April 29, 2005, was my due date.  Oh, the excitement!  After years of waiting, and a miscarriage, it was time to meet our first child, our daughter Skye.  Without warning, our dreams became nightmares.  The unimaginable happened.  Skye no longer had a heartbeat and she was born still due to a complication called placental abruption.

The hopelessness and intense pain of losing Skye challenged me to place a magnifying glass on the topic of bleeding disorders related to pregnancy.  It made me ask the questions:

Why do so many women of childbearing age lack awareness of the risk of bleeding complications (uteroplacental bleeding disorders) in pregnancy?

Who are the women most vulnerable to these complications?

My husband Paul and I never heard of placental abruption.  Our doctor's explanation gave us clarity on the condition; however, the "why" was left unanswered. 

Watching Skye as she was whisked away through the double doors of the hospital was a defining moment for me.  Something had to be done.  I, as Skye's mother, decided to become the spokesperson for this cause.