[Cherish]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to be posting this I just know know where else to post..

I have a friend who misarried Wednesday night at 14 weeks, she was pregnant with identical twin boys and she had to give birth to them.

After much deliberation ( I didnt know if she'd want to see me or not) I went to visit her today and took up 2 beautiful plants for her, and gave her a big hug. I told her I didnt know if I should visit her or not, but decided I was better to visit her and be told to p*ss off than not visit her and her thinking that I didnt care.

I dont know why Im posting here really, im just really really sad for her, and she wanted this baby so much and then found out it was identical twin boys she was just so overjoyed!
I told her to make sure she comes ot me if she needs to talk, but I guess to I just want some advice from you guys, as I want to support her as much as I can.

thanks for reading I feel better(although im crying) now

[crystal]

Amber..sorry to hear about your friend. That mus be devestating for her.

I think you did the right thing. When I lost my bub I had a friend who didn't speak to me for a year. I don't know if it was because she didn't know what to say or what...but she is no longer my friend.

I think you need friends at this time and even if you are just there for her. She will talk about it when she is ready and when she needs you.

You are a good friend.

Take care

Crystal

[jomazz]

I lost a set of twins at 19 weeks and I was very greatfull to my special friend who kept in lots of contact, brought me dinners and was just so nice to me.
I don't know about your friend but I found I really wanted to talk about the experience, I want to acknowledge that they were born and they were real babies.Not all my friends and family were keen to talk about it but I was happy for someone to listen.
People just don't understand what it is like to give birth to babies to early - I hate it being called a miscarriage as you do give birth to them.
My special friend also remembered the date they were born and sent me a special card on the anniversary of their death - thats was just the best thing for me as no one remembered but her.
Sorry to go on so much

[Cherish]

Go on all you want my dear, I dont mind listening/reading

Thanks for sharing your story

[dopeydora]

jomazz,
I can totally relate to friends that acknowledge the birth of your babies. I had a 20 week girl and my best friend in the world didn't ring or come to the hospital, it totally shattered me and the people that would come over and even just sit and listen are my true friends.Even now she just refers it to "when you were in hospital" erghh
Squeekymumma I'm sure your friend appreciates everything you do...hugs to her
Bec

[alliecat]

squeakysmama - you don't need to post here for advice - you already have done the absolute best thing. But of course post for sympathy and support by all means, I hope you find what you need here

What a wonderful friend you are, to make that effort and to recognise that

I didnt know if I should visit her or not, but decided I was better to visit her and be told to p*ss off than not visit her and her thinking that I didnt care.

that is so right I am sure she will have appreciated it. And to give a lasting gift like the plants was perfect.
The only other thing I can suggest is if you keep a little note of the date they were born so you can remember the boys anniversary, and also maybe her "due date" for them, send a card or just ring her, I am sure she will appreciate it. It is nice to be remembered when you are sitll grieving and the world has moved on. Let her talk and talk and talk and just listen. xxx

[Guest_Shazld_*]

I wish I had more friends like you when I lost my Angel a few weeks ago, infact I even found some inlaw family members just couldn't face me and I understand that that is the way they dealt with there grief. I have also found a couple of my our really good online friends have gone into hiding.

Your a really good friend and you just keep doing what you are doing, cause she's going to need you.

Shazz.

[BelnBen]

Some people go into hiding or are quiet because they just don't know what to say or how to handle it.
When I delivered my tiny sleeping son Toby at 15wks 5 days one year ago this coming Sunday, my closest friends were the slowest to repsond - they just didn't know how to deal with it. Even my MIL said she'd come if I wanted etc - I told her not to wait - just come! You did the right thing.
Waiting for her to ask you to come is not the best thing to do - you did exactly what you should do - let her know you are there and if she needs you then it is done, if not, she will tell you.
I wabnted to talk about my loss a lot and so was happy for the company - just didn't get much of it.

Here's a info list thing I'd like to share with you. I just wish most of my friends had read this last year:

"If you are reading this on behalf of someone else, some advice on how to help them.
* Do let your genuine concern and caring show.
* Do be available... to listen or to help with whatever seems needed at the time.
* Do say you are sorry about what has happened and about their pain.
* Do allow them to express as much unhappiness as they are feeling and are willing to share.
* Do encourage them to be patient with themselves and not to expect too much of themselves, nor to impose any 'shoulds' on themselves.
* Do allow them to talk about their loss as much and as often as they want to.
* Do reassure them that they did everything they could and that it wasn't their fault.
* Don't let your own sense of helplessness keep you from reaching out.
* Don't avoid them because you are uncomfortable. Being avoided by friends may add pain to an already painful experience.
* Don't say that you know how they feel (unless you have experienced their loss yourself, and then you can be particularly supportive).
* Don't say 'you ought to be feeling better by now' or anything which implies judgment about their feelings.
* Don't tell them what they should feel or do.
* Don't change the subject when they mention their loss.
* Don't avoid mentioning their loss out of fear of reminding them of their pain (they won't have forgotten).
* Don't try to find something positive about the loss (eg. a moral lesson, closer family ties, etc).
* Don't point out that at least they have their other....
* Don't say that they can always have another.... (they wanted this one).
* Don't say that they should be grateful for....
* Don't make comments, which in any way suggest that the loss was their fault (there will be enough feelings of doubt and guilt already).


When we offer help to someone through this time, they are often in such shock they don't know what they need. The objectives are to encourage the venting of her grief and re-establishing her self-esteem while recognising her sorrow. Whatever the person is feeling, they deserve to have their feelings supported by the people around them.

Do's
·Contact is important. Be there if possible, but if not, ring or write. Whatever the person is feeling, they deserve to have their feelings supported by people around them.
·A hug or arm around her shoulders is comforting.
·Understand that her tears are a healthy response and should never be discouraged. Having a box of tissues handy is helpful.
·Let her do the talking. Be the passive partner who asks questions and focus on certain points to help her talk about her feelings. It is sufficient to just listen.
·Tell her how you feel about her losing the baby and how sorry you are.
·Acknowledge her pain even if you think you would not react this way in this situation.
·Ask questions about her experience, how she is really feeling and what she is thinking about.
·When you ask her partner how she is doing, don't forget to ask him how he is.
·Encourage her to be patient and not to impose 'shoulds' on herself. - grieving takes time
·Reassure them they did everything they could and it wasn't their fault - it helps alleviate their guilt.
·Grieving is a physically exhausting process and she will probably need to sleep or rest during the day. Take whatever steps necessary to give her the uninterrupted peace to do this.
·The intensity of grief fluctuates. During less tearful times a change of scenery is appreciated.
·Do something practical such as hanging up the washing/shopping or offer to take around a meal.
·Put on soothing music for her to listen to, offer a back massage, a walk on the beach. When she feels ready, take her to a movie of her choice.
·If you are seriously worried about her behaviour, seek professional advice. As a rule of thumb, as long as she is not damaging herself, another person or property, you probably don't have anything to worry about.
Don'ts
·Don't ignore her because you feel helpless or uncomfortable with grief - she will wonder if what happened to her means nothing to you.
·Don't think that miscarriage is easier to cope with than a stillbirth or neonatal death. The truth is that her baby has just died, and it doesn't really matter how pregnant she was.
·Don't be anxious or embarrassed about making her cry. It is not what you said or did that upset her, but losing the baby. By allowing her to cry, you are helping her work through the process of grief.
. Don't confuse support with "cheering her up". Grief is an enormously powerful emotion and needs releasing, not repressing.
·Don't put on a bright cheery front yourself.
·Don't be nervous and keep talking. There is nothing wrong with silence. You can share silence with a good friend.
·Don't be tempted to be judgmental in any way about her feelings or reactions. People in grief often behave out of character or inappropriately and need your unconditional support. Things will eventually return to normal and she will feel grateful that you stood by her.
·Don't have expectations about how long it should take her to recover. Losing a baby is one of life's most difficult experiences and the depth of her grief is shocking even to her.
·Don't assume there will be another pregnancy.
·Don't try to do all the housework. Although well intentioned, she needs to feel capable and useful.
·Don't minimise her loss by offering platitudes such as "you're young enough to try again", or "it was nature's way of getting rid of an imperfect baby". It is appropriate to deal with this as you would any other death.
·Don't say that "she's so lucky to have the other kids" - her pain is for this baby and other children don't take that away.
·Don't forget her children have lost a sibling, and it is natural for them to react in some way.
·Don't feel guilty if you're pregnant. Just forgive her if she's cold and withdrawn, it's her way of coping.
·Don't feel you have to keep your children away. She must go through the process of accepting others' children.
·Don't ask how she is feeling if you only do so as a social obligation as it obliges you to listen carefully to the complete answer.

Seven helpful things to say
·"I'm so sorry about your Miscarriage." These simple words mean a lot, especially if you allow the Mum or Dad to talk further, or not to talk, as they wish.
·"I know how much you wanted that baby." Here you are simply acknowledging that something precious has been lost, and opening a door to talk more.
·"It's okay to cry." - this can sound like Hollywood but it's reassuring for the Mum or Dad to know they are not being judged for their tears and sadness.
·"Can I call you back next week to see how you are doing?" Often people are sympathetic the first time, then never mention miscarriage again. You can expect the parents to still be grieving for weeks or months, so it is reassuring for them to know your support is ongoing.
·"I was wondering how you are feeling about your miscarriage now" - it's nice for them to have the opportunity to talk about their miscarriage even if it is a long time later and after a successful pregnancy as well. Parents do not forget a miscarriage.
·"I don't really know what to say." The good thing about this is that it is honest. The fact that you are available to listen is what's really important.
·"It must be so awful for you after going through those weeks of IVF treatment to have lost your baby."

Seven things not to say
·"You can always have another one" - it doesn't help much to know you can have another baby. The parents didn't just want any baby, they wanted THAT baby. Before they can think about another one they need to grieve for their lost one. They have lost their hopes and dreams as well.
·"There was probably something wrong with it - it's natures way." This may be true but it is no comfort to hear it. They want to believe it was a perfect baby, and that's who they are grieving for.
·"It's God's will" - People may or may not believe this. Whatever the case, it's still sad. You are better supporting the parents' grief than getting into theology.
·"At least you didn't know the baby - it would have been much worse if it had happened later" - it does not help to minimise and invalidate a miscarriage, it is not the length of the pregnancy, but the strength of the parents' attachment, that determines the intensity of their grief.
·"I know how you feel" - this statement can seem arrogant, even if you have miscarried yourself, as everyone reacts differently. Other losses can compound grief.
·"It wasn't really a baby yet" - that may not be how the parents see it. If it wasn't a baby what was it? To them it was real and they are grieving.
·"You're young, there's plenty of time. If you'd stop focusing on being pregnant so much it will just happen"

If in doubt, say something - anything - and be prepared to listen. Possibly the hardest thing, even harder than hearing an insensitive comment, is when people say nothing at all."

Bel

[Littlegreenfrog]

What a wonderful friend you are

[Chocolat]

Dear Amber

What you did was beautiful - I wish there were more poeple in the world like you. I'm sure your friend would have been so touched by your thoughtfulness. It's not easy when someone miscarries, especially if you haven't experienced it yourself, but you put yourself out there, and I have no doubt that you will be there for your friend in the months and years to come as she grieves for her loss.

Anne