#Nobabyshower
Donation protected
I am expecting my first baby on 15th October 2016. It will (hopefully) be our first child - but it is my third pregnancy, as I had two early miscarriages last year. Instead of having a Baby-shower (which isn’t really for me anyway, to be honest!), I am asking family and friends – those who might have been tempted to send a card or gifts - to donate to a local miscarriage support charity.
The Pinks N Blues is a Social Enterprise (CIC) based in Birmingham, and run by its founder, Catherine McLennan. Catherine and her husband mac have experienced six losses at different stages of pregnancy, and Catherine has dedicated her life to providing support for other women (and couples) experiencing pregnancy loss through the Pinks N Blues.
In addition to providing support after both of our losses, Catherine also organises a ‘pregnancy after loss’ group, which I’ve been attending, and which has really helped me to keep the anxiety under control (well… ish!) this time round.
The Pinks N Blues has three main aims:
· to raise awareness of miscarriage and pregnancy loss (something that is not often widely talked about or acknowledged, despite affecting 1 in 4 pregnancies)
· to provide 1-2-1 and group support to anyone who has experienced a loss of their baby in the 1st and/or 2nd trimester of pregnancy
· to improve the standard of care in dealing with pregnancy loss, in maternity and perinatal/antenatal services throughout the UK
There are very few (if any) support services like this available in the country, and women and couples come from all over the Midlands to attend groups and events run by the Pinks N Blues (we are just very lucky that it happens to be local). Catherine runs the groups entirely on her own. She gives out her mobile number, and often gives up her evenings to take calls and offer support via telephone, email or skype. In addition to this, the Pinks N Blues aims to reduce the incidences of women receiving poor care during or after experiencing a loss, by working alongside health professionals in GPs and hospitals, to offer support and training, and to bring about positive change.
Although a lot of women are touched by the service and support Catherine provides, it’s a voluntary organisation which (by its nature) doesn’t always receive the longevity of dedicated donations and income required to keep it running…. as often when couples go on to successfully carry a pregnancy to term, they want to draw a line under the difficult times that have gone before, and (understandably) to move on with their lives and their new families.
My due date (October 15th) also happens to be International Baby Loss Awareness day . I am by no means claiming to understand what it means or feels like to lose a baby at a later stage of pregnancy (or beyond) – and I really hope we never have to. However, the timing seems somewhat serendipitous (in a tragi-comic sort of way!), and I’d really like to take this as an opportunity to support Catherine and her work. Plus, people have already been very generous in giving us their second-hand baby bits and bobs… and (as cheesy and clichéd as it is) if we have a healthy baby, we will have everything we need.
So, if you were thinking of sending us a card or a little something, please consider donating the cost of that card/gift to the Pinks N Blues instead. I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to give a certain amount (or at all!) so I would suggest giving anonymously (feel free to drop us a text with well-wishes if you’d like, but there’s honestly no need – we're sending this to you because we know you care!). Oh, and just to confirm - second-hand and home-made gifts are still always very welcome! ;o)
Thank-you – if you do choose to donate something, it really means a lot. Our thoughts go out to anyone who has experienced baby loss or pregnancy loss at any stage.
The Pinks N Blues is a Social Enterprise (CIC) based in Birmingham, and run by its founder, Catherine McLennan. Catherine and her husband mac have experienced six losses at different stages of pregnancy, and Catherine has dedicated her life to providing support for other women (and couples) experiencing pregnancy loss through the Pinks N Blues.
In addition to providing support after both of our losses, Catherine also organises a ‘pregnancy after loss’ group, which I’ve been attending, and which has really helped me to keep the anxiety under control (well… ish!) this time round.
The Pinks N Blues has three main aims:
· to raise awareness of miscarriage and pregnancy loss (something that is not often widely talked about or acknowledged, despite affecting 1 in 4 pregnancies)
· to provide 1-2-1 and group support to anyone who has experienced a loss of their baby in the 1st and/or 2nd trimester of pregnancy
· to improve the standard of care in dealing with pregnancy loss, in maternity and perinatal/antenatal services throughout the UK
There are very few (if any) support services like this available in the country, and women and couples come from all over the Midlands to attend groups and events run by the Pinks N Blues (we are just very lucky that it happens to be local). Catherine runs the groups entirely on her own. She gives out her mobile number, and often gives up her evenings to take calls and offer support via telephone, email or skype. In addition to this, the Pinks N Blues aims to reduce the incidences of women receiving poor care during or after experiencing a loss, by working alongside health professionals in GPs and hospitals, to offer support and training, and to bring about positive change.
Although a lot of women are touched by the service and support Catherine provides, it’s a voluntary organisation which (by its nature) doesn’t always receive the longevity of dedicated donations and income required to keep it running…. as often when couples go on to successfully carry a pregnancy to term, they want to draw a line under the difficult times that have gone before, and (understandably) to move on with their lives and their new families.
My due date (October 15th) also happens to be International Baby Loss Awareness day . I am by no means claiming to understand what it means or feels like to lose a baby at a later stage of pregnancy (or beyond) – and I really hope we never have to. However, the timing seems somewhat serendipitous (in a tragi-comic sort of way!), and I’d really like to take this as an opportunity to support Catherine and her work. Plus, people have already been very generous in giving us their second-hand baby bits and bobs… and (as cheesy and clichéd as it is) if we have a healthy baby, we will have everything we need.
So, if you were thinking of sending us a card or a little something, please consider donating the cost of that card/gift to the Pinks N Blues instead. I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to give a certain amount (or at all!) so I would suggest giving anonymously (feel free to drop us a text with well-wishes if you’d like, but there’s honestly no need – we're sending this to you because we know you care!). Oh, and just to confirm - second-hand and home-made gifts are still always very welcome! ;o)
Thank-you – if you do choose to donate something, it really means a lot. Our thoughts go out to anyone who has experienced baby loss or pregnancy loss at any stage.
Organizer
Ellen Shobrook
Organizer
