Comfort After Stillbirth or Pregnancy Loss

Stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and termination for a medical reason can bring up many feelings.

When you are ready, we have resources at BMC and in the Boston area to help you and your family process your loss in your own way and on your own timeline.

Resources

For Parents and Caregivers

Empty Arms Bereavement Support

For general help and local/regional support groups
Empty Arms Bereavement Support is a warm and welcoming nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts that offers peer support services for individuals and families experiencing the loss of a pregnancy or an infant through miscarriage, stillbirth, early infant death, or termination for medical reasons.

The Massachusetts Center for Unexpected Infant and Child Death

For general help and local/regional support groups
The Massachusetts Center for Unexpected Infant and Child Death supports families, communities, and professionals after an unexpected death during pregnancy, infancy, or early childhood. The Center’s mission is to provide an individualized and compassionate response to bereaved families; offer integrated, meaningful, and professional resources; and help affected families and their communities grieve.

Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support

Share is a national organization for pregnancy and infant loss, which also has local chapters. The local Massachusetts chapter has in person support groups and the national chapter offers weekly virtual support groups and chats. They also organize events and provide education.

Lucinda’s House

For Black families experiencing loss
Lucinda’s House exists to create environments where women of color feel safe and supported and can actively participate in eliminating structural barriers to improve their overall health and wellbeing. Approximately one in four women in the United States will suffer a miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss, and Black women are more than twice as likely as white women to experience all types of pregnancy loss.

Postpartum Support International

For grief resources and online support groups
Experiencing the loss of a pregnancy, infant, or child brings unimaginable pain, grief, and isolation and is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms.

Return to Zero

This organization provides a community for anyone whose lives have been touched by pregnancy loss and stillbirth. They offer support groups, resources, workshops, retreats, and online community.

For Children (Siblings or Other Younger Family Members)

Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families

Provides resources and a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and families who are grieving can share their experiences before and after a death.

For Parents Who Are Expecting Again After a Past Loss

Pregnancy After Loss Support (PALS) Mobile App

For self-care, support groups, and mobile support
This app is designed to support the entire emotional journey as mothers, and their partners, go through pregnancy after a loss, with potential ups and downs of their experience in mind.

Read March of Dimes Article: “Dealing with grief after the death of your baby”