Click here for ideas on how friends and family can support a family that is dealing with the loss of their baby.

http://www.pregnancylossribbons.com/forfriendsandfamily.htm

It is a difficult time- you come home without your child and it seems like everyone around you gets back to their own lives. And then the mail starts. Little diapers in the mail. Samples of formula. Postcards welcoming your child. Milestone checklists of what your child should be doing at this stage. Each trip to the mailbox is a little ticking time bomb.

There is a way to get your name off these lists. Ask a friend or family member to help if you need it.

Contact Direct Marketing Association and request the removal of your name from any baby product mailing list. Provide your name and address. You need to request all variations of your name should be removed such as Mr & Mrs. John Doe, Mary and John Doe, Parents of Baby Doe, etc. It can take up to 90 days to take effect.

Mail inquiries to Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 282, Carmel, NY 10512 or visit https://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing to fill out an online form. 

This information is provided as a service and I can't guarantee effectiveness, but it is what was provided to me. Good luck- gentle days, emily

This list is provided as a resource. If you feel overwhelmed or beyond help PLEASE tell someone and get help. There are many excellent resources for depression or people feeling suicidal thoughts. Please do not suffer in silence. Here are some common signs of grief. They may include the following:

Physical Sensations

Tightness in chest
Tightness in throat
Oversensitivity to noise
Depersonalization
Breathlessness
Headaches
Weakness in muscles
Lack of energy
Dry mouth
Trouble swallowing
Hollowness in the stomach
sighing

Behaviors

Sleep problems
No appetite
Forgetfulness
Social withdrawals
Dreams of deceased
Avoidance of reminders
Calling out
Restless Activity
Crying
Clinging to reminders
Treasuring objects

Feelings

Sadness
Anger
Guilt
Anxiety
Loneliness
Fatigue
Helplessness
Shock
Yearning
Numbness
Relief

Thoughts

Disbelief
Confusion
Pre-occupation
Sense of presence
Hearing and seeing the deceased

How do you scrapbook a baby you never knew? Click here to get ideas on how and why to scrapbook your child.  http://www.pregnancylossribbons.com/scrapbookyourbaby.htm

Click here to read a collection of quotes. I have given credit when I knew the author. If you find I have neglected to give credit please email me and let me know. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this! (particular thanks to Jill and Tammy) http://www.pregnancylossribbons.com/quotes.htm

For our HeartSpoken vellum quotes please click on the following link http://www.pregnancylossribbons.com/heartspokenvellumquote.htm

Often it helps to know you are not alone in this journey. There are many families that have experienced the loss of a baby. These sites have message boards and chat rooms. I have found these sites very welcoming and understanding as I have traveled this journey of grief.

SHARE  http://www.nationalshareoffice.com I still go the message boards there daily- they have been an amazing support to me

Kotapress http://www.kotapress.com In particular I love the idea of continued parenting and Kara's zine she sends. Lots of ideas and a neat loss dictionary

MISS http://missfoundation.org 

Other helpful sites include:

A Small Victory http://www.asmallvictory.org Providing Loss Kits to parents of children lost through miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal loss as well as training nurses on how to properly deal with these types of loss. A Small Victory will also connect families with one on one or group counseling.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep- Sends professional photographers free of charge to take photographs of the short time you may have to hold your child

A Place To Remember http://www.aplacetoremember.com Many memory items

Angel Teddy Bears - www.angelteddybears.org provides teddy bears to family's that have experienced a loss

Little Angels Online Store- http://littleangelsonlinestore.com/

Forgotten Tears A Grandmother's Journey Through Grief-
http://www.booklocker.com/books/2081.html

To read the 1988 Presidental proclamation declaring October Awareness Month for Pregnancy and Infant Loss please clink the following link http://www.pregnancylossribbons.com/proclamation.htm

 clink here for pregnancy and infant loss statistics http://www.pregnancylossribbons.com/somestatistics.htm

click on the link for some tips on photographing your baby 

http://www.pregnancylossribbons.com/photographytips.htm

The holidays are particularly difficult after the loss of a child. I have included some ideas to help get through this time of year. I celebrate Christmas, but no doubt some of the information may suit other holidays as well.

please click here http://www.pregnancylossribbons.com/facingtheholidays.htm