There were so many wonderful people who came into our lives when we found out Whitney was sick. People we didn’t even know began emailing me and calling, wanting to offer their support and services. Each of these resources has their own page of information with even more links to helpful pages. If you are here looking for resources for yourself or a loved one who has received an adverse prenatal diagnosis, I HIGHLY recommend taking some time on each of these websites. I hope that you will be able to find the tools and resources you need to help make the time you have with your baby as precious as it can be. These are also excellent sources of support for healing and dealing with grief after your little one has left your arms.
Click on the icons to be directed to the websites.
Angel Babies Info- Heather, the founder of this site has become such and incredible friend and source of comfort and support to me. She started this website in honor of her little girl, Elizabeth. She has an excellent downloadable booklet {FREE} that is filled with memory-making ideas, as well as healing from the grief. This booklet also has very practical information about what to expect at delivery, and how to best prepare for that. She is also the one who sent me the beautiful, teeny tiny gown for Whitney to wear. She sent me the gown and bonnet, along with the matching mommy and baby bracelets you can see in some of my pictures. Heidi has a group of volunteers who get together periodically to make these gowns and bracelets so they have a stash ready to be shipped out whenever someone needs one. Angel Babies Info has an excellent resource page full of information.
Angel Babies of Hinds Hospice- This is a local resource for people who live around the Central Valley of California. Before Whitney was born, we met with one of their social workers who is also the founder of Angel Babies, Kathy. She was a great resource, and offered to connect us with people at the hospital to give us a personal tour before Whitney was born. Unfortunately, Whitney came early and we didn’t get to do that tour, but Kathy did call the hospital before we delivered Whitney and made sure that we had the best nurse possible for our delivery. This was such an amazing God-send... You have no idea how great our nurse was to us! Hinds Hospice also offers grief counseling and support groups to grieving parents and families.
Baby Center Community- This is a public online community group... When I first found out I was pregnant, I was eagerly looking up all things about pregnancy and came across Baby Center. I became “online friends” with several of them. Once we found out Whitney was sick, I found a whole group of women who had similar experiences. This has been such a blessing... Even though I’ve never met any of these women in person, we all have babies in heaven. They know more than anyone what it feels like to have empty arms and a broken heart. This is a great group for support. Its also a great place to read the real stories and hear from women who decided to carry despite doctors’ recommendations to terminate. If you find yourself in a situation where termination has been recommended because of an adverse prenatal diagnosis, this is a great place to go for some perspective that most doctors fail to provide. It is absolutely worth it!
String of Pearls- Laura started this website in honor of her little girl, Pearl. Laura has been an AMAZING support to me, and continues to be such a source of joy and strength to me. As soon as I contacted her, she sent me a box full of memory-making supplies... Paint, an ornament, hand and foot mold clay, a memory book, tiny hat, journal and devotional (along with a few other “mommy goodies”). This was such an amazing gesture of love. Laura’s website is beautiful and also has an extensive page of further, more detailed resources. Because Laura meets so many people through her website, she was able to connect me to another mom who lost her baby to Triploidy. This connection has turned into a kindred spirits kind of friendship and has truly been the single greatest blessing to my heart throughout this entire process!
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