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Articles by Rae Hoffman Jager
Three Poems by Rae Hoffman Jager
Stillbirth The sun bursts in through bathroom window like an opinionated Aries, drives its body into the shower with me— lights up every edge of tile, curve of fundal mound: I am still swollen with death, leaking bright red blood. My wounded body brought a blue boy into this world with his eyes sealed shut. My body the burnt field. My body the funeral home. My body the death of a star. My body in a Target crying in front of the Born Alive doll. My body putting rocks on a headstone.
Why I didn't wait to announce my pregnancy after a loss
Growing up a Jewish girl in the midwest, I was taught that expecting mothers do not announce their pregnancy until the second trimester. Twelve weeks was when we would be miraculously safe from loss. Getting past that landmark felt like a guarantee for having a live baby. Once I passed the 12th week of pregnancy with my first child, I felt like I had earned the ability to share an early ultrasound photo with my spouse and two dogs.
Heartfelt quotes for grieving a stillbirth
The hardest question you may ever be faced with is “Should I stay or should I go?” With up to 45% of American marriages ending in divorce, this question has undoubtedly been the focus of millions of coaching and therapy sessions as unhappy individuals weigh the pros and cons. While it is the most difficult decision one may face, what becomes even more toxic is the time spent in limbo.
These heartfelt quotes for grieving a stillbirth may help someone suffering
In a society where it is still stigmatized to talk about stillbirth, families are often left to navigate grief on their own. We yearn for others to talk with and hope that our baby’s memory isn’t forgotten. We’re grateful for when other mothers share their journeys, like how Christina Perri has discussed coping with the stillbirth of her daughter. There are few experiences more devastating than stillbirth (defined as pregnancy loss after 20 weeks).
Stillbirth is over 10 times more common than SIDS in Kentucky. Congress can help
Rae Hoffman Jager Opinion Contributor I was at a routine 32-week check-up, when I found out that my son had no heartbeat. After an agonizing 30 minutes of waiting on multiple ultrasound machines to confirm my greatest fear, it was official: My baby boy was dead with no answers as to why. I could not begin to wrap my head around our tragic new reality. How could this happen? I was already a mother to a three-year-old, how did I not know that something like this could happen?
Pregnancy Loss Taught Me This Important Jewish Value – Kveller
My snuggly little pug would not go near me for an entire day. No amount of leash dangling or treat-box shaking would bait her. There was a sudden air about me that she did not like or trust, and I didn’t understand. It was a mystery that was solved promptly that same afternoon. At a routine 32-week checkup, my OB couldn’t find my baby’s heartbeat. After an agonizing 30 minutes of waiting on an ultrasound, it was official: My baby was dead, and my dog had known before I did.
There Was No Jewish Way to Mourn Stillbirth — So We Created Our Own – Kveller
I was at a routine check-up at 32 weeks gestation when I found out my son Fox had no heartbeat. I learned I was going to have to deliver a dead baby on Thanksgiving Day. I was going to be induced. What was supposed to be a celebration was now going to be hours of agonizing mental and physical anguish coupled with shock. I would have to say goodbye forever to the baby I incubated for 8 months. And, to add insult to injury, I didn’t have any Jewish traditions to guide me.
Orange Blossom Review
Issue 3
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