While I like the idea of people saying "Congratulations on the birth of your baby, sorry s/he couldn't stay" I am going to go against the grain a little and say the word congratulations doesn't seem appropriate to me .... that is JUST my opinion though having never experienced giving birth to a forever sleeping baby.

I am not sure what the appropriate thing to say would be, other than how deeply sorry you were to hear of the loss of their son/daughter. Anything really heartfelt will sound sincere especially coming from a very close team.

If the ladies here who have been through the heartache of giving birth to a sleeping baby say yes to using the word congratulations then do that, I have never been in their shoes so do not know what the right things to say are

Nae x x
Yes Nae, I completely understand what you are saying- the word congratulations isn't 'right' maybe? I can't remember feeling one way or another about it

Also Tash- I am the only pg one at work and I won't be attending and I think the kids thing is a parental choice thing maybe- gosh I don't know