Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Friday, March 7, 2008

For many Moms, infant bereavement photos provide solace.

Lately, we've been hearing a lot about a foundation called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a nonprofit organization that has provided thousands of families of babies who are stillborn or are at risk of dying as newborns with free professional portraits with their baby. Featured this week on the Today show, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep was co-founded by Cheryl Haggard, a mother who lost her son Maddux at six days old, and Sandy Puc', the photographer who took pictures of Maddux before he was removed from life support.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation now has nearly 3,200 affiliated photographers in 12 countries worldwide. According to their Web site, "the soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives."

If you knew you were going to deliver a stillborn baby, or that your infant was at risk of dying, would you want photos taken of your child? Comment below.

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I received bereavement photos of my daughter when she was stillborn and it was the most healing thing I had. During my delivery I was on such heavy medication that I didn’t remember any of it, including her. So that was the only thing I have to remember her by.

- Jonna

Posted 03/07/08 04:15 PM

Whether or not I would do so is irrelevant, what is relevant is the photography services are available to those who wish to do so.

- Shannon

Posted 03/07/08 04:23 PM

Yes, yes, and yes. I would want to commemorate and remember the life that was lost. I think that this is a phenomenal group, and I applaud their work and their empathy. Looking at my beautiful son, I can’t imagine losing him at all, let alone not having any way to see his beautiful face or hands. Standing ovation for this organization.

- Kelley

Posted 03/07/08 05:34 PM

YES!!!! My daughter Natalie was stillborn, and we didn’t think of bringing a camera. All we had was a camera phone. I wish that we had access to the organization. What a neat idea.

- Erica

Posted 03/10/08 10:15 AM

Very important for parents to have these if they desire them. Bereavement photos were traditional in Victorian times, and not just photos of babies. We tend to want to sweep death under the rug in this day and age, though times are changing.

- Alison

Posted 03/11/08 12:29 PM

I have had NILMDTS photograph my sweet, trisomy18 baby girl, Elaine. Until you have faced tragedy, you cannot understand how precious this organization is. They are people of compassion, kindness, skill, and great courage. It is not every person you meet that can look in the face of death and call it lovely. Jennie Bender

- Jennie Bender

Posted 04/12/08 03:15 PM

Having had a stillborn nearly 40 years ago, I would have cherished photographs. Having been heavily medicated during the labor and birth I only have a fuzzy memory of holding and looking at my first baby. Even after having four children and all of these years later I remember my loss.

- Judith Tipton

Posted 06/18/08 08:52 PM

I lost my sweet Abbigail at 34 weeks. She was born still. I am so grateful to the nurse for contacting the NILMDTS photographer. He traveled 70 miles late at night to take pictures of us. I don’t know what I would do without the pictures. They provide a way to keep me connected to Abbi. My Abbi is not here for me to hold but I can look at her anytime and her memory will stay alive.

- Sheri Anderson

Posted 07/25/08 03:17 PM

My son was born in September and lived for an hour and a half. The pictures I have from the NILMDTS photographer are amazing. I look at them everyday. I also show them to my 2 and 1/2 year old son so that he can remember his little brother.

- Tracy Stracener

Posted 11/07/08 11:56 AM

could it be it? i was searching for information needed for such a long time. Thank you!

- foto chica desnuda gratis

Posted 11/16/08 08:47 PM

Great site, nice design

- todo sexo

Posted 11/17/08 07:21 AM

i am going to tell my friends about this site - it’s just perfect!

- chat sexo

Posted 11/20/08 01:56 PM

Grand emplacement - le bon travail ! ! !