Wednesday 13 April 2011

Bear will be famous

Tomorrow, I am going to be interviewed live (eek) for radio 4's Today Programme. The opportunity has come through the SANDS charity, following a report published today that states that among developed countries Britain comes a very poor 33 out of 35 in terms of its stillbirth rates. I am shocked.
I am waiting for all the details, but I should be on air between 7 and 8am. Early, but worth it. You can listen on the radio or online at www.bbc.co.uk/today
Other Mummies who have lost their babies, send me your thoughts about your care, so that I have a nice rounded view.

22 comments:

  1. good luck!! you and bear will be in my thouhts and prayers.

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  2. Best of luck... what an amazing opportunity! People should not be afraid to discuss stillbirth, as it is an unfortunate reality for too many Mothers.
    Sending love!!!

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  3. What upsets me most about my care is that by nhs policy, the more live births you have, the less midwife appointments you get in subsequent pregnancies. Not that it made a difference in my case, really, but maybe if I'd had the same number of appointments as a first-time mother something in Cat's heartbeat might have been picked up. Unlikely, but just about possible. I will be listening in the morning. Well done, no-one in this country has any idea about the prevalence of stillbirth, that it's way more common than cot death ever was, but with the right research and funding and cot death becoming a "trendy" (sorry, can't think of a more appropriate/less offensive word) cause, look how quickly the rates were brought down. Good luck xxx

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  4. Wow, good luck. I had great medical care (I was at the Portland)and still lost my son. Sometimes even with great care they can't predict these things.

    But I've heard some stories of other BLM's who used NHS hospitals and had some horrific stories.

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  5. My NHS care was overall good but I still don't understand why NHS doesn't do a late scan. I lost Jacopo for placental insufficiency (apparently), something that can be seen by doppler fluximetry. They should have at least a trial by introducing a doppler at 34-35 weeks, I'll suggest to SANDS anyway sooner or later.

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  6. i will be listening as soon as i wake up stateside!
    I am so proud of you that you are doing this. Axx

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  7. wow I had no idea!
    Good luck with that love.
    xo-isha

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  8. I just heard your segment on Today, you spoke beautifully. I'm so sorry for your loss.

    I hope you don't mind but I've posted a link to your blog on a baby forum I use that has some bereaved mothers as I'm sure they will be interested in your story.

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  9. You beautiful, brave lady. You will make a difference and Bear will leave a lasting impact upon the world. Take strength, you are touching so many lives.

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  10. Well done for speaking so passionately and calmly on the Today programme about Bear, and your experience. It was very moving for me because I have experienced the grief of stillbirth, but I also think it will have moved people who can't begin to comprehend it. Hopefully it has moved some to action.

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  11. Your segment was truly moving and so touching, the perfect tone for highlighting such an important issue. Bless you xx

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  12. Alice, I was so impressed with your Today programme performance. You spoke so well - it came from the heart and was simple, and that is what made it so powerful. Also, you are absolutely right about those midwives messing around with tape measures - it's like something out of the 19th century. Helen

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  13. I heard you on the Today program and found your blog. You spoke beautifully. I'm 23 weeks pregnant and booked for a placental doppler scan tomorrow due to severe preeclampsia during labour with my first (thankfully healthy) daughter, and will have extra growth scans, blood and urine tests. Its having heard stories from brave people like you that I have insisted on seeing the consultant who agreed I needed extra monitoring for this pregnancy (the midwife seemed far more concerned that my mother has had depression). Such a shame it is not offered routinely. I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful son. Thank you for trying to help others with your experience. It really does make a difference.

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  14. Well done Alice, you did an amazing job - it was truly moving to listen to your story. I don't know how you managed to be so calm and together - but am sure it will help countless others.
    Wishing you all the every best

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  15. Wow, all these amazing messages. I really am so touched and moved by each one. If you want to see more about my story, the Saturday Times are doing a big piece about me and Bear this weekend. I figure, the more exposure, the better. If only someone had done something earlier, maybe our babies would be bouncing on our laps today.

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  16. I heard your story on Radio 4 this morning and felt compelled to write to say how moved and touched I was by your story and your strength. What a wonderful tribute your campaigning is to your son. I am so very sorry for your loss.

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  17. i downloaded the podcast to listen at a later moment.
    take care, best wishes from the netherlands, a proud dad of a stillborn son

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9457000/9457597.stm

    Today: Health service 'ignores stillbirth'

    A study in the Lancet medical journal says that the rate of stillbirths in the UK has remained too high, while other nations have seen big improvements in the last decade. Alice Pullen, who describes herself on her blog as "the mother of one perfect boy who didn't quite make it into our big wide world", talks about her experience of stillbirth. And one of the authors of the paper, Cambridge University's Professor Gordon Smith, looks at how to tackle the problem.

    http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/today/today_20110414-0941a.mp3

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  18. I saw a link to your blog today, and have also just listened to your interview on iPlayer. I lost my son, Jude, at 40+12, 4 days before you lost Bear, and reading your blog is like reading an exact account of my life over the past 4.5 months. I even had the same thoughts about the snow in November (I could see the first flakes falling gently as the consultant told us what we already knew, that there was nothing more they could do for our boy - he was not stillborn but was unable to breathe by himself, we later found out this was due to a virus which I'd caught which gave me no symptoms and is not harmful to anyone save for a minority of babies in utero. It had damaged his brain beyond repair). You express your feelings beautifully and have reduced me to tears for the past 3 or so hours (not an unusual thing, as you'll know). Bear was very beautiful, your interview was brave and moving. You did brilliantly.

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  19. Hi Alice, I heard you on radio 4 this morning and I felt I just had to contact you to say how incredibly moved I was by your strength and the obvious passion you have to help other Mummies and Mummies to be... I can't pretend to understand how you feel because I simply don't, I can only imagine... and it makes me cry. Good luck in everything you do, I hope you one day find a happiness you most certainly deserve.. much love to you and Bear, he was gorgeous xx Rupert

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  20. I heard you this morning. Well done for sharing on such a stage, but it's so important too. I've shared the playback link on twitter & Facebook so that the Mums to be we support can learn more. will also be adding to my new blog whatpregnantwomenneed.co.uk - exactly what you talked about - lots of things women don't know about. And it frustrates me as to why this is the case.
    Good luck, and wish you well with supporting the campaigns to promote education around the subject.

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  21. Hello Alice,
    I just wanted to say how moved I was to hear you say Bear's full name this morning on Today. Your fierce pride and love was evident and moved me a great deal. I was so glad that Justin asked you his name. 15 years ago my wife and I were in a similar position to yourself but now, people avoid using his name and I find that sad. The horrible rawness fades, but never the love. Thank you for being so brave. Andrew

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  22. Hi - don't know if it's appropriate but I heard you this morning on the Today programme and was so moved by your story and bravery in sharing it with the nation. I've been thinking about you and Bear all day and I'm so sorry for your loss but I really hope your experience can help other people.

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