The baby products are starting to arrive

[flori]

It started slowly a few weeks ago with coupons and has been steadily trickling in. I have a can of formula, wipe samples, several $5 and $10 off coupons for more formula and quite a few baby portrait coupons. They say "Congratulations!" or "Capture these precious moments" or other things that aren't meant to be sad but are.

My husband admitted to me that when he's able to intercept the mail before I get it he tosses out anything baby-related. I just happened to walk into the entryway the day the formula came and he hid it behind his back. When he showed it to me I carried it against my chest like a baby and snuggled against my Boppy while I read the information packet. I cried.

I thought about keeping the stuff for rainbow baby (fingers crossed) but the perishables will likely expire before he/she arrives. Then I thought about putting together a gift basket with all of the goodies, which is probably what I'll end up doing.

This is rough. What did my fellow angel mommies do when this happened?

[cmccaffrey]

The week after I got out of the hospital, flowers and gift baskets full of baby stuff kept showing up at our doors and my husband would try to hide them from me as well. But I did exactly what you are talking about doing. Packaged things up and gave them to the mommies I knew who were having or who had just had babies. It was really hard for me though. I screamed and cried the whole time I did it. I am sure my husband thought I was completely INSANE, but it was really the only thing I could do. I am so sorry that you are going through all of this. I remember how painful it was like it was yesterday.

[uncskristy]

It took me awhile to get to the point where I don't cry when I see those things in the mailbox.
One thought is you can also could also collect the samples and take them to a food bank. Baby Formula is something that they always are in low supply of.

[kerisue]

This happened to me too, still happens sometimes. I can't get rid of the emails from Babies R Us (for some reason they won't let me unsubscribe.) It's a stab of pain each time I get stuff in the mail, but fortunately just a little one. Except for the formula I've thrown all the samples away- to make a gift basket for some other luckier woman would have been too much for me.

[flori]

Kerisue, I am getting pamphlets from Babies R Us almost weekly! I feel so sad when they come because I remember the first time we went there after we found out I was pregnant. We only bought a little unisex bib but we spent an hour and a half looking at the different car seats, bedding sets, cribs, strollers, outfits, etc. The cashier talked us into signing up for their rewards card, which I still have tucked away in my wallet. My husband found his the other day and teared up.. he ended up shredding it.

I don't even know how all of this stuff is coming, I don't remember signing up for anything.

My heart hurts.

[lola1971]

So sorry you are going through this. We lost our FB DD almost 3 years ago and it is still very painful. I remember what you are going through as if yesterday. Hang in there...

There isn't much I can say that will make you feel less pain. Please find comfort in that you are not alone and we understand.

[frogibe]

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I also went through dreading opening the mail to find coupons and formula. The baby furniture arrived about 2 weeks after Kelsie died which was almost unbearable! This was hard and it did slow down after about 2-3 months. Then came our year mark and I kept getting Happy 1st Birthday coupons and cards which to say the least was very difficult...Stay strong. I think your doing the right thing by donating those items that are perishable. I did the same with diapers and wipes and formula. I still haven't gotten rid of her bedding or preemie clothes. I just cannot find the power to do it.