After Every Storm Comes The Rainbow

One local mother speaks out about dealing with child loss through miscarriage and stillbirth, as she and her husband welcome their very own ‘Rainbow Baby.’

- Noreen McEldowney

THE birth of a baby is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and wonderful experiences any parent can have. That is how Draperstown mother

Teresa Kidd described the recent birth of her daughter Nina.

At 14 week’s old Nina is a beautiful, healthy baby, who has brought so much joy into her parents hearts and home.

Unfortunately the path to parenthood has been difficult for Teresa and her husband, Marty.

Little Nina is the Kidd’s fourth baby, but their only surviving one.

Noreen McEldowney got the chance to meet Teresa, someone who can only be described as an extremely loving, kind and above all, brave.

This is her story On December 8, 2013 Teresa and her husband welcomed their first child into the world. It was a little girl and they called her Leonie Ellen Kidd.

This was the Kidd’s first pregnancy and Teresa says she can only describe herself then as, “a little naive.”

“Maybe I didn’t pay as much attention as I should have to the baby’s movement,” said Teresa, “but then I didn’t know any different. This was my first pregnancy I just believed it would be plain sailing.”

And for Teresa her pregnancy was just that, until little baby Leonie was stillborn.

“I was eight days over due,” explained Teresa. “I had been having pains a few days before the birth and knew it was nearly time. I’d went into labour myself and rang the hospital. The first few times they told me to have a bath, get comfortable and have painkillers, but on the third occassion they advised me it was time to come in.

“It was then we were told there was no heartbeat.

“I couldn’t believe it I thought I was hallucinating. I had only been in hospital six days previous and everything was fine.