I had about a dozen miscarriages, (maybe more but due to my brain tumour my body was f'd up from the radiotherapy and chemo and I wasn't having periods regularly). We tried for 7 years before we were finally blessed. Some miscarriages were later stage (past 14 weeks) but not classed as still births. This was over 25 years ago and they weren't really classed as important by the hospital, just 'one of those things'. I finally fell pregnant to my wonderful son when I was 31 but worried every minute I was pregnant that something would happen. I got really bad pre-eclampsia and almost died when he was induced at 8 weeks prem and had a C section as he was in distress. I never fell pregnant again after that as my body went into pre-menopause.
I know I can't speak of BYG's experience but our experience (Hub and I) must have been very similar. As a believer in God I couldn't understand why he would let me experience pregnancy without letting me become a mother. Also as a primary school teacher in a rough area I'd see kids walking to school age 4 on their own, one of 8, who were dirty and hungry (generalising of course- not all were like this), so I felt twice as worse seeing these mum's with multiple kids who didn't seem to appreciate what they'd got.
Personally I kept it all in. Not good I know but especially with miscarriages in those days no one talked about it. Either people said nothing, avoided me or said things like 'Better luck next time' or 'It's God's way' or even 'You wouldn't want a disabled baby would you? This is God's way of getting rid of disabled babies'. I know these kind of things aren't said to still birth mums but it was damn hard for us every time, and worse still every time I got pregnant. Everywhere I looked all I saw were pregnant mums, crying babies, and on TV, adverts for pampers etc. It was weird.
I also felt terribly guilty because I know it was my illnesses and treatments that were causing the miscarriages. When our son was born I also thought he was going to die like all the others and I hardly ate or slept for at least 3 weeks when he came home from hospital. I cherished every moment with him (and still do even though he's got his own place now). I truly feel for BYG and I just hope she doesn't use this (as we will see it) to make money.
Sadly my super fit husband died from bowel cancer when our son was 7. He was a fantastic dad. His son is just like him. He's 22 now and a copper. I'm so proud. Despite being 3lb 9oz at birth he's now a strapping 6 footer. He was small but perfectly formed. He has sticky out ears like his grandad but that made him even cuter in my mind. I could have burst with pride every moment of his life, and now knowing what a good lad he's turned into, his dad will be overjoyed in heaven watching his mini me flourish.
From his dad's death to his funeral I was on auto pilot, more so to bring an ounce of normalcy to his son. I cried buckets of tears, we both did, but I tried to keep mine in for his son's sake. I didn't want to see anyone. I wanted to just sit or watch TV holding our son. It's different with Larose. She won't know why mummy's sad or crying. At his dad's funeral (I can only make this comparison) I put on a nice dress (no make up or hairdo) and tried to hold it together. I managed to do this until my son asked to kiss his daddy one last time. He gave him things to put in his coffin- his 50p spends (so he could buy stuff in heaven) and a spud gun so he could shoot the zombies in the cemetery, a Man U scarf to keep him warm and he also gave him half of his Blankie that he slept with still every night so he could sleep well. Kids are the best at coping with death of a loved one. They are pragmatic. Cherishing him helped a lot and I do hope BYG will do the same with Larose.
Anything I say is going to sound trite.
If I knew you in 'reality' you are a person I would want to hug. Whether you wanted it or not. I'd chase you down the street in my wheelz. Your son would have to arrest me. I'd go down fighting
So have a virtual hug.