On Sunday, October 15th, 2023 we will walk in support of families who have experienced the death of a child in pregnancy or infancy. The walk is a free event and is open to anyone in the community who would like to come and show their support.
Although the walk is a free event, there will be an opportunity to make a donation that will support the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic (MFMC) at The Moncton Hospital. The MFMC cares for hundreds of high-risk pregnancies every year; high risk pregnancies that require highly specialized care. The clinic receives referrals from other regions of the province as well as northern Nova Scotia, PEI, and Quebec. Any funds raised will help the MFMC staff provide optimal care to its patients.
Although the walk is a free event, there will be an opportunity to make a donation that will support the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic (MFMC) at The Moncton Hospital. The MFMC cares for hundreds of high-risk pregnancies every year; high risk pregnancies that require highly specialized care. The clinic receives referrals from other regions of the province as well as northern Nova Scotia, PEI, and Quebec. Any funds raised will help the MFMC staff provide optimal care to its patients.
My husband and I experienced the death of our baby at 38weeks and 5 days gestation. It was unexpected after what most would consider a perfect pregnancy. On June 3rd, 2012 I delivered a 6lb 4oz baby boy named Landen Gordon Malcolm Nelson. We later learned that Landen had trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), not necessary the cause of his death, but likely an underlying factor in complications. In the hospital, I was really unsure of what to do with Landen. At the time, I didn't really know anyone closely who had also experienced stillbirth. I left the hospital as soon as it was possible. Thankfully after doing a little research at home, and before Landen went to the IWK for an autopsy, we got to spend some extra time with him. It was at that time that I truly bonded with my son. We took the time to dress, rock, and snuggle him. We had a photographer and friend take some professional photos (the most valuable gift ever given to our family and a huge part of our healing). That second day with my son meant so much to my husband and I. At that time, I made a promise to myself and my son that I would make the best of our situation no matter how devastating. We've been lucky enough to help with volunteering and fundraising for the IWK and TMH in the last eleven years. Currently, I am so thankful to have found an amazing mom to plan this walk with! I am also grateful to write that ten years ago we were blessed with a little girl named Kate. I want to personally thank everyone who takes the time to read our website or Facebook page. I look forward to meeting you at the walk whether you are there by your own experience or there to support those who have experienced the death of their little loved ones.
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I was 17 weeks pregnant and it was the first day of school in 2014. After a nerve-wracking first trimester where I was just waiting for something to go wrong, I had finally let myself get excited at the thought of meeting our baby in February. We had started telling people and I was starting to show. Even though it was a pretty small baby bump, it was there and I only wanted to wear clothes that showed it off. At the end of that first day, right after the bell rang for dismissal at 2:35, my water broke. We tried for two weeks to save the pregnancy. Sometimes the fluid can re-accumulate so we were going to wait and see. I spent that time mostly lying down (thinking I didn’t want to squish the baby since there was no fluid in there to protect him) and drinking as much water as I could possibly stomach (knowing deep down that drinking water wasn’t going to replace the ‘water’ I lost, but at least I felt like I was doing something). Unfortunately, the amniotic fluid did not re-accumulate so I was induced at 19 weeks and our son Patrick was born. I asked my doctor to prepare me for what I was going to see before I held him. Even though I had read the week by week development while I was pregnant, I was still surprised to see an absolutely fully formed baby in my hands at 21cm in length and 143 grams. He had little eyelashes, little fingers and even tiny little finger nails. He was alive for almost 9 hours. I got to spend some time with him but quickly had to go to surgery due to a retained placenta. The surgery was complicated and I lost a lot of blood so I didn’t return to my room for a long time and unfortunately I did not get to see Patrick again. My husband was able to spend time with him while I was gone, which we’re both very thankful for.
After trying to get pregnant again for just over 2 years, we finally were expecting again. At our 10 week ultrasound we found out we were expecting twins, but then also found out at that appointment that one of the twins had passed away just a few days earlier. It was a long pregnancy with lots of various concerns coming up at different points, but at almost 41 weeks I was induced and our son Michael was born in 2017. I am so happy to have organized this event with Kim. This will be our 9th Walk to Remember Moncton and each year I'm so thankful that parents and families (ourselves included) have a place to come together and honour their children. I am looking forward to spending October 15th with everyone who is able to join us at the Moncton Hospital, and for those who cannot, I hope you are able to join us virtually on our Facebook page. |