SHARE Atlanta Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Grief Support

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October Updates: Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Awareness and Advocacy...

Group Meetings~4Bs & Scrapbook Workshop~Memorial Service

These Updates will go to an average of 250 people...

To highlight this month, we hold several different activities which includes the special grief group topic, "The Significance of You and Your Baby."

All that we do is in memory of our baby, and with our thoughts turned to building hope -now - and for the future.

"The Significance of You and Your Baby" topic encourages our parents to bring to the meetings: mementos, pictures or special thoughts about their baby. Every time we respond to others, or take part in an event or important activity, we honor our own and other parents' children, and we become advocates for the Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Community's issues and needs. Making our children's presence meaningful in our lives is important for healing.

Every child is special..every parent needs "permission to grieve"

Often times parents are made to feel that because our babies are born "too soon" they are not as significant as other children. This is especially true for our babies who are born too soon for us to hold.

At SHARE Atlanta we believe every child is our "child-to-be"-our dream for our future, and we believe that every parent should be given "permission to grieve" their baby. We have also found that society and the medical world often need to fully understand that every child is important and special, and we wish answers to "whys" and "how" to prevent future losses.

Mementos and poems

As we come together at our meetings this month, those who wish to, share special treasures, sonogram and baby pictures, scapbooks, poems, etc. that they might have in their memory boxes. We understand that not everyone has named their baby or has a treasure to hold on to, and we realize that this is a personal decision. We also know that sometimes this is because a parent has been made to feel that such an expression is morbid or unnecessary because "we didn't know" our baby.

Well, we did "know" this child - in some way - or we would not be feeling the pain we are. Recognizing that for what it is, then allowing ourselves to remember, grieve and heal..as we can, in our own personal way ... is what this meeting is all about.

Coping and Different Grief Patterns

At this meeting, we express how our baby has made a difference in our lives and how we will never forget their presence. We also discuss ways to cope (many of our activities are for coping) and ways to protect ourselves as we move through our grief. And how a couple's grieving pattern usually varies, and this is normal and healthy.

Please join us and, if you choose to, bring your mementos and pictures.

Group Meeting Locations...all meet at 7 pm.

October 5: SHARE Atlanta 4Bs and Scrapbook Workshop from 6:30 pm - 9

We will have two moms who will share their ideas about scrapbooking with us. AND, Kelly and I will show you how to make the precious blankets that have been so well received by grieving parents at the hospital. We may even have a few people that will show some of us how to knit items! Our 4Bs cards, that we have designed, that will be attached to each item are here for you to see as well! Come as you can...

Location: Women's Meeting Location/Marcia's Home

Please bring:

2 or 3 yards of two patterns of fleece (a "baby-like" print and a soft pastel). Left over fabric will be taken to the senior citizen's group for them to make some baby blankets. The seniors love this project and we provide the "know-how" and fleece for them to carry it out.

if you have a cutting board and a cutter bring it please

any scrapbooking you have done or materials that have worked for you

something to nibble on for us to share

any item you wish to include in our outreach

RSVP - We know people are busy so we are asking that at least 5 eager people are "for sure-RSVP" for us to make this event happen! We will send an email to all who have RSVP, on Monday the 3rd, to confirm the workshop is taking place.

4Bs ~ Outreach for Healing ~ "Blankets of Love..Buntings, Bonnets, and Booties" - Details about our blankets and program..

RSVP to Kelly, our 4Bs coordinator, and to receive directions - but if at the last moment you can join us - please do! Email Kelly or I first to make sure we are holding the workshop!

Annual Angel Garden Memorial Service ~ October 23 at 3 pm - click on candle for details

E-mail Marcia your baby's name so it can be called out during the program and be included in our written program. Specify "Memorial Service Litany"

October Awareness Support

Bracelet's of Hope From SHARE Atlanta's Kim Shiftlett. Kim has a new October Awareness bracelet and a car magnet to help us "get the word out," and she makes beautiful memorial bracelets and other treasures ...

October Awareness Online Highlights and Information

Online SHARE Atlanta Fall Newsletter with details and highlights of our events, programs, and our members.