Twin Loss


For most women seeing the two lines or reading the word "pregnant" from a home pregnancy test brings pure excitement with a bit of nerves. But mostly excitement. And it typically stays that way throughout the pregnancy.


Imagine getting dressed and ready for your doctor's appointment. But not just a regular appointment, this time you get to hear your baby's heartbeat for the 1st time! Think of how fast your heart starts to beat as you get to the office, sign in, and wait to be called. The minutes tick so slow it's seems like hours. Then finally, you get called back and the doctor begins to rub gel on your belly, moves the doppler around until he/she hits that sweet spot...Then you lock eyes with the doctor and see a bit of surprise on their face. Seconds later they tell you they don't just hear 1 heartbeat,they hear 2! Not long after an ultrasound confirms it and boom you have two babies on the way.


That's what happened to one of my sweet clients. She found out she was having twins! She was quite shocked, but excited and she knew her husband would be thrilled. Fast forward to a few months into her pregnancy and she was hit with the devastating news that one of the babies no longer had a heartbeat and had stopped developing. I don't know about you, but man, that's a huge sucker punch. She had already began to wrap her mind around what life would be like with twins. She was looking online for double strollers, matchy-matchy outfits, and thinking what their little personalities would be like. Fortunately for her, she had a strong support system and medical team to see her through the remainder of her pregnancy. And she was able to bring home the surviving twin, her gorgeous daughter.


But a piece of her heart is still missing. She told me she often wonders what would have been. What could have been. I was honored to be able to capture baby K's newborn photos. And I was truly humbled to honor baby K's sibling in a creative way. Her mom absolutely loved this photo. Infant loss is such a tremendous mental and physical pain that no one should have to go through. But it happens and we should all do our part to be supportive to our friends and family who have experienced it. There is a solace and a bit of joy knowing that each and every "angel baby" is never forgotten and forever loved.