Often we only hear of what are nicknamed the "happy doulas" who attend "happy births" Happy births is a term for a birth of a live baby with no known fatal diagnosis, a birth with an outcome just as we would all want it.
I am also a happy doula but I am also qualified as a bereavement and loss doula.
I lost my first son when he was 3 hours old, he was my first born and born at 25 weeks. He was and still is so precious, his name is Anthony James.
My youngest daughter, the inspiration behind the name of this organisation, Willow Imogen was born a few days short of 19 weeks. Her tiny body just perfect. Her suffering over. She was diagnosed with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia a few weeks earlier.
Throughout my life I have also had 12 miscarriages, an amount nobody should ever face, I'd like it if nobody ever had a single miscarriage, earlier this year I was diagnosed with Asherman's syndrome and that is believed to be the reason why my body finds it hard to carry a baby.
People can be cruel when it comes to loss, I have been called a liar, had to show my hospital paperwork to admin of online forums to "prove" my loss, the world should not be this way when a loss family is already suffering enough. My role is to make life a little easier, although I have no magic wand, I can never erase the past or change what has happened to a family (as muuch as I'd love to) I can lighten the load and make things bearable. I can be the light in a dark place.
I could ramble on for hours but for now I shall leave it at that but this is dedicated to Anthony and Willow and all the angels too precious for this Earth.
