Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth in North Carolina

After a very happy & healthy 38 weeks, the day had arrived to meet our son. In the early morning hours of October 31st, 2009  it was official he would be here today. My first child hoped for, dreamt of and joyfully waiting for would be here soon. At  I planned for the outings we would take, the endless supply of family that would be coming to visit him, all of the firsts he was going to have. But mostly I just wanted to meet the little man who had resided in my abdomen for the past 38 weeks, rolling around, hiccupping daily, and stretching as he pleased. Little did I know those dreams would not come true. At approximately 4:30 a.m, after being in active labor for 2 and a half hours we learned things were not going to end that way. The doctor ordered a ultrasound and then said the words I will never forget, "I am so terribly sorry, there is no heartbeat". At that moment, my life had become forever changed. At 7:42 a.m, I gave birth to a 6 lb 1 oz, 18.5" long, perfect baby boy.....who never took his first breath in the world. I left that hospital with no baby in a new carseat, but a memory box that will be cherished for eternity filled with foot prints & hand prints, a lock of hair, the measuring tape that recorded my sons birth, a baby hat he wore after his birth, the blankets used after his first bath, pictures to hold forever, a "Certificate of Delivery" the nurses made,  and a heart that will never mend. We left the hospital after having to give birth, then plan a funeral. You see, by law, my son had to be buried or creamated, because of his age. He would be recognized in that sense. However when time came to order the certificate of birth & unfortunately death, I learned I could not get either. I could obtain a "Fetal Death Report". Not only would my family never get to know my son, their grandchild, a nephew, a little guy who would be so much to his familes, they would also never see his Certificate of birth in his baby book. That page is empty.

Please help me & the many other families affected by Stillbirth in every state. We birthed our children, we buried our children! Stillbirth is something that has no boundaries, it affects all women no matter race, economic status, or religion. Stillbirth affects nearly 1 in every 115 pregnancies in the US, roughly 26,000 every year or 1 every 20 minutes. That is 1 parent every 20 minutes that will never see their child grow, never hear their cry. That is 1 mother whose heart will always be missing a piece. Help us give our children a voice, and help our children count.

In memory of Jayden Christopher Mack, born still October 31, 2009