Pregnancy and Infant Loss

Weekend Reads: Resources for Pregnancy and Infant Loss

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In an ongoing effort to include more resources about pregnancy and infant loss here on the blog, this 7 Quick Takes post is a round-up of articles to ponder and websites to explore on that very subject. — 1 — From perhaps an unlikely source, here’s a post by Katherine Hobson over at NPR — People … [Read more…]

A Comforting Image for Those Experiencing Pregnancy/Infant Loss

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I stumbled on this painting “To the Unknown Land,” by Edmund Blair Leighton and find it so comforting. A grieving mother weeps on the shore as an angel safely carries away her child. Isn’t it stunning? I found this painting via Restored Traditions, who collects and digitally restores beautiful works of art and makes them available … [Read more…]

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Healing Retreat

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Friends, the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ministry resources for our diocese continue to expand. We are grateful to announce yet another opportunity for couples who have experienced any type of pregnancy or infant loss. A healing retreat for couples will be held in Des Moines on Saturday, October 4 @ St. Pius X Catholic Church … [Read more…]

Helping Heal Hearts Wounded by Miscarriage

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“Open your hearts to life!” has become a recurring theme in Pope Francis’s pontificate. It’s also the theme for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2013-14 Respect Life Campaign that kicked off in parishes across the nation on Respect Life Sunday.

The phrase “Open your hearts to life” can be a difficult one for many couples who are quite open to life yet find their hearts overflowing with grief due to pregnancy/infant loss or infertility.

This is one area that seems to be a bit off the radar screen and weighs heavily enough on our hearts to call us to action.

7 Quick Takes: Health Updates, Predictions, and a Special Mass

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Another round of quick takes courtesy Das Schmidt Haus. Highlighted this week: an update on Gigi, insightful birth stories from the 1950s and 60s, a Chinese gender predictor that appears to be quite accurate, sucker prayer bouquets, and updates on our Diocese’s semi-annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Mass.

Pregnancy/Infant Loss Healing Retreat

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Several months ago, Joel and I were put into contact with RyAnne Carr, a Catholic wife, mom, and Peoria, IL citizen who understands well the pain of pregnancy loss. She has developed a ministry for others experiencing a pregnancy or infant loss, and now together with her husband, RyAnne has organized A Mother’s Love Couples Retreat for parents who have experienced a pregnancy, stillbirth, or early infant loss.

This Week on Catholic Women Now: A Discussion on Pregnancy and Infant Loss

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Does your diocese or parish offer a healing Mass for those who have suffered perinatal loss (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and infant death)? This week on Catholic Women Now, Julie and I welcome my husband Joel Schmidt who has been working hard with Adam Storey, director of our diocesan Marriage and Family Life Office, to initiate such a Mass. Julie and I also welcome Maria Campbell, parishioner at All Saints Catholic Church, Des Moines, who discusses her experiences with pregnancy and infant loss.

Quick Takes – We Got Problems at Das Schmidt Haus Edition

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Highlights of today’s Quick Takes: Mind games with St. Benedict and those happy monks from Conception Abbey, Advent by Candlelight, a wreath on fire, praying for miscarried babies, BIG candles on St. Lucy Day, and the need for self-control when it comes to salted nut rolls. As stated in the title, we got problems at Das Schmidt Haus.