In this video, Dr. Maria Costantini-Ferrando helps shine a light on Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. On Saturday, October 25th our friends over at the FertiliFriends Infertility Support Group are holding a virtual Wave of Light ceremony to honor this important day.
Perinatal Bereavement Resources & Support Groups
New Jersey Support Groups
ENGLEWOOD, NJ
Perinatal Bereavement Support Group
Michelle Brauntuch | 201 – 608-3635
Englewood Hospital, 350 Engle Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
perinatalbereavementteam@ehmchealth.org
HACKENSACK, NJ
SIDS Family Services
Alyssa Sandler | 201-996-5131
Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601
551-996-5131
LIVINGSTON, NJ
Perinatal Bereavement Group
Dorothy Kurzweil | 973-322-5745 | 973-322-5055
St. Barnabas Medical Center, 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039
LONG BRANCH, NJ
HART – Healing and Recovering After Termination
Monmouth Medical Center, 255 3rd Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740
Judy Rokeach | Ivy Leight | 732-923-6527
MONTCLAIR, NJ
Pockets of Light
Erin | 973-619-4277 | info@pocketsoflight.org | pocketsoflight.org
MOORESTOWN, NJ
Tears Loss Support Group
Dara | 609-458-7487
Moorestown Library, 111 W. 2nd St., Moorestown, NJ 08057
MORRIS PLAINS, NJ
Bereaved Parents of the USA – Northern NJ Support Group
Pat Olausen | 973-984-0251
bereavedparentsusa.org
MORRISTOWN, NJ
Perinatal Loss Group
Morristown Medical Center
973-971-5748
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ
SIDS Center of New Jersey
Jan Hader | 800 – 545-7437
UMDNJ, 100 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
NEWARK, NJ
F.A.T.E. (Feelings After the Termination Experience)
Lorraine Suslak, Gisela Rodriguez
NJ Medical School-Genetics, 90 Bergen Street, Ste. 5400, Newark, NJ 07101
973 – 972-3302
NEWTON, NJ
Newton Medical Center
973-940-8140
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ
Share
c/o St. Peters University Hospital
254 Eason Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ
Irina Mariano-Brown | 732-745-8600 x 5214 | imariano@saintpetersuh.com
PATTERSON, NJ
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center
973-754-3451
PRINCETON, NJ
Good Grief
Patty Ryan | 609-498-6674 ext.8006
patty@goodgrief.org
PRINCETON, NJ
UNITE
Debbie Miller, RN | 609-897-8980
The Princeton Health Care System, 253 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
RED BANK, NJ
Riverview Share Group
c/o Riverview Medical Center, 1 Riverview Plaza
Diane Labarbera | 732 – 530-2315 | Diane.Labarbera@hackensackmeridian.org
RIDGEWOOD, NJ
Healing Hearts, Men’s Support Group, and Pregnancy After Loss groups
Valley Hospital
201-447-8539
TEANECK, NJ
Holy Name Hospital
201-833-3058
TEANECK, NJ
Jewish Family Service of Bergen County
Reva Judas | 201-724-4083
Reva.judas@gmail.com
TRENTON, NJ
Time for Healing
Carolee Watkins, MS, MA | 609-394-4072 x2
Mercer Campus of Capital Health System, Trenton, NJ.
VINELAND, NJ
Inspira Medical Center, 1505 W. Sherman Ave., Vineland, NJ 08360
Nicole Bruno | 856-503-9889
VOORHEES, NJ
UNITE
Ann Coyle, RN | 609-502-7552
Barry D. Brown Health Education Center
WALL, NJ
The Tears Foundation
848-469-8180 | thetearsfoundation.org
WESTFIELD, NJ
Imagine, A Center For Coping With Loss
908-264-3100
NEW JERSEY & SURROUNDING AREAS
Three Little Birds Perinatal
www.threelittlebirdsperinatal.org
Providing all services free to families in the NJ and surrounding area.
Allentown Resources
ALLENTOWN
Stella’s Hearts (Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group)
Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Center
1517 Pond Rd, Allentown, PA 18104
ALLENTOWN
Lehigh Valley Health Network Bereavement Services
2024 Lehigh Street
Suite 100
Allentown, PA 18103-4798
Philadelphia Resources
HATBORO
Maternal Wellness Center
67 Byberry Road
Hatboro, PA 19040
215-649-9916
DREXEL HILL
UNITE, Delaware County Memorial Hospital
Facilitators:
Debbie Rafferty
Michelle DePrince
484-758-0002
HUNTINGDON VALLEY
UNITE, Holy Redeemer Hospital
Facilitators:
Denise Paul
Liz Steward
484-758-0002
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
UNITE, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Facilitator:
Michelle Ferrant
484-758-0002
WEST GROVE
UNITE, Jennersville Regional Hospital
Facilitator:
Karen Powers
484-758-0002
WYNNEWOOD
UNITE, Lankenau Hospital Medical Center
Facilitator:
Paris Margaritis
484-758-0002
MEDIA
UNITE, Riddle Memorial Hospital
Facilitators:
Regina Fazio
Sheila McCabe
484-758-0002
LANGHORNE
UNITE – Bucks County
St. Mary Hospital
Langhorne-Newtown Rd
Langhorne, PA 19047
PHILADELPHIA
The Center for Grieving Children, Teens & Families
3300 Henry Ave, Suite 100, Philadelphia, PA 19129
267-437-3123
grievingchildren@aol.com | www.grievingchildren.org
Lake Mary Resources
DAYTONA BEACH, FL
Begin Again Children’s Grief Center
Halifax Health Hospice, 655 N Clyde Morris Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Dr. Kimberly Beck-Frate | 386–425-3337 | www.halifaxhealth.org/hospice
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Life Choices Medical Clinic
441 Maitland Ave.
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Phone: 321-422-4168
After Hours: 800-712-HELP (4357)
Northern California Resources
UCSF Women’s Health Resource Center
415-514-2670
SAN FRANCISCO
Pregnancy After a Loss Support Group
Newborn Connections Community Room
California Pacific Medical Center Cal East Campus
3698 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94118
The Compassionate Friends
Napa: Contact Judy at 707-258-1623
Marin County: Call 415-457-3123 or email tcfmarin@gmail.com. Website: www.tcfmarin.org
San Francisco & North Peninsula: Email sfcompassion@gmail.com
Mid-Peninsula & Burlingame: Call 415-377-4845 or email tcfburlingameca@gmail.com.
Oakland: Call Deanna Pankow at 510-835-3579 or email deannapankow@hotmail.com.
Walnut Creek: Call Nancy at 925-943-3217.
Houston Resources
HOUSTON
Resolution
Patti Furman
c/o Univ. of Texas-Houston Science Center
6410 Fannin Ste. 350, Houston, TX 77225
713 – 704-4000
HOUSTON
HAND (Houston’s Aid in Neonatal Death)
Chapelwood United Methodist Church
11140 Greenbay Street, Houston, TX 77024
832–752-1919
KATY
Houston’s Aid in Neonatal Death (H.A.N.D.)
Jennifer Franklin, Martha Adkinson
410 Abersham Ct, Katy, TX 77450
281 – 693-0403 | www.hand.net
THE WOODLANDS
MEND
Stormy Mitchell
Lone Star College, 3200 College Park Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77384
281 – 374-8528 | stormym@mend.org
Southern California Resources
Jake’s Journey Foundation
Email: hello@jakesjourney.org
Phone: (805) 285 2313
ORANGE
Forever Footprints
1944 North Tustin Street, Suite 118
Orange, CA 92865
info@foreverfootprints.org
714-509-0065
SANTA CLARITA AND ANTELOPE VALLEYS
Joy in Bereavement Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Group
email: pearbabydoula@gmail.com
phone: 661-666-2423
THOUSAND OAKS
Hospice of the Conejo
80 East Hillcrest Drive
Suite 204
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Empty Cradle
San Diego – amy@emptycradle.org
Temecula – Rachel@EmptyCradle.org.
Virtual Support Groups
Professional-Led Support Group for Pregnancy Loss
Macy Schoenthaler, MFT
415.649.0950
Cost: $70.00
Infertility and pregnancy/infant loss for individuals and families
Tina Mody
info@themayaswingsfoundation.org
Postpartum Support International
PSI Online Support Meetings | Postpartum Support International (PSI)
1.800.944.4773
Hope after Loss
Pregnancy and Infant Loss’ Virtual Support Group: https://zoom.us/j/622707444
Miscarriage Matters
Services | Miscarriage Matters, Inc. (mymiscarriagematters.org)
Email: miscarriagem@mymiscarriagematters.org
Tel: 833-MM-HELPS (833-664-3577)
The Star Legacy Foundation
Support Groups (starlegacyfoundation.org)
952-715-7731
The Miss Foundation
Online Support Group
cheryl.pence@missfoundation.org
The Compassionate Friends
Online Support: Chat
Online Support – Compassionate Friends
Sufficient Grace Ministries
419-278-7640
sufficientgraceministries@gmail.com
National Organizations
The Compassionate Friends Non-Profit Organization for Grief
Home – Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support (nationalshare.org)
MISS Foundation | Support for Bereaved/Grieving Parents & Families
Still Birth Day | A Pregnancy Loss is Still a Birthday
The TEARS Foundation – Helping bereaved families honor the life of a child.
Star Legacy Foundation: Stillbirth Education, Research and Awareness
Loss & grief (marchofdimes.org)
Pregnancy Loss | Miscarriage Matters, Inc. | United States (mymiscarriagematters.org)
Sufficient Grace Ministries | Comforting others with the comfort we have received… 2 Corinth. 1:3-4
Perinatal Hospice and Palliative Care: Continuing Your Pregnancy
Grieving and Growing | RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
Local Organizations
About Three Little Birds Perinatal – Loss Support in NJ and PA
Jewish Infant & Pregnancy Loss Support | NechamaComfort
Pockets of Light | Montclair, New Jersey
Forget Me Not Foundation (fmnfoundation.com)
The 2 Degrees Foundation – The 2 Degrees Foundation Home Page
Books
Pregnancy Loss
- Empty Arms, Coping with Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Death, Sherokee Ilse
- Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby, Deborah L.
- Unexpecting: Real Talk on Pregnancy Loss, Rachel Lewis
- Saying Goodbye: A Personal Story of Baby Loss and 90 Days of Support to Walk You Through Grief , Zoe Clark-Coates
- An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination, Elizabeth McCracken
- The Miscarriage Map: What to Expect When You Are no Longer Expecting, Sunita Osborn
- Empty Arms: Hope and Support for Those Who Have Suffered a Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Tubal Pregnancy, Pam Vredevelt
- Life After Baby Loss: A Companion and Guide for Parents, Nikola Gaskin
- The Baby Loss Guide: Practical and compassionate support with a day-by-day resource to navigate the path of grief, Zoë Clark-Coates
- Unimaginable: Life After Baby Loss, Brooke Taylor
- Grieving the Child, I Never Knew: A Devotional for Comfort in the Loss of Your Unborn or Newly Born Child, Kathe Wunnenberg
- Miles Apart, Annabel Bower
- A Silent Sorrow: Pregnancy Loss—Guidance and Support for You and Your Family. Kohn, I., Wilkins, I. A., & Moffitt
- Coping with Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss: Finding Perspective and Creating Meaning, Wenzel, A
- Unspeakable Losses: Healing from Miscarriage, Abortion, and Other Pregnancy Loss., Kluger-Bell, K
- Coming to Term: Uncovering the Truth About Miscarriage, Cohen, J.
Termination for Medical Reasons
- Our Heartbreaking Choices: Forty-Six Women Share Their Stories of Interrupting a Much-Wanted Pregnancy, Christie Brooks
- Precious Lives Painful Choices: A Prenatal Decision-Making Guide, Sherokee Ilse
- The Healing Choice: Your Guide to Emotional Recovery After an Abortion., DePuy, C. & Dovitch, D.
- Peace After Abortion, Torre-Bueno, A.
Books for Siblings
- We were gonna have a baby, but we had an angel instead, Pat Schwiebert
- My Sibling Still: for those who’ve lost a sibling to miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death, Megan Lacourrege
- The Invisible String, Patrice Karst
- Something Happened, Cathy Blanford
Pregnancy Loss tips from A Loss Mom
- Acknowledge your loss and allow yourself to grieve: Your grief and the emotions accompanying it (pregnancy loss) are valid. Take time and grieve at your own pace. There is no set time limit for healing nor is it something that can be rushed. Understand that grief looks different for everyone and there is no “one size fits all” grief blueprint.
- Be mindful of emotions: It is normal to experience various emotions. You may feel shocked, angry, confused, exhausted, sad, and/or anxious. Allow these emotions to come and go. Although these emotions feel uncomfortable, it is important to accept and acknowledge them instead of attempting to avoid them.
- This is not your fault: You are not to blame. Attempt to “let go” of any feelings of guilt and replace them with positive self-talk.
- Lean on loved ones for support: Accept help and allow others to comfort you. No one expects you to do this alone.
- Be kind to yourself: Set realistic and obtainable goals for yourself. It is OK to protect yourself by avoiding potentially difficult situations. (i.e. attending a baby shower, scrolling social media, or visiting a friend that recently had a child)
- Engage in self-care: Take time to care for yourself. Rest, stay hydrated, eat healthily, and engage in healthy ways to reduce stress. (i.e. yoga, meditation, acupuncture, or massage) Seek mental health care from a trained professional when appropriate and attend all follow-up doctors’ appointments.
- Expect some bumps in the road: You will have good days, and you will have bad days. Try your best to ride these waves. Know that people may unintentionally say hurtful things and/or give unsolicited advice. Try not to take it personally.
- Memorialize your baby: Creating ways to remember your baby is a therapeutic way of expressing your grief. Some people plant a garden, purchase memorial jewelry, or name a star. Do what is most comfortable and healing to you.
