I'm looking for some ideas for a cake I'm making next week... It is for a very intimate shower for a lady whose baby has a fatal birth defect and will not survive. I'm wanting something "precious," but am having a hard time coming up with something suitable. Any ideas?

they make a mold of a baby sleeping that is very precious. that might look nice on the cake.

I'm sorry to hear about that sad situation. I have never been in that situation, thank God, but I would think that the mother would not necessarily want the cake to be any different from other typical shower cakes. For example: if she likes flowers, I say go with flowers; use the colors that she loves; make it fun for her.

When I worked as a midwife we encouraged parents facing this crisis to put together a little kit for their child - clothes, bonnet, shoes, blanket, stuffed toy. This was their "send off". Perhaps this is a theme you could build around?

I respectfully have a different opinion with SPCC, sugar babies freak me out.

I think I would go with something simple, classy looking. Like circles, or swirls. Plain but pretty, ya know?

I'm so sorry to hear the story, what a sad situation.

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep..." Does that sound too sad? My daughter has a praying bunny that quotes that prayer. Maybe a praying bunny holding a blanket. It could look kinda like a precious moments bunny with wings.

This cake by silverc is very sweet.

Maybe some kind of sugar mold or buttercream transfer of a baby being cradled in a hand? This is a touch one, good luck to you and the poor mother who is going to have to say goodbye to her baby : (

I like the bunny idea that mama2_3 mentioned.
I think if you can make a topping of a sweet little baby being held by white angels would be really nice.
It is a little sad, but moving and so full of feelings at the same time.
Keep the colors simple, have beautiful magicaly white clouds, and the baby in angel's arms and protected by their wings.
I am feeling so sad now. I will pray for your friend.

I think I would avoid angel wings or anything that would remind everyone of the sad diagnosis. It is for a baby shower, right? They are celebrating the birth of the coming baby.

Do you know if she is having a boy or girl so you can choose colors?

I lost a baby and it was the hardest thing I ever went through. Please do not put a small baby on the cake. If it were me, a small baby on the cake would make me fall apart. Just do something elegant and classy.

I'd just put a little bouquet of flowers with a ribbon around the stems on the top...forget-me-nots and sweet peas would be pretty...something along those line..you can never go wrong

you could make a cross with flowers on it

A lady at my Mom's church lost her baby 1 week before her scheduled c-section. The church always puts on a baby shower after the baby is born and still wanted to give this lady something to let her know that everyone is thinking of her. So they decide on something cheerful and I made the gerbera daisy cake in my photos for her. She loved it and it helped her.

I vote no baby, no cross, no "Now I lay me down..." That ends with, "if I should die before I wake...." I've lost a child, not a baby by any means, but I just think cheerful, not whimsical-- of course. Just my opinion-- don't mean to offend anyone with their suggestions. No way we'll all agree-- too many opinions.

I would defer to the ladies who have suffered through this before and go with somethng cheerful.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts. I was thinking of just a pale pink cake with brush embroidery clouds along the bottom, with the saying "You are loved (baby's name)" near the top, circling the cake. I was trying to figure out a good topper. I like the sweet pea one, but I also thought that having a baby on the cake might be a little too much for mom. I was thinking of tiny booties or something along those lines. I like that she could keep them if she wanted.

Thanks again for your ideas. I have so much sympathy for anyone who has had to deal with the loss of a baby. I can't even imagine the grief and sorrow.

This is what I ended up doing. Sadly, the baby was stillborn, but the lady who ordered the cake took it to the hospital for the mommy and a few very close friends.

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1650427.html

The cake turned out nice. I'm sure she was touched. Thanks for the update.