For parents, friends and family who have experienced the loss of a baby at any stage. There is something here for everyone. Christian Support Groups Collaborative Memorials Personal Pages National Support International Support Helpful Reading Material & Resources E-Cards for Sympathy & Support Links Addressing Related Issues Pregnancy & High Risk Issues Taking Action! Please email us with changes, updates or new additions that would benefit others, or if you have a helpful link, you can submit it on our add your link page. All links will be reviewed by us before showing up on the list. You may see a pop up window that you will need to close before filling out the form to add your link. The underwater with dolphins was our daughter Grace’s baby room theme. You can see the pictures of the wall murals painted in her room on her "photo album" page. Christian Support Groups Missing GRACE The Missing GRACE Organization provides support, and resources, for people who are faced with the difficult life issues of infertility, infant loss from conception to the first year of life, and adoption. Our programs serve to help families on their journey as they Grieve, Restore, Arise, Commemorate & Educate; and we commit to make available educational opportunities that will help to bring about awareness of and prevention of stillbirth. Cristin’s Hope This is a wonderful online support group for families who are mourning children from a loss of 20 or more week's gestation, stillbirth, neonatal death, SIDS or death of a child up to 1 year of age. The group and its support members helped me by providing caring support, encouragement & Christian love during the months after my daughter died. Please note that it does not matter how long ago your loss was-the only requirement is the need of love & support of those who care. Hannah's Prayer Hannah's Prayer desires to provide Christian based support and encouragement to couples around the world who are struggling with the pain of "fertility challenges" including infertility or the loss of a child at any time from conception through early infancy. HEALING HEARTS for Bereaved Parents "Dedicated to providing grief support and services to parents whose child has died. The volunteers at HEALING HEARTS are here to help. We have known the pain that the death of a child brings. We have struggled with and worked on our grief and finally have made peace with that grief. Our purpose is to offer understanding, suggestions for coping, support, friendship, and most of all hope to all bereaved parents. Parents who have lost a child as a result of miscarriage or stillbirth are equally welcome as those who have lost children to illness, accident or violence." Angel Babies Forever Loved Angel Babies Forever Loved, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation established to support grieving parents of infants. Whether from miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, or SIDS, we all share in the loss of our babies. Pain, Heartache, Hope After Robin Bear went through the devastation of 6 miscarriages, she decided to create this website to help others like herself and her husband to cope. "I wanted this website to be a special place that a Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, or Grandparent could come to receive comfort." She offers a memorial page for people to write their loved one a note and has many e-mail support groups you can join. Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death (M.E.N.D.) M.E.N.D. is a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to reach out to those who have lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death and offer a way to share experiences and information through meetings, the bi-monthly newsletter, and our Internet web site. They are based out of Dallas-Ft.Worth. Collaborative Memorials Remembering Our Babies The official site of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is to promote Support, Education and Awareness for grieving parents nationwide (and worldwide). Our Hearts Will Go On We are a group of bereaved parents who have suffered the death of at least one baby. Here we share our photos, stories, memories and poems because we love to share about our babies and rarely get the opportunity. Operation Angel One of the goals of Operation Angel is to enlighten and inform friends and family on ways to minister to someone who has lost a baby, as well as help those of you who have experienced such a loss receive comfort and healing. Personal Pages Cristin’s Story The story of Cristin Claire's life, she lived nine short hours. "A place for you to share the story of your child's life with us or to share any stories that may bring hope to others in suffering." Beautiful Triplets: Avery, Grace and Noah's Home Page This site is dedicated to these dear triplets who were born at 22+ weeks. Look at the Friends and Family and Parents Going Longer on the resources page under links. This mother has created a very good list of things to say and not to say to a bereaved parents and also what to do if you find out your baby is going to be stillborn or may be a neonatal loss. Dedicated to our little angel, Tyler This is the web site that was created by Kimberly, mother of Tyler Branden Lotz who was stillborn. This site has a wonderful memorial wall where bereaved parents can put their baby’s information and you can read about other babies who have all left us too soon. This site also has the song One More Day, which always brings tears to my eyes. Cody This site is in honor of Cody Hill who was stillborn past full term. Cody’s mother started an online support group called Angelic Whispers and the link is provided on this page. National Support Groups Heavenly Angels in Need Provides help for babies in need. They work with volunteers to make things for babies who need to keep their heads warm exc. and provide clothing for babies who passed away (burial gowns exc..) They Knit, Crochet, Sew exc.. Based in Oregon, but they provide baby clothing and memory boxes nationally. Born Angels Internet Based Pregnancy and Neonatal Loss Support Center providing pregnancy loss support, infertility support, neonatal loss support, and adoption resources. Write a tribute in memory of your Angel, and post on message board for support. National Council of Jewish Women Pregnancy Loss Support Program (PLSP)for Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Newborn Death. PLSP volunteers offer nationwide telephone counseling and New York metropolitan area support groups to those who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death as well as to those who are pregnant after a loss. Still Fathers A voluntary and supportive association of fathers who have experienced stillbirth, infant death or miscarriage. Through gatherings - whether face-to-face or via the Internet - we venture to listen compassionately, to speak honestly, and to honor sincerely. As one way of loving our children, we embrace and encourage one another in our journey through grief. GriefNet An Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss. We have 47 email support groups and two web sites, including kidsaid.org. The Grief Watch Site was created to provide bereavement resources, memorial products and links that can help you through your personal loss. It also serves as an excellent educational tool for all who travel down the road of grief. HAND (Helping After Neonatal Death) Grief support and information for parents and relatives of those who've lost a child before, during or after pregnancy, through stillborn, miscarriage, SIDS, or other causes. We are a non-profit organization based in Northern California and the Central Valley. Information for medical professionals is also provided. Alive Alone An organization for the education and charitable purposes to benefit bereaved parents, whose only child or all children are deceased, by providing a self-help network and publications to promote communication and healing, to assist in resolving their grief, and a means to reinvest their lives for a positive future. UNITE, Inc. Grief Support They provide grief support services to families following the loss of their baby due to stillbirth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and early infant death. They are located in the Philadelphia, PA area. Rivendell Resources, GRIEFNET Rivendell Resources, a non-profit foundation based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, sponsors GriefNet, a collection of resources of value to those who are experiencing loss and grief. Hygeia Hygeia...An Online Journal for Pregnancy and Neonatal Loss - A New Resource for Women's Health and Healing. Hygeia is devoted to the subject matter of grieving and loss as it pertains to pregnancy loss, genetic complications, miscarriage, neonatal loss and other life-threatening illnesses. Growth House This is the Growth House web site area dealing with grief related to pregnancy and infant death. This award-winning web site is an international gateway to resources for life-threatening illness and end of life issues. Brooke’s Place For Grieving Young People, Inc. Indianapolis, IN support groups for young people and college age (age 3-20+) who have experienced the death of a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, sibling, friend or loved one. Crisis, Grief and Healing Crisis, Grief and Healing - A place men and women can browse to understand and honor the many different paths to heal strong emotions. Author, speaker, and psychotherapist Tom Golden LCSW provides this page. He has a section on the different way men and women grieve. BabySteps "The BabySteps Children's Fund is a non-profit organization offering information and support to bereaved parents and children suffering the loss of a child. BabySteps is named after the baby steps that form the long and difficult road to recovery from the loss of a child." This site has Bereavement Sharing Rooms - for families to share grief and to express feelings and thoughts about loss. Remembrance Rooms for the Bereaved - places to put up memories of loved ones that are no longer with us, and Bereavement Resource Rooms - information and links on the grieving process, booklists and resources, and how to find support groups. They have a really good list of Dos and Don’ts for what to say and not to say/What to do and not to do to support someone who has experienced the loss of a child. *If you are a relative, friend, or acquaintance of someone who has lost a child, then this is great recommended reading. BirthStories.com Compare notes with other parents-to-be and parents, read stories that are similar to yours or are very different than yours, share your own story and connect with others! This site Has more than 100 personal stories people have written about losing their first baby; and has more than 50 personal stories of people having their first baby after their loss (subsequent pregnancy after loss). International Support Missing GRACE The Missing GRACE Organization provides support, and resources, for people who are faced with the difficult life issues of infertility, infant loss from conception to the first year of life, and adoption. Our programs serve to help families on their journey as they Grieve, Restore, Arise, Commemorate & Educate; and we commit to make available educational opportunities that will help to bring about awareness of and prevention of stillbirth. Angel Whispers Angel Whispers is a Canadian non-profit group that provides support to families who have experienced the loss of a baby shortly after birth or during pregnancy. Subsequent pregnancy support is also provided. Services include: quarterly newsletter, birth certificates, support groups, care packages and email support. AGAST An internationally recognized non-profit (501(c)3) organization with peer contacts throughout the United States, and active grandparents in ten countries. Staffed entirely by volunteer grandparents, AGAST responds to "new" bereaved grandparents with information packets, personal contact, and remembrance cards. Mothers In Sympathy & Support (M.I.S.S.) M.I.S.S. is a grass roots organization dedicated to supporting parents one to one after the death of an infant or young child. Referrals to peer contacts and ancillary organizations offered. Grief workshops are available for professionals who work with families during and after the death of their child. Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS) SANDS is a self-help organization in the United Kingdom with a network of over 200 groups and contacts. Their purpose is to befriend and support bereaved parents and their families, who have suffered a stillbirth or neonatal death. Their concern is to help any bereaved parent who gets in touch and to improve services for all bereaved parents, their family and friends. SANDS Australia SANDS Australia is a voluntary self-help organization comprised in the main, of parents who have experienced the death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or within days of birth. Compassionate Friends National Office The Compassionate Friends, Inc. (TCF) is an international self-help, mutual assistance organization offering friendship, support and understanding to any parent who has experienced the death of a child, no matter what the age (infancy through adult) or cause of their death. There are chapters throughout the US as well as several other countries. Helpful reading material & resources Wintergreen Press Sherokee Ilse is a Bereaved Parent, International Speaker and Author of Empty Arms and many other books. Mission: To help improve the care families receive during and after the death of their child or loved one of any age. We commit to publish and distribute sensitive, quality products, to respond as soon as possible, and to network and help locate resources to aid grieving families and the care providers who serve them. Wintergreen Press is located in Minnesota. Centering Corporation A family owned and operated business that is dedicated to serving the needs of those healing from loss. Haloes Lending Library Gina Johnson started a lending library in memory of her son Phillip Thomas who was stillborn on November 28, 1999, at full term. If you're interested in starting a lending library in your local support group she provides a wonderful list of books that are helpful. You can also make a donation to her lending library in your child's name and if your local hospital is in need of books she can also help provide the resources and may fund some of the cost. A Place to Remember: Home Page Comprehensive Infant/Miscarriage Loss Links A Place to Remember: Links and Resources provides uplifting support materials and resources for those who have been touched by a crisis in pregnancy or the death of a baby. Excellent resource for Grief and Infant loss books, cards and mementos. E-Cards for Sympathy & Support The Survivor Card Shop Tasteful and sensitively designed e-cards to send to a friend or loved one who has experienced loss. Hallmark free E-cards for sympathy messages DaySpring free E-cards for sympathy messages Home With God free E-cards for sympathy messages 123 Greetings free E-cards for sympathy messages Miscarriage Sympathy E-cards E-cards specifically designed for sympathy after a loss, new pregnancy after a loss, and birth of a child after a loss Links addressing related issues (Fetal Anomalies, SIDS, SBS) Continuing Your Pregnancy with known Fetal Anomalies Waiting With Love A site for parents who choose to continue a pregnancy knowing their unborn baby will die before or shortly after birth and for families who learn their newborn will die. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Other Infant Death (SIDS/OID) Information Web Site This site is the growing collaborative effort of individuals from across the United States and around the world. This site offers up-to-date information as well as support for those who have been touched by the tragedy of SIDS/OID American SIDS Institute Founded in 1983, a national nonprofit health care organization, dedicated to the prevention of sudden infant death and the promotion of infant health through an aggressive, comprehensive nationwide program of research, clinical services, education, counseling and literature. Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) Mission is to seek the truth in alleged cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Non-Accidental Trauma in Children. Their goal is to provide education and research on subdural hematomas and retinal hemorrhages in children and to encourage the sharing of information and case histories to help us learn more about how to diagnose, prevent, treat, or litigate these cases. Natn’l Center on SBS SBS Prevention Plus Prevention Materials Pregnancy & High Risk Issues The Coalition for Positive Outcomes in Pregnancy (CPOP) A partnership of national and regional women's advocacy organizations, internet resources, and individuals concerned about families and achieving positive pregnancy outcomes. CPOP partners serve families experiencing preterm labor, miscarriage, stillbirth, multiples pregnancies, prematurity, or ongoing physical, emotional or learning disabilities due to pregnancy-related, birth, or neonatal problems. Sidelines Sidelines Resources/links for complicated pregnancy Provides nationwide support for women and their families experiencing complicated pregnancies. A pregnancy is termed "high risk" or "complicated" when the life or health of the mother or baby may be at risk. It is estimated that approximately 1 out of every 4 women will experience pregnancy complications this year, sometimes leading to the birth of a premature baby. When babies are born preterm, they have a higher risk for serious health problems. We believe that families can cope more successfully with a high-risk pregnancy with appropriate medical intervention, education, and a strong support system. Vasa Previa Foundation Vasa previa is a rarely (1:3000) reported condition in which fetal blood vessel(s) from the placenta or umbilical cord crosses the entrance to the birth canal, beneath the baby. The condition has a high fetal mortality rate (50-90%). This can be attributed to rapid fetal exsanguination resulting from the vessels tearing when the cervix dilates, membranes rupture or if the vessels become pinched off as they are compressed between the baby and the walls of the birth canal. The Pre-Eclampsia site The Pre-Eclampsia site links Here you will find information about Pre-eclampsia, Eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. This is a personal site, with personal stories, pregnancy diaries, special babies, a very supportive email discussion group and much more. Many helpful links are provided. DES Action USA DES (diethylstilbestrol) is a synthetic estrogen drug that was given to millions of pregnant women primarily from 1938-1971. Use of DES during pregnancy was thought to prevent miscarriage and ensure a healthy pregnancy. DES did not work, and women who took DES and the children they carried are at risk for certain health problems and may need special care. Find out if you were exposed to DES and if you were, tell your doctor. Taking Action! Resources that have started the fight against ignorance, and complacency on the issue of stillbirth For Education and Agitation National Stillbirth Society (NSS) “While every other childhood ailment and birth defect is being studied all over world, there are few agencies if any investigating stillbirth, the "ultimate birth defect". Just as a bereaved mother formed MADD, and a bereaved father formed "America's Most Wanted", if S.A.D.S. is to be defeated, it will be up to us, the bereaved parents of stillborn babies, to make it happen. We're the ones with a stake in the outcome. We're the ones who know the pain. Stillbirth is “an equal opportunity destroyer of dreams”. It cuts across age lines, color lines, race lines, class lines, and all lines. Norman Rockwell type mothers can have stillbirths and “crack mothers” can have live births. At present there’s no way to predict who will be next. Though stillbirth is as random as raindrops, we know it’s rarely caused by anything the mother did or did not do during her pregnancy. Substance abusers have early miscarriages and deliver developmentally impaired babies, all of which tells us there is no simple answer. The cause lies somewhere else - other than the obvious - and we need to find it quickly because 70 babies are being born dead every day!” Written by Richard K. Olsen who founded the NSS. The Pregnancy Institute Dr. Collins started this institute and has devoted more than 10 years to the research of stillbirth and completed a study of 400 cases of stillbirth. “ The Pregnancy Institute, Inc., is a non-profit organization created to study normal pregnancies. It is designed to promote the likelihood of healthier pregnancies resulting in well monitored, full-term live births.” {Home} {Introduction} {Mom's Story} {Dad's Story} {Photo Album} {Medical Issues} {Proactive Prenatal Care} {Considerations to Help Prevent Stillbirth} {A Mom's Prenatal top 10 check list} {Taking Action} {Coping} {Honoring Our Babies} {Grace's Due Date} {First Birthday in Heaven} {Calendar of Events} {Recent Events and Lectures} {Upcoming Events and Lectures} {Links} {Link to Us} {Guestbook}