Snow Day

First day school has been closed all winter - we're a hardy bunch.

Global Report on Preterm & Stillbirth

I received notification of the Global Report on Preterm & Stillbirth, which was just released. It identifies causes of stillbirth and prematurity as well as interventions that could prevent or improve what study researchers term "under-addressed outcomes." In otherwords, stillbirths, which happen to 3.2 million families each year, according to their report--that little thing no one wants to talk about.

I find it interesting how the researchers quoted in the release admit that far too little attention has been paid to preterm births and stillbirths. I can only hope people pay attention.

Here's a little more about the paper, with link:

"The Global Report on Preterm & Stillbirth, published with the BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth’s latest supplement, identifies known causes and 21 proven interventions that could now be widely used to improve these extremely distressing yet under-addressed outcomes. Additionally, it outlines the urgent need for increased focus and attention on research. This is crucial for understanding the magnitude, causes, and consequences of preterm birth and stillbirth, and for speeding up the development of diagnostics, treatment and prevention strategies.

The report, led by the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Seattle Children’s, is a collaborative effort undertaken by an interdisciplinary team of maternal, newborn and child health experts from around the globe.

“We can save more lives, but we urgently need more action and resources to better understand the causes of prematurity and stillbirth, and to guide development of cost-effective interventions,” said Dr. Craig E. Rubens, executive director of GAPPS. “For the first time ever, experts from around the world have agreed to a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to solving these global tragedies.”

Does This Mean I've Made It?

I've been getting a lot of spam comments on my blog recently....anybody else? I've been blogging here for a few years now, and nothing, then, suddenly...they're everywhere. I've deleted some, given up and left some. Some are complete rubbish - nonsense - some appear to be in Japanese, Chinese, or Russian, I don't know.

How do people do this, leave spam comments on blogs? I really have no idea. What I find interesting/weird are comments like this one:

"Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time! :)"

And this one:

"It was rather interesting for me to read that blog. Thank you for it. I like such themes and everything connected to them. I definitely want to read more on that blog soon."

Yep, I love reading blogs about dead babies. It's so much fun! And like you, dear spammer, I can't wait to read more! I love the themes of dead babies and everything connected to them myself; why don't you call me and we can discuss it all day long? And to my dear other spammer, I'm glad you think I'm getting better and better at this blog thing. I am a professional writer, though, so I'm a little disappointed to hear that my older articles aren't as good as my new ones. Though I have been at this deadbabymama thing for 6 years now.

And how, exactly, do you agree with certain articles about dead babies and not others? What opinion of mine do you agree with? Perhaps the one where I state that having a dead baby sucks?

Please, keep reading, and keep making inane comments. Can't wait to hear more from you.

Both Sides Now

One of my favorite songs....makes me cry every time.

Another New Site for Babylost Mamas

In my wanderings around the internet recently I found another new site dedicated to babyloss mamas, International Baby Lost Mother's Day.

A New (ish) Blog for Stillbirth Parents

I suspect many of my readers already know about this blog, but I've been intending to post about it for a while, so here I am.

still life 365 is a new blog for babylost parents, devoted to creative healing. I'll let the words on the blog's home page speak for themselves:

"still life 365 is a unique art project for, about and by mothers and fathers who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. still life 365 posts a piece of art every day by a poet, artist, photographer, crafter, musician, collagist, paper artist, filmmaker, painter, sculptor, fabric artist and ordinary person exploring grief through creativity. each piece is an expression of grief, survival, sadness, love and hope."

Visit. Create. Remember you're not alone.