Maggie

Mom to Caris AnnaBelle Tate

January 30th, 2011 - February 5th, 2011

Newport News, Virginia

I had the best pregnancy of anyone I have ever met. I never had any morning sickness, I didn't gain a lot of weight, I always took my vitamins, I saw my doctor a couple times a month... the only issue my husband and I thought we may be facing is possible Down Syndrome, which was mentioned at our 20-week ultrasound. While that came as a huge blow to us (I cried every night for Caris, praying that if she did have Down Syndrome, that the Lord would bless her with the ability to still enjoy life to the fullest).

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Jessica

Mother to Liam Ellis

Born and Died February 16th, 2011 at 7:35PM

Arlington, Virginia

Our story begins in October of 2010 when my fiance Jordan and I found out we were pregnant. We were excited, but also scared. This was our first pregnancy and we had no idea the amount of love we would experience for our baby. I had nausea a lot early in pregnancy and as we reached 15 weeks, my nausea subsided and I started to enjoy all aspects of my pregnancy. I felt so happy and full of life (literally). At around 16-17 weeks I started having some pain in my lower abdomen area but when I told my doctor and researched online, I was told it was round ligament pain and dismissed. It subsided slowly until it was gone.

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Jillian

Mom to Judy Amena

Born Still December 22nd, 2010

Arlington, Virginia

I became pregnant with my first child in April, 2010. My husband and I were thrilled and the pregnancy was unbelievably easy for the first several months. All of my prenatal appointment went well and I never had morning sickness or any seriously bothersome symptoms. Like every new mother, I was very anxious to see my baby, and so I did an elective 3-d ultrasound around 18 weeks. We found out we were having a girl, and I was thrilled. However, the first tech left us for a very long time during the ultrasound and when she came back in she had her co-worker with her. The co-worker was acting very strangely with us, but neither said a word about what they saw as the continued the ultrasound. When my mother asked if the baby looked okay, she simply waved her hands back and forth and said “we don’t EVEN LOOK for that sort of thing”. Although I noticed that their behavior was very strange, I was so excited that ignored it completely.

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 Denise

Mom to Triplets

David, born still on April 12, 2008

Lucas, April 12, 2008 to May 9, 2008

Chilhowie, Virginia
 

We found out in 2008 that we were expecting triplets. We were shocked and surprised, but soon began to anticipate the arrival of our identical boy’s. At first the pregnancy seemed to be going well. I was hospitalized a few times for extreme nausea, but otherwise things looked good.

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Kristie

Mom to Harper Grace

July 8th, 2008

Front Royal, Virginia

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11    That is my life verse.  A verse I have treasured ever since I became a Christian many years ago.   I knew that choosing to accept Jesus as my personal Savior didn’t mean that I would suddenly lead a charmed life, free from heartaches or suffering, but I truly never thought I would have to go through  what our family did in 2007-2008.  

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Tiffany

Mom to Marcus Sammuel Dwight

Born Still on August 31, 2010

Centreville, Virginia
 

"Why are you drinking that coffee drink?" asked my friend Janice, as I was sitting down at my desk for work. "Oh, because I haven't felt Marcus move this morning so I am trying to give him a jump start. It's decaf, I just want the cold and sweet to hopefully get him moving!" was my response. After that came the question of when was the last time I felt him move and that is when it hit me. At first I did not panic or think too much about it. I just thought to myself and tried to remember the answer. As I thought really hard, I realized that I had last felt him move the the afternoon of the day before. Again, I did not panic but continued talking to Janice. She came over to me and started poking at my belly to see if she could get Marcus to move. Five minutes go by and nothing. That is when I actually started to worry. Janice gives me a look and says that I should call my doctor.

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Amanda

Mom to Moriah Pearl

Born and passed on December 3rd, 2010 at 21 weeks

and an Ectopic Pregnancy

Hampton, Virginia

I am a wife, sister, daughter, and an amazing friend. I am married to the love of my life Aaron, we have been together for two years. We were married November 15, 2008 after a whirlwind long distance relationship. We grew up and graduated together but were just good friends. Fate had it that I would text him one day 3 years after last seeing him, 9 months later we wed. God has blessed me with the opportunity to wed my best friend. We knew immediately we wanted to start a family but I was nervous as I had PCOS which is a condition effecting the ovaries...

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Kristy

Mom to Mackenzy Lee Aiken

Lost October 29th, 2010 at 18 weeks

Pulaski, Virginia

My name is Kristy and I am 29 years old.  I have two daughters Kalee and Mackenzy. I wanted kids really close in age and I really wanted two kids by 30.  You know how the timelines go.  It took us 6 months to get pregnant with our first daughter so I knew I would want to try earlier with the second.  On August 7, 2010 I found out I was pregnant with my second child.  August 7, 2008 was the day our first daughter was conceived so that date was kind of cool.  We were shocked that this only took ONE try and we were pregnant.  We were so excited.

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Lorrie

Mom to Baby Hooper

Lost July 27th, 2007

South Riding, Virginia

Never in a million years did I think I would have to tell this story-now I feel like it’s my time to let this all out of my heart.

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Mary

Mom to Addison Breann

Born still on August 27, 2010

Berryville, Virginia
 

Our story really begins several years ago. My (then) boyfriend and I had been together for 3years when I was involved in a head-on collision with a tractor trailer. Even today, I thank my lucky stars to have only sustained orthopedic injuries. Yes, they were painful, even permanently disabling, but it could’ve been so much worse; after all, I’m still alive. It was during the many months of recovery that followed that I had my “epiphany.” Patrick stood by my side, unfailing in his loyalty, through it all. He was there to help me when I couldn’t help myself; he was there for me when I needed him the most.Prior to this point in our lives, I knew I loved him, but it wasn’t until I saw the sacrifices he made for me that I realized just how much I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Exactly one year after the accident, on June 3, 2006, I proudly walked down the aisle to marry my best friend.

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Heidi

Biochemical Pregnancy - January 2006

Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy -April 2006

Early Miscarriage - July 2006

Biochemical Pregnancy - December 2006

Ectopic Pregnancy - September 2007

Early Miscarriage- October 2010

Chesapeake, Virginia

Mine & My Husband’s journey began in January of 2006.  This was eight months after Dave & I got married.  We wanted to have children and because of my age (35), and my past history of endometriosis and fertility challenges with my ex-husband, we went straight to a fertility clinic.  On our first consultation, the bloodwork showed I was pregnant, imagine our surprise!  This turned out to be a biochemical pregnancy and began a long road of fertility challenges. 

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Amy

Mom to

Sweat Pea, Lost September, 2009 at 8 weeks

Baby Girl: Lost February, 2010 at 10 weeks

Baby Girl: Lost September, 2010 at 9 1/2 weeks

Purcellville, Virginia
 

We were elated to find out we were pregnant after our first try in August of 2009. Our first ultrasound was scheduled when we should have been 6.5 weeks. Or, so we thought. The baby only measured 5 weeks, but all looked good. We were told our dates were probably off, even though I knew that wasn't possible. But, what did I know? I'd never had an ultrasound that early and maybe babies grew at different rates. We were told things were fine and to come back in 10 days.

The second scan showed the baby had grown, but the tech wouldn't tell us anything else. She told us my doctor would tell me the details. When I went in for my second routine pregnancy exam, my OB casually told me the baby died and we needed to schedule a D&C. I was shocked. I demanded another ultrasound. It confirmed our diagnosis. It was awful. I had my D&C when the baby should have been 8.5 weeks. I was told it would not happen again and that my body just wasn't ready to be pregnant again. We did not have the "products of conception" tested as it was "just a fluke.

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Kristin

Mom to Savannah Jolynne Dodson

Stillborn on January 23rd, 2008 due to ARPKD

Miscarriage - May 2004

Miscarriage - April 2005

Miscarriage - September 2005

Ectopic Pregnancy - November 2005

Miscarriage - April 2006

Miscarriage - August 2009

Monroe, Virginia

Pregnancy and Infant loss is such a hard subject to talk about. Everyone stays so silent about it. No one wants to mention it, no one wants to think about it. But the truth is that is happens everyday. There are tons of families that have lost a child. There are tons of families that know that unbearable heartache that comes from saying hello and goodbye in one brief moment. My husband Doug and I are one of those families. No we didn’t think things would turn out like this. We didn’t think that life could be so hard. Throughout our journey of pregnancy and infant loss we have meet many friends. Many people who have walked the same shoes we are in. We want people to know that losing a baby does happen. We want people to know that they are not alone…So this is our story and our journey down a long and hard road…

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Tara

Mother to Katherine Rose Mooney Thelin

Born March 18th, 2008

Died March 16th or 17th, 2008

Fairfax, Virginia

I found out I was pregnant with my first child, Katie, on July 14, 2007.  It was the first time I had ever been pregnant and I was so excited.  I remember going out to buy "What to Expect When you are Expecting" on the very first day!  My husband and I had just celebrated our 2 year wedding annversary and we were both thrilled to be expecting a little one. 

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Audrey

Mom to Eva Anise

March 6th, 2007 - April 4th, 2007

Vienna, Virginia

Given my irregular cycle, diffident personality and generally low expectations, I thought it would take some time, perhaps a year, before we would get pregnant. It happened the first cycle. Both times. Aside from my stint on a jury, my first pregnancy was uneventful. My second pregnancy was anything but.

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Amy

Mom to Noah

September 29th, 2008

Virginia

The last week of January 2008 we found out that I was pregnant. Although it wasn't planned, we were very excited. I went to the doctor for the first time on Feb. 18th. I saw the heartbeat in the little black circle that would become the baby that we were already in love with. Seeing the heartbeat just made the love even stronger. I was about 4 to 5 weeks along and due to deliver in October. The doctors and I disagreed on the actual due date. They thought I was about 2 weeks farther along than I thought I was. 

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Sandy

Mom to Taegan Kennedy

April 28th, 1999 - October 14th, 1999

Reston, Virginia

The day started out like any other "office" day. (I worked 2 days from home, and 3 days from the office.) It was the third day of Taegan's cold. She had slept through the night, and her cold seemed much better that morning. She had a 4 oz. bottle, then played with me on the bed for a while. She played and watched TV while I took my shower. Then I put her in our doorway jumper while I got ready for work. She was bouncing happily, and laughing at me brush my teeth (she got a real kick out of that).

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Amber

Mom to

Elijah born August 27, 2010 at 14 weeks 2days due to Acrania

Hope Marie born still on July 25, 2009 at 13 weeks 5 days

Cumberland, Virgina

How the life of Elijah began.My dear wonderful loving boyfriend Justin and I were new in our relationship and not trying to get pregnant. However, we chose not to use birth control. When i mean no birth control I mean none what so ever, no pulling out, no condoms nothing. We were and still are madly in love. We had discussed having children in the future, we wanted to get married first.

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Jan

Mom to Baby Smith, died on July 2nd, 2008 at 9 weeks

Angel Smith, died on September 24th, 2009 at 8 1/2 weeks, Carley's twin

Carley Noel Smith, died on November 20th, 2009 at 18 1/2 weeks

Scottsburg, VA

My big story is my twins. I found out I was pregnant with the twins on August 10, 2009 my 2nd wedding anniversary. We were so happy and I was SO SCARED. Because of losing the baby the year before. I waited till I was almost 11 weeks before I went to the Dr for my first appointment just because I was scared and wanted to allow enough time for them to grow and be sure we saw a heart beat. Well I was nervous so bad, and my mom went with me. I closed my eyes and ears until the ultrasound tech tap me on my leg and told me to open my eyes and see my baby. There she was just jumping all around in her sac. But I could also see off to the side there was another sac and there was no movement and not really a shape of a baby. Sure enough I had lost another baby. But they told me that the other twin would be fine I would go through "Vanishing Twin Syndrome" and the other baby should be good.

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Laura

Mom to Gwenyth Graham Carpenter

Born on March 17, 2010

Taken away May 14, 2010
Harrisonburg, Virginia
 

Gwenyth Graham Carpenter, our baby girl, blessed our life so briefly. I'm working on that. She left so unexpectedly.

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