This is my third post on Glow in the Woods (the second, on July 3, 2013, can be found by googling “Glow in the Woods baby peter”). I am posting again because just over three years ago I had another successful birth. Again, a son. I regret not posting sooner (3 years is a long time!) because I found these posts - successful births - so incredibly powerful after I lost our third child, a girl, at 39 weeks. Reading about a successful birth after a placental abruption for me meant the odds were true, happiness would come again, pregnancy was not a 9 month walk through a minefield. I am both ashamed and also proud to say that I haven’t posted because the whirlwind of being a parent to a healthy, living child distracted me. So why post now? Tonight I watched a documentary which reminded me of 2012 when my husband and I were wading in grief. We were blessed by two daughters but distressed by the inexplicable loss of our third. And yet, time moves on. I will never forget the time spent on this website, trolling these posts looking for green shoots of happiness and possibility. So, although late, I must return the favor. Stillbirth is a devastating loss. I am so proud (and grateful and blessed) that I have overcome that loss with my family. Our recovery was unquestionably advanced with the arrival of first Peter and, in 2016, Bobby. I wish for all of the discouraged and scared parents on Glow to take comfort - success and happiness are possible. Take heart, have faith, however hard that may be. There are no more deserving of blessings than those that arrive here.

Heather, thank you for sharing your story years on. For me hearing stories of pregnancies after loss that result in a healthy, alive child are so comforting. After losing my first child in early 2019 a lot of things felt/still feel impossible, as if the universe just works against me. I'm currently 21.5 weeks and high risk with my second baby, who is kicking away right now, and I seem to bend back and forth between hope and fear - my first son was born at 24 weeks, and I am quickly approaching that time with this pregnancy, so I am holding my breath. But stories of hope help me through the moment.

Thank you for posting this, Heather. We also lost our third child due to placental abruption at 40 weeks. It has been six months now and I still don*t know how to muster the courage to face this world, not to mention another pregnancy. Nor does it feel like I will any time soon. Or anytime ever. Reading your story here gives me hope, because although I might not know how, but it still is possible to find courage and joy and happiness.Thank you for that.

Thank you all for sharing. I search this site and other loss sites for success after loss stories. I recently lost my daughter, born at 23wk, and I agonize over the idea that this could happen again. Especially because all I want is to have a healthy baby. She was our first and part of me feels like I will not be whole until I am pregnant again and have a healthy baby in my arms.

Allison- how are you doing now? I would guess you’re close to your due date or past?