Infertility, Pregnancy Loss & Grief Resources

I'm an information hound, and nothing has prompted that search for knowledge (or for someone who just gets it) than having lost a pregnancy (or three).

Here's my top list of resources that helped me heal, helped me grieve, and helped me find hope again.


ONLINE RESOURCES:

If you'd like to find me on Facebook, search for "the lewis note" group. I make sure to update all of my posts on that group. Request to join on FB, and I'll be sure to add you.

www.pregnancyloss.info (A great resource for any kind of pregnancy loss. The "Baby Dust" book is also a good read, although there is one chapter that talks about aborting a baby that is incompatible with life. Just to give you a heads up.)

Still Standing Magazine (http://stillstandingmag.com/)

www.mend.org:  MEND (mommies enduring neonatal death) is the infant and pregnancy loss support group I'm an assistant for. We have monthly meetings across a few different states, as well as a Christmas Candlelight Ceremony each December. For those of you who are local, I hold pampering spa nights that are like an informal MEND meeting -- just coupled with food and footsoaks. I highly recommend you sign up for MEND's FREE newsletter. Go to www.mend.org for more information.

 www.stirrup-queens.com A helpful blog on infertility, pregnancy loss, and more.

VIDEO
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Z0IrXDGVA  Video that you really just HAVE to watch. 2 years later, and I still cry. (Good tears though.)


BOOKS

"I Will Carry You" by Angie Smith
"Where is God When it Hurts" by Phillip Yancey
"A Grief Disguised" by Jerry Sittser
"What Was Lost" by Elise Erikson Barrett
"Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow" and "Holding On to Hope" by Nancy Guthrie


SONGS
"When a Heart Breaks" by Ben Rector
"Who You Are" by JJ Heller
"Restless" by Audrey Assad
"You're Not Alone" by Meredith Andrews


MEMORIAL JEWELRY

Mama B's Sweet Peas are handcrafted, custom creations by my dear, dear friend Stevie Ballinger. She uses sterling silver wire and high-quality pearls. Most mamas choose their children's birth month colors, though you are only limited by your imagination as to what your Sweet Pea looks like. 

 

Stevie offers Angel (or Loss) Peas -- smaller beads that can go on the top or bottom of a pod -- to give you something tangible to represent the babies who are in your heart. I LOVE wearing mine! And I get so many compliments on it!

 

She will be offering a special discount to readers of my blog, 25% off at checkout when you enter coupon code LEWISNOTE, good through Mother's Day, May 10, 2014.  Thank you for supporting her business.  She, too, is a Loss Mama.  You can read her story here.

 

(http://www.mamabssweetpeas.com/, www.facebook.com/mamabssweetpeas).

 

BEREAVEMENT CLOTHING FOR BABIES

 Teeny Tears

Teeny Tears is a non-profit organization of diapering volunteers that is centrally coordinated. Our volunteers collaborate together to provide tiny flannel bereavement diapers to hospitals and bereavement support organizations at no charge for families that have suffered the loss of a preemie or micropreemie child through stillbirth or NICU loss. Project launched November 2011 in loving memory of Dex J Bradshaw.

http://www.teenytears.blogspot.com/

Angel Outfitters
Angel Outfitters, a division of Teeny Tears, is a non-profit volunteer service organization dedicated to providing much-needed appropriately sized, easy to use clothing to hospitals and bereavement support organizations, at no charge, for families who have suffered the loss of a child through pregnancy or premature infant loss.

Because, "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." -- AA Milne

Project launched in October 2012, in loving memory of Lily.

http://www.angeloutfitters.blogspot.com/