06 October 2020
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Bereavement Support Services
We are so sorry you are here reading this. We hope that the following organisations will offer you support should you feel you need to reach out in the coming days, weeks or months following your loss.
Listing compiled by Frances Perry House Melbourne.
FRANCES PERRY HOUSE
Eliza Strauss or Aminee Dickenson. Bereavement Midwives, Frances Perry House. Mobile: 0422 002 153
Email: bereavesup.frp@ramsayhealth.com.au
FPH (Closed Facebook group only for Frances Perry House families)
THE PERINATAL LOSS CENTRE
The Perinatal Loss Centre provides specialist support and quality information to women and couples, their family and friends, who have experienced the loss of a baby.
Our Facebook page is a place where supportive, quality information can be found and a closed (moderated) bereaved parents’ online support group can be joined.
RED NOSE, GRIEF & LOSS (formerly SIDS & KIDS):
Red Nose Grief and Loss offers services to those affected by the death of a baby or child who dies suddenly and unexpectedly, regardless of the cause of death. They offer counselling (phone or face-to-face) as well as support groups for individuals/couples. The website is a great source of information and a good place to start.
Telephone: 1300 308 307
Email: support@rednose.com.au
SANDS (Miscarriage, Stillbirth & Newborn Death Support) (Vic):
SANDS is a national not-for-profit organisation working to provide support, information and education to bereaved parents, their families and Healthcare Professionals.
SANDS parent supporters are on call 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Telephone Support Line: 1300 072 637
Email: info@sands.org.au
PINK ELEPHANTS:
Pink Elephant provides information and support for women through miscarriage, pregnancy loss and beyond. The group supports women through their grief, nurtures them as they heal and empower them as they move into the future. There are a number of resources available in their website including useful information about miscarriage stages, support brochures and downloadable resources.
BEARS OF HOPE:
Bears of Hope Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support provides leading support and care for families who experience the loss of their baby.
Enquiries: 1300 11 HOPE
Email: contact@bearsofhope.org.au
STILLBIRTH FOUNDATION:
The Stillbirth Foundation Australia is the only Australian charity dedicated to stillbirth research and has some wonderful online support.
Whilst the Stillbirth Foundation is not a bereavement support program, they are a leading research organisation striving to reduce the incidences of stillbirth.
Tel: (02) 9557 9070
FOLLOWING THE DIAGNOSIS OF A FETAL ABNORMALITY
APDSA (ABNORMAL PREGNANCY DECISION SUPPORT AUSTRALIA):
Abnormal Pregnancy Decision Support Australia (APDSA) was developed by a team of psychologists who became aware of a gap in Australia in the support available for women and couples making decisions about their pregnancy following a diagnosis of fetal abnormality.
The website was informed by research gathered from the literature, interviews with women who have been through the experience, medical staff, and staff within community organisations. The website is intended to provide a resource containing information you might need to help you through the decision-making process, and the aftermath for those who decide to end their pregnancy.
The addition of a support forum provides a safe space for women to anonymously connect with other women who are going through the same experience.
SUPPORT AFTER FETAL DIAGNOSIS OF ABNORMALITY (SAFDA):
Providing support for parents who loved their children enough to set them free.
Vic Phone: (03) 8345 2180 (Genetic Services Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne)
SPECIFICALLY FOR BEREAVED FATHERS
RED NOSE (MENS GRIEF SUPPORT LIBRARY)
SANDS (MEN’S SUPPORT LINE):
SANDS dedicated male Volunteer Parent Supporters understand the grief and confusion you may be experiencing, as they too have had a baby who has died.
Perhaps you are a bereaved father/grandfather who would prefer to chat to another male about your grief. Or perhaps you are a bereaved mother or grandmother, or other family member who would like support to understand the grief experience from a male perspective.
PILLARS OF STRENGTH:
Pillars of Strength provides respite and support to dads facing significant family trauma. It gives dads the opportunity to access events for a bit of “time out” and it delivers practical assistance for dads throughout these periods of intense distress.
Email: info@pillarsofstrength.com.au
MULTIPLE BIRTH
Any of the above bereavement associations will provide support. In addition, there are specific organisations who offer support following loss when there is a multiple pregnancy loss:
AUSTRALIAN MULTIPLE BIRTH ASSOCIATION (AMBA):
Australian Multiple Birth Association Bereavement Support Group (M-BABS) was formed to provide a means of communication for bereaved multiple birth families and surviving multiples and to act as a forum for sharing of information relating to the unique aspects of loss for a multiple birth family.
Email: bereavement@amba.org.au
TWIN TO TWIN TRANSFUSION SYNDROME FOUNDATION:
Solely dedicated to providing immediate and lifesaving educational, emotional and financial support to families, medical professionals, and other caregivers before, during, and after a diagnosis of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
Mater Mothers’ Hospital Patient Information
Twin To Twin Transfusion Australia
Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome
This closed Facebook group is for parents who have experienced loss due to Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome.
ONLINE PREGNANCY & INFANT LOSS SUPPORT GROUPS
The Perinatal Loss Centre:
Join The Perinatal Loss Centre Support Facebook Group here
Frances Perry House:
Join the closed Facebook group for Frances Perry House families
PALS – PREGNANCY AFTER A LOSS SUPPORT:
Bears of Hope Rainbows is an AUSTRALIAN support group for mums and dads trying to conceive their rainbow baby or who are currently pregnant following the loss during a previous pregnancy.
PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia)
PANDA’s telephone information, support and referral service is staffed by trained volunteers, professional counsellors and supervising staff
National Helpline: 1300 726 306 Mon to Fri, 10am – 5pm
APPN (ANTENATAL & POSTNATAL PSYCHOLOGY NETWORK)
The Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network 1s a professional collaboration of Psychologists who specialise in conception, pregnancy, the postnatal period, and the early parenting years.
COPE (CENTRE OF PERINATAL EXCELLENCE)
Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) is Australia’s national, not for profit peak body dedicated to supporting women and their families to achieve strong and enduring mental health during pregnancy and the year following birth.
There is some information on their website around pregnancy and newborn loss.
PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
Telephone: 24 Hour Crisis counselling 13 1114
Telephone: 1300 22 46 36
All calls and chats are one-on-one with a trained mental health professional and are there to listen, offer advice and point you in the right direction
OTHER SUPPORT:
For more help &/or support, you may like to contact:
- Grief Counsellor
- Your Obstetrician
- MCHN (Maternal Child Health Nurse)
- Psychiatrist (there are Perinatal Psychiatrists – referral via your GP, Obstetrician or APPN above)
- Your chosen funeral home
- Your local GP
- Coroner (if a coroner’s case)
Please contact us should you need clarification on any of the above information.
