FAQs for the Message Boards
How do I get into the chat room?
Before you can enter the chat room, you must have Java loaded on your computer. If you do not have Java, you can go to www.java.com and download it for free. Once Java is loaded on your computer, simply click on the "Chat" link at the top of any page, and then hit the "Chat here" button, which will take you into the chat room.
How long does it take for messages to be approved and posted?
Messages are posted several times each day, after they are read and approved by one of several Share moderators.
I have registered to use the message board, but I still cannot see messages or post my own message. Why?
After you submitted your registration, you should have immediately received an email from Share verifying your registration. In that email, there is a link that you need to click on that will take you back to the message board. Until you do this step, your registration will not be complete, and you will not be able to access the message board.
I've registered, but when I try to log in, I get an error message. What am I doing wrong?
Check your username to make sure there are no apostrophes. For instance, instead of "sam'smommy," you should use "samsmommy."
Am I allowed to promote a business I have, or advertise items I sell that parents might be interested in?
No, you may not use the message board for this purpose. If you sell something that you think bereaved parents might be interested in, contact the Share staff and we will consider adding a link to your business on the website.
What do all of the abbreviations and terms mean that people use in their message board posts?
Following are some of the most commonly used abbreviations:
- af - Aunt Flo (a slang term for your period)
- bf - best friend, or boyfriend
- BFN/BFP - big fat negative/big fat positive (pregnancy test results)
- bil/sil - brother-in-law/sister-in-law
- dh - dear or darling husband
- dd/ds - dear or darling daughter, dear or darling son
- epl - early pregnancy loss
- hpt - home pregnancy test
- lc - living children, or living child
- m/c - miscarriage
- opk - ovulation predictor kit
- pm - private message
- PROM - premature rupture of membranes
- Rainbow baby - The baby you have following a loss is sometimes referred to as a Rainbow Baby.
- sahm - stay-at-home mom
- sb - stillborn
- so - significant other
- ttc - trying to conceive
- 2ww - 2 week wait (a term used when trying to conceive, the time period between ovulation and the time your period is due
How do I put pictures into my post?
How do I create an avatar?
How do I change the size of my avatar?
I don't want to see all of the pictures of people's babies in their avatar. Can I disable this feature?
My private message folder says it is full. I deleted everything, and it still says it's full. Why?
You need to delete not only the messages from your inbox, but you also need to delete the messages from your sent folder. There is a light gray bar across the top of your list of messages. To the far right, in this gray section, there is a small rectangular box that says "inbox" with a green arrow pointing down. Click on this arrow, and a menu will drop down that says "saved," "draft," "sent," and "trash." Click on "sent" and all of the private messages you have sent will show up. Delete the ones you do not want to save. When you delete messages from and of the folders (inbox, sent, or saved) they go into the "trash" folder. Until you go into the trash folder and delete everything again, your private message folder will still say it is full.
