Dear Lieve It seems to me that you are being a wonderful support to the parents. They are very fortunate to have such a wonderfully caring and sensitive midwife. The uncertainty mixed with heartache must be very difficult for you all and I imagine entertaining fantasies that the diagnosis could somehow be wrong, but the ultrasound has re-confirmed the diagnosis for you. >From what you have described there is no hope for this baby to live a long and happy future - staying in the moment with the parents and gently supporting them as they gradually say goodbye to their baby is the only answer I can come up with for you for your question of what will become in the future. I hope this helps you Lieve - does it? A warm hug to you as you walk this sad pathway with the parents - Julie Clarke Childbirth and Parenting Educator Transition into Parenthood 9 Withybrook Pl Sylvania NSW 2224 T. (02) 9544 6441 F (02) 9544 9257 M. 0401 265 530 email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Marilyn Kleidon Sent: Friday, 21 March 2003 3:44 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] When birth and death come together Dear Lieve: I am wordless, but my heart goes out to you and Lars and his family. marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lieve Huybrechts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 2:48 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] When birth and death come together > Dear friends, > > Thank you all for the nice replys and warmfull thoughts for me and the > family. > I will tell you now what followed. > > Monday morning Lars was still very alive and alert. He drank several times > during the night, pied, made stools, had the hickup, was sneezing, in one > word, he did all a healthy child does. > The mother hardly dared to close her eyes to sleep, afraid of missing some > moments. The baby never left the arms of his parents. > So in the morning we had a talk. We all had questions about how it will > continue, how much time do we have, how will he die... > So the parents decided to go to the university hospital to have an > ultrasound of the heart. They made clear to the docter that they just wanted > an ultrasound and then return home to decide what options were for them. > The ultrasound confirmed the previous diagnosis: no left part of the heart, > severe of the aorta and when the ductus of Botalli closes, the baby will go > in acidosis, coma and die. They predicted 24 to 48 hours to live. > The familie came home again. They made pictures and video of the baby. Lars > never left their arms. They called some friends and told them about the > birth and had visitors. But also we did a lot of talking, laughing and > crying. > 24 hours passed, 48 hours passed. Lars is now more then 72 hours and still a > perfect child. He had his first bath today together with his mother and > enjoyed it a lot. He is feeding well, has already breastfeeding stools and > is very alert. > He beated all the prognoses about lifetime. So we don't know anything about > how long. > > Emotions are strange, we know there is no hope for long time, but we don't > know how long. The parents enjoy the baby, but also fear the moment they > have to let him go. > We are prepared, but it's so absurd when you see Lars, he is so alive. > The parents hoped that he would live long enough to see his eyes open, the > mother hoped for some moments on the breast. Now they got already so much. > They feel privileged and very happy, but grieve is so close. Laughter and > tears go hand in hand. > What will the futur bring??? > > Warm greetings > Lieve > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
