Pregnancy and Infant Loss Resources

Over the years we have been approached when someone is touched by pregnancy or infant loss for resources and ways to help.

I (Jillyn) have always wanted to compile a list of the resources I've found over the years. So, here it is. I hope that this list will be useful and that it helps bring comfort and healing to other's lives.

Basic Information about Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death (from Return to Zero)
Defining the Terms

  • The terms "stillbirth," "miscarriage," and "neonatal death" are often misunderstood if they are understood at all. 
  • Miscarriage is an early pregnancy loss, occurring before 20 weeks gestation. (United States)
  • Terminating a wanted pregnancy for medical reasons usually happens during the 2nd trimester and a baby has received a diagnosis of a condition with poor prognosis. The parents have to make the decision whether to continue the pregnancy. This also occurs when a rare pregnancy or other health complications pose a notable threat to the mother's life if she continues the pregnancy.
  • Stillbirth ("fetal death" or "fetal demise") is the birth of an infant that has died in the womb after 20 weeks of gestation. (United States)
  • Neonatal death is when a baby dies in the first 28 days of life.
Statistics
  • 1 in 4 mothers report experiencing perinatal loss—however, the number may be as high as 50% (Jaffe & Diamond, 2011). Approximately 24,000 babies annually will be stillborn (>20 weeks gestation), and an additional 23,000 infants will die within the first 28 days of life (MacDorman & Gregory, 2015). 
  • Perinatal loss occurs 10 times more often than deaths related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017).



Links/Resources:

Resources for after the news

Photography: Some parents feel pictures are not something they would want. But my suggestion (and the suggestion of many others) is to do them. You never have to look at them if you do not wish, but you can never go back and get those photos if you change your mind. And often times, even if it's years down the road, parents wish they had photographs. Personally, we cherish the photographs we have of our daughter and wish we could have more.
  • Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. "NILMDTS trains, educates, and mobilizes professional quality photographers to provide beautiful heirloom portraits to families facing the untimely death of an infant. We believe these images serve as an important step in the family's healing process by honoring the child's legacy. These photos are taken free of charge and photographers will come to the hospital."
  • Photography Pose Ideas 
 Pregnancy After a Fatal Diagnosis

  • All That Love Can Do Support for families who continue their pregnancies after a fatal diagnosis.
  • Carrying an Angel "This is a place for anybody who is seeking comfort, help, support, answers, encouragement, guidance, hope, faith, strength, compassion, or simply the understanding that they are not alone. Whether you are here because you have lost a precious baby, or you have recently learned that your unborn baby has a poor or fatal condition, I hope that you can find that which you seek so desperately. "
  • Cherishing the Journey "Cherishing the Journey is here to offer comfort and guidance to parents who lovingly continue their pregnancy after receiving a negative prenatal diagnosis for their baby, as well as parents who have experienced the loss of an infant. We believe that each child is a gift, and we wish to help families honor their beloved baby by providing memory items, support, and resources."
  • Perinatal Hospice & Palliative Care Continuing Your Pregnancy When Your Baby's Life Is Expected to Be Brief 
Other Resources
Support for Fathers
Patterns


Support Organizations

  • Return To Zero "Developed by Kiley Hanish to help families whose baby died during pregnancy (miscarriage, stillbirth), infancy, or toddlerhood, the Center for Healing focuses on outreach, education, research, and healing retreats."
  • The TEARS Foundation "The TEARS Foundation seeks to compassionately lift a financial burden from families who have lost a baby by providing funds to assist with the cost of burial or cremation services. We believe that every baby’s life deserves to be honoredand memorialized in accordance with the grieving parents’ wishes and are committed to helping bereaved parents with this experience. Every grieving parent deserves access to ongoing bereavement support, so we also offer parents comprehensive bereavement care in the form of grief support groups and peer companions."
  • Miss Foundation "The MISS Foundation is an international 501(c)3, volunteer based organization providing C.A.R.E. [counseling, advocacy, research, and education] services to families experiencing the death of a child."
  • First Candle "First Candle is committed to the elimination of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and preventable Stillbirths through education and research while providing support for grieving families who have suffered a loss."
  • Hope Mommies "Hope Mommies™ is a 501(c)3 non-profit Christian organization who sole purpose is to come alongside moms and families who have experienced infant loss, bringing comfort, encouragement, companionship, and hope as they continue to walk this side of eternity without their beloved son or daughter."
  • Still Birthday "Stillbirthday Global Network is an internationally trusted benevolent organization whose philanthropic mission is simply to doula: to nurture sources of perinatal bereavement, strengthen skills of healthcare professionals and increase healthy engagement of perinatal related needs among communities."
  • The Compasionate Friends "The mission of The Compassionate Friends: When a child dies, at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated. The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family."
  • Still Mothers "We are proud to bring this resource to you on behalf of all the mothers who feel lost and left behind in a community of families, because their only child(ren) has died. "
  • Carly Marie "Mindful Healing Through The Death of a Baby or Child."
  • October 15th The official site of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Ways to Help Family and Friends



Resources for Children
Gift Ideas


Ways to Remember and Honor


Pregnancy After Loss



Media
Books

Movies
  • Return To Zero "Return to Zero is based on a true story in which a successful couple named Aaron and Maggie are expecting their first child, only to have their lives devastated when they learn that the child has died in the womb. The film is based on the experiences of its writer, Sean Hanish, and his wife. Driver and Adelstein co-wrote and performed the film's title song."
  • Rabbit Hole "Life for a happy couple is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident."

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