From one mother to another

A Letter From Danielle Houston, Founder

Dear sister,

Pregnancy and infant loss can feel so isolating but you aren’t alone.

You’re probably here because you’ve lost a baby you wanted. You went for an ultrasound and there was no heartbeat. You miscarried at home. You delivered your baby and your Angel Baby never opened his eyes, and you didn’t get to take her home, or your Angel Baby only lived a few hours, or you were forced to make a decision, baby or you. I dedicate this entire network to honor moms who face so many unspoken bouts of guilt, sadness, jealousy, anger, heightened sensitivity, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, the list goes on. My hope is that you find peace through your pain. You are the mom of an Angel. No one wants that but how special is it anyway! No other fellow Angel Moms will have all the answers for you because frankly, we don’t have the answers either! We’re all trying to figure it out together.

I’m not an expert in grief therapy but I can tell you I’m not a stranger to that heavy weight on your heart. A cousin in law told me after my first loss, “Stay out of dark places”. I made sure to guard my thoughts as best as I could.

I lost twice. I had ladies tell me they lost 10 times. Maybe they thought it was comforting to me to let me know I wasn’t alone. At the time I found it quite discouraging. So it can happen again? And again. Yea, no!

Some felt like because I went through a stillbirth once I would be ok to do it again. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I never lost a baby twice. This was all new to me! Maybe they were justified in some aspects as the second time around, I wanted to keep more things to remember my daughter’s birth. I wanted her ashes. The first time I didn’t even ask. I wanted it all to be over very, very fast. I still didn’t allow pictures and too many visitors. I wanted to be connected with my experience without the thoughts and opinions and suggestions of others.

Angel Babies Matter Network has Angel Moms who are willing to call, text, email, and video chat with you if you desire it. Let’s heal together.

I want our network to raise awareness that over 24,000 babies are stillborn each year. 24000 times or more a mom is saying hello and goodbye to her baby yet the world can be so dismissive. 

Black and Native American families experience stillbirth 2xs the rate of other families. The grief women experience in isolation is deafening. 1 in 6 women will be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after a stillbirth

ABMN wants to help moms to remember their baby, deal with the anger, despair, depression and loneliness. We show compassion and we acknowledge and validate your baby’s life, no matter how brief.

It is my goal to share information, (gather) women who have lost, provide resources and support for grieving moms and families and acknowledge the angel babies who matter.