby’s skin and sense of smell are very sensitive. I like to have a small space heater near by. Little babies can have a hard time regulating their body tempurature. Keep the space warm but not too hot.

• Start by warming up the lotion in your hands
• Apply lotion with palms to babies tummy, arms, legs and feet
• Work your hands in a clockwise motion around babies tummy, this helps promote digestion
• Using both hands grab around the ankle, twist and push down towards hips. Trade off hands, gently working the muscles. Use this same technique for arms.
• Using thumbs, gently massage babies feet in small circles.
• Turn baby over onto their tummy and apply lotion to the back. Work from tail bone up the spine and out towards the shoulders. Gently covering the whole back.

Above all, if baby gets fussy during the massage and you feel it is no longer beneficial; stop the massage and try again later or the next day. Baby will learn to relax right into the rythm and know that mom’s touch is loving and soothing for them. As baby grows, you can add more strokes. Be patient with it and enjoy the bonding that infant massage can bring. Now snuggle that yummy baby and breathe in that delicious lavender sweetness! Go try it!

So, what have you noticed in your baby when you are massaging?

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts and be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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Andrea Tao

My name is Andrea Tao. I live on the surface of the sun in southern Arizona. I have been married for 13 years and have 6 (yes 6) kids. I am a massage therapist by trade and a total hippy. Hobbies include watercolor painting, fitness, gardening and mommin hard. Pregnancy and infant loss awareness advocate. Wrote a children’s book about miscarriage a few years ago after a loss and it changed my life. Love seeing the humorous side of parenting and try to be as sarcastic as I can. Laughing my way through momhood!

The post Infant Massage: The Power of Touch appeared first on Breastfeeding World.