A mom shared her emotional story with Café Mom about losing her firstborn to SIDS at six-months-old.
Missy North began the column describing her pregnancy experience with baby Blake, noting it was “easy,” with “no morning sickness, no crazy cravings.” At eight months pregnant, however, she began having really high blood pressure and was put on modified bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy.
RELATED: Community Question: Is It Normal to Worry This Much About SIDS?
At 39 weeks pregnant, Missy was induced, but it ultimately took 50 hours for Blake to make his way into the world.
When she and her husband, Ben, took Blake home, he almost immediately slept through the night. Blake was growing and meeting milestones, though they were concerned about a flatness on the back of his head. After taking him to the doctor, they decided not to put him in a helmet to reshape his head, an option to fix the flatness which is purely cosmetic.
Not having paid maternity leave, Missy went back to work after only six weeks at home with Blake. They put him in a daycare with an “amazing lady.”
On December 6, Blake was put down for a nap and never woke up. He had rolled from “his back to his belly and found faced down in the pack n’ play.” Medics came and tried to revive him, but it was too late.
They found out weeks later that Blake had died from SIDS.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: ‘Miracle Baby’ of Parents Who Suffered Six Miscarriages Dies After Nanny Leaves Her in Hot Car
A couple of years later, Missy and Ben discovered they were having another baby, a girl, who they decided to name Jenna. She was born happy and healthy in February.
The couple also welcomed a baby boy, Brady, in March 2016, who also arrived happy and healthy.
After so much pain after losing Blake, Missy and Ben are over-the-moon to have two “rainbow” babies.
“They keep us on our toes as I’m sure their big brother has a part,” Missy tells CafeMom. “Jenna is so fierce and strong-willed. She has big emotions and there’s never guessing what is on her mind as she is always talking!,” Missy wrote. “Brady is our sweet, goofy child and is the more laid back one, but is easily convinced by his sister to get into trouble! We couldn’t be happier. We know Blake is here with us, making sure we’re okay!”