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Have you noticed things got a whole lot prettier around here recently? That's thanks to Franchesca, mom to Jenna Belle and owner/creator of Small Bird Studio! Franchesca generously donated a blog makeover, and I'm just loving the new look! :) In addition to super awesome and affordable blog makeovers (she also did my personal blog), Franchesca also does beautiful custom art pieces, and more. Make sure to check out her site when you have a sec!
And now, the giveaway!
Tina, the face behind Mama Mia Custom Hand-Stamped Jewelry, has generously offered to donate a $30 gift certificate to her wonderful shop. Tina is a babyloss mom herself, as her precious twins Sofia and Ellie were born too early on April 25th, 2009. She blogs about them here (and hopefully she'll submit her story to this site soon too, right?! ;))
Here are a couple of examples of her beautiful work:
Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope is all about spreading awareness and letting those suffering from pregnancy/infant loss know that they are not alone. So, this giveaway is all about spreading the message and getting the word out about this new site.
Here's how to enter. Please leave a comment for each that you do:
- Grab the Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope button and put it up on your own blog or website. You can get it off the right-hand side of the main page; just copy the code and paste it into a new HTML "gadget" on your blog
- Share the link to this site on an online pregnancy/loss support forum you belong to (Babycenter, the Bump, Justmommies, etc)
- Share an idea of how we can get the word out to more people (especially those not already active in blogland.)
- Leave a suggestion on how we can improve this site (it really is a work in progress!)
The winner of the $30 Mama Mia gift certificate will be announced on Monday morning!
I hope to be able to do lots of giveaways here. Because they're super fun, and because I know something as small as winning a little blog giveaway can totally make the day/week of a babyloss mama :) If you have an idea for a contest, or are interested in donating something for a future giveaway, please let me know.
Thanks everyone, and thanks Tina for donating such a wonderful prize!
Xoxo,
Kristin (and the rest of the Faces Team)
Posts
70 comments:
Posted button in my sidebar!
Posted button on my blog too! :)
The blog link is posted on my site and blog
Posted that sweet button right there on my blog!!! Thanks for the opportunity! P.S. I am working on my story to submit to the blog, but I haven't gotten it to you yet!!
I posted the button to my blog!
I actually shared the link on my SIDS board several days ago:
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a23577285/faces_of_loss_faces_of_hope
I think I found this blog on daily strength maybe? But I'm going to post it there again. I'm also going to grab the linkie!
I grabbed the button!!
Grabbed the button...love it! I work at a hospital in town that was not the facility where I gave birth. I've been talking with them about how to improve the bereavement support offered at our hospital & they're changing a lot of things. One of the suggestions I had was a list of websites that are helpful to parents going through baby loss & they're planning to list this blog on there! If everyone contacted the hospital they delivered at about handing out a resource like this it would get the word out to BLM that may really, really need that support & to know they are not alone.
Grabbed the button. The jewelry is lovely!
I grabbed the button and I planned to do this anyway- even with out the giveaway. I think what you are doing here is so great and I will definately spread the word! Don't get me wrong...I'd still love to win! =)
Grabbed the button and added to my blog!
I have grabbed the button.
I have also shared the site with my facebook friends. (I'm not on any forums)
A way to get the word out: maybe contact different women's magazines (pregnancy, family, etc) and see if they would do an article to help break the silence and taboo of this loss. I see countless magazines with unimportant, mundane articles and something like this would apply to and touch so many women and show them there are many websites that are helpful and supportive.
Improvements: I love the site, but since you asked, maybe a monthly (or weekly) update with previous faces of loss. Something to tell others how they are coping, what is happening, any advice, what they've learned, if they've channeled their grief into any projects, etc. It might be inspiring to those brand new in their grief that feel like they will never get out.
I created a post at BBC Miscarriage, Stillbirth, Infant Loss group linking here.
Just posted the link on BBC group Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support for every phase: http://community.babycenter.com/post/a23712243/faces_of_loss_faces_of_hope
I also posted this on my NILMDTS board right after the blog was started:
http://www.nowisleep.com/showthread.php?12018-Faces-of-Loss-Faces-of-Hope
I posted it on my Facebook page! I was only given a few things at the hospital about grief and loss, including a group that meets once a month at the hospital. We were never informed about NILMDTS. I was disappointed when I found out they did that. I would have liked some better pictures of Alexis. The ones the hospital did are all dark. I am actually thinking about having them retouched for me.
April meri_0427@yahoo.com
I grabbed a button and placed it on my blog! I also created a post on 2 different CafeMom Miscarriage groups! And I plan to post on my Facebook aswell!
Button added to my blog!
You guys are doing great...thanks for all you do.
Button grabbed!
I posted this on my facebook status message as well as my notes. I also posted this on bbc in my journal. I put the link and the button on all of them.
I posted on facebook as well!
I added the button to my blog (angelbabyleila.blogspot.com)
Posted and added all the above. I can't think of any ideas to improve the site. It's pretty awesome the way it is. As for getting the word out to others, I'm in contact with my local hospital to see if they offer anything for mothers who have suffered a loss. Not surprising they don't really have anything to help. I have a meeting set up with one of the admins for the NICU to see if she has any suggestions to help start up a support group.
Maybe you can make a postcard or flier or something for the blog and see if the hospitals in your area will put them in those "grief packets" they give to parents who've just had a loss...then we can all get some printed and try hospitals in our area as well.
I added the button to my blog.
I placed the button on my blog: In Dylan's Memory
Before I was active in blogland, I think a great resource that got me "connected" was the hospital perinatal loss group. I don't know if there's a way to contact such a group to have your link added, but its just a suggestion as far as getting the word out.
I think the site is already amazing and already makes me feel like part of a community. I love the new look, and I'm not sure that it needs improvement! :)
I like what Kalialani said. My husband and I said we wanted to help continue the boxes the hospital gives out and to make sure each family comes home with a bear to help ease the empty arms.
I would be willing to print out the cards to give to staff at the hospital, for them to give out.
When I go to the next meeting, I am going to tell them about this blog. Maybe they can help get this information out there!
April meri_0427@yahoo.com
just grabbed the button. love the new look!
i have posted my story on my blog w/ a link back to this site, and have submitted the site to numerous blog 'catalog' sites.
suggestion: I think a listing of 'helpful' sites, and/or links for mom's would be neat, maybe under the blogroll. I mean, most of us know the main grief/baby lost sites, but it can never hurt to have them listed out in one place.
and as for getting the word out - i think you will have to encourage each person who submits a story to include it in their blog and link back to the site. i think that most people stumble around in blog land until they find someone similar to them, and then start reading and clicking away.
I added the button to my blog! thanks!
Added the button to my blog.
I added the button to my blog!
On the SHARE website there is a list of blogs, can you get listed there?
Gonna add the button on my blog now... Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Added button on my blog :)
Shared your link on the loss bord at mdc
To get to parents that are not active in blogland or online I think you should have a little flyer, maybe like a postcard or something that will be at places these parents come in contact with. Like NILMDTS or hospitals or mortuaries. Some hospitals are better equipped for situations like this and have photographers and such. Some like mine just had a program to give me a hand made blanket. While I treasure the blanket I wish I had photos of my baby. I wish I got some sort of packet of info like resources and more importantly blogs like this where I can connect with others. Blogs are probably the last thing on the minds of medical staff so if someone made a directory and included it in the package that may reach more people.
I grabbed the Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope button for my blog.
just posted button to my side bar :)
I think a flyer or postcard, even something that we can print out from the blog, to hand out would be great. A lot of us go to support groups or get together with other baby-loss families and can share the site. It's a beautiful site.
One suggestion I have is to include a photo, if available of the baby/babies who died. I understand not everyone wants these photos out but I love to see the face of my angel and I like to see those others as well
have you thought about tshirts?
posted the link to faces of loss on a pregnancy & infant loss page I am a member of on facebook.
i absolutely love this sight, and the new makeover. i say leave it as it is!! :)
This isn't an online group, but I think it fulfills the task of reaching out to others who have lost babies and aren't involved in blogland. My husband and I are attending seminary right now. It's a lot of young couples and families. There are TONS of pregnant women and young children. Just statistically, I know that there must be families on our campus who deal with infertility or babyloss, but no one reaches out to or acknowledges them. I am going to be sharing information about this group in our weekly online announcements, as well as on campus billboards and such, once school starts in a few weeks. (During the summer months, they don't send out the online annoucements).
As far as improving the site, I think that it would be neat if the blogroll page included each person's picture next to their blog. Otherwise/also, I think it would be cool if the gallery of faces page had our photos divided by subject/experience as well, similar to the blogroll page. That way, people who have experienced the same type of loss can see photos of others who have experienced that. I think that would be another neat way to put a face to this pain. I know it would be quite touching for me personally to be able to see all the face of first trimester loss grouped together; it would be another way to feel connected to others who have experienced the same type of loss.
I also posted a link to the blog on a facebook group...MiscarriageHelp.com- Support After Miscarriage!
I included everything in one post above without reading carefully first :) So I will reiterate the remaining 3.
I have also shared the site with my facebook friends. (I'm not on any forums)
A way to get the word out: maybe contact different women's magazines (pregnancy, family, etc) and see if they would do an article to help break the silence and taboo of this loss. I see countless magazines with unimportant, mundane articles and something like this would apply to and touch so many women and show them there are many websites that are helpful and supportive.
Improvements: I love the site, but since you asked, maybe a monthly (or weekly) update with previous faces of loss. Something to tell others how they are coping, what is happening, any advice, what they've learned, if they've channeled their grief into any projects, etc. It might be inspiring to those brand new in their grief that feel like they will never get out.
Wow! I got slammed on BBC for posting about this bog. Says...
"By: mominterrupted,
is against community guidelines to ask people to submitt stories for another site."
I didn't know anything about that rule. Just thought I'd let you know.
I do not have a blog so I posted the link on my facebook:) Thank you
shared the link
grabbed the button
I added your button on my blog.
I shared the link with The Bump message board :)
I love the idea of having a postcard or flier that hospital's can put in their bereavement packets. You can even have angel mom's that volunteer in their area and work with their local hospital to raise awareness. And that way one person isn't in charge of spreading the flier's to all the different hospitals.
As far as improving the site, I love the new changes y'all have made. I love the new search button that lets you search for mommies that have similar losses. It is a lot more user friendly and less cluttered then having a list you have to search through.
Maybe you could do an angel mommy of the week or month, where they could do a short q&a just to see what they have done to honor their baby. I think that would be very inspiring.
I add your button to my blog!!
I think the flier/post card idea would be great! And I would absolutley do it in my area!
Just ran across your site for the first time. I'm the Mom to an angel who was born and grew his wings almost 2 years ago. Thank you for your beautiful site and remembering all our children. I don't blog and not active in any forums, otherwise I would definitely grab the button and share.
I posted the link for a beautiful bunch of girls that are on TTC after loss. Hopefully they will be coming to write up their story.
I also posted the link on Facebook.
I post the link the 3 sites. my blog, BBC and my FB account.
Also I think if everyone post the link or their story link to heir sites te ord is going to spread.
I read this and laughed because I had already done most of this :)
I grabbed both buttons they are one my blog:
http://survivingmiscarriages.blogspot.com/
I also already posted this on a forum.
http://americanpregnancy.org/forums/showthread.php?t=274237
not sure if you will be able to view the thread unless you have a login. But I posted it :)
I think that a good way to get this site out to the public is talking to pregnancy magazines. Encouraging others to talk to their friends on Facebook because SO many people are on Facebook :)
Lastly something to improve....
I think the site is amazing and maybe you will already be doing this in the future but having an area where people can share the stories of hope and you can read those also. Or stories where people who have had losses then tell about a successful pregnancy.
LOVE THE SITE THOUGH! So MUCH!
I added the button on my site :)
I think one of the best ways to start getting the word out, away from online media resources, is to create a tri-fold brochure that can be sent with business cards to pass out to different social workers in the Nation. I know when we lost our son, we were visited more than once by social workers that were offering their services as well as information for local support groups. I'm sure many would be happy to pass along the information. And sadly, funeral homes are anxious and willing to help. Having the information available at churches would also be helpful to many I'm sure.
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