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Coping with loss

The death of a baby during or after pregnancy is heart breaking and devastating. There is definitely help and support available, whether the loss was recent or happened many years ago.

There are many charities and support groups available locally or nationally that you can contact:

SANDS provides emotional support, comfort and practical help to anyone affected by the death of a baby during pregnancy of shortly after birth. SANDS have a network of around 100 local SANDs support groups throughout the UK. These are run by dedicated volunteers, most of whom have themselves been affected by the death of a baby.They can provide locally- based support and advice to bereaved parents and family. SANDS also offer support to professionals affected by this area.

SANDs can provide a Family Support Pack with a multitude of information leaflets to provide support and advice to bereaved parents on topics such as:

  • Saying goodbye to your baby
  • Supporting children when a baby has died
  • Future pregnancies after baby loss
  • Returning to work
  • Information to employees
  • Information for fathers and grandparents, friends and family

Contact information for the local SANDS group:

Where: Meeting Point House, Southwater Square, Telford TF3 4HS

When: 2nd Tuesday of each month 19:00-21:00hrs.

SANDs Helpline:

Hope House Children’s Hospices are here to make sure that no one faces the death of their child alone. They have supported more than 750 local families who are either caring for a terminally ill child, or whose child has died.

Address: Hope House, Nant Lane, Morda, Oswestry, SY10 9BX

Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading national charity for bereaved people. We offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone die, and work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.

Address: Cross Hill, Shrewsbury SY1 1JE

The Miscarriage Association is here to provide support and information to anyone affected by miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy.

Child Bereavement UK helps children, young people, parents and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. They support children and young people up to the age of 25 who are facing bereavement, and anyone affected by the death of a child of any age.

Bliss exists to give every baby born premature or sick in the UK the best chance of survival and quality of life. Bliss can also help with baby bereavement.

The Lullaby Trust provides emotional support for bereaved families.

Dad Still Standing is an online group created as a way of helping other dads along their journey with grief. To discuss the difficulties they  go through in bereavement, both in the immediate aftermath of baby loss and as time moves on.

Website: www.dadstillstanding.com/

Winstons Wish is a Childhood bereavement Charity