Books on Coping with Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Loss
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby, Deborah L. Davis
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imigination, Elizabeth McCracken
A Little While: For Parents Experiencing the Death of a Very Small Infant, Joy & S.M. Johnson
When a Baby Dies: The Experience of Late Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death, N. Kohner & A. Henley
Living After Losing a Child: Beyond Tears, Ellen Mitchell
Stolen Joy: Healing after Infertility and Infant Loss, A. Barney
The SIDS Survival Guide, Joani Horchler & Robin Morris
Loving and Letting Go: For Parents Who Decided to Turn Away from Aggressive Medical Intervention for Their Critically Ill Newborns, D. Davis
Still birth Yet Still Born, D.L. Davis
Miscarriage: A Shattered Dream, S. Ilse & L. H. Burns
For You From Sasha, Alexandra Sascha Wagner
Religious-based
I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy, Angie Smith
Empty Arms, Pam Vredevelt
Safe in the Arms of God, John MacArthur
When Empty Arms Become a Heavy Burden, Sandra Glahn & William Cutrer
I’ll Hold you in Heaven, Jack Hayford
Support for Sibling and Children
Am I Still a Sister?, Alicia Simms
The Grieving Child, Helen Fitzgerald
No New Baby: For Boys and Girls Whose Expected Sibling Dies, M. Gryte
Marital Support
For Better or Worse: For Couples Whose Child Has Died, M.W. Doerr
Our Baby Died. Why?, J. Erling & S. Erling
Pregnancy after Loss
Pregnancy After a Loss: A Guide to Pregnancy after a Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Death, Carol Cirulli Lanham
Motherhood after Miscarriage, K. Diamond
General – Coping with Loss
On Death and Dying, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Recovering from Losses in Life, H. Norman Wright (religious-based)
Men and Grief: A Guide for Men Surviving the Death of a Loved One, C. Staudacher
ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORT GROUPS FOR BEREAVED PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, SIBLINGS, AND FRIENDS
The Compassionate Friends – Leading organization for bereaved parents. Local chapters and meetings can be located from the website – www.compassionatefriends.org. They are very active on Facebook.
The March of Dimes – Leading organization for neonatal and premature birth research. They provide resources and financial support if needed. The March for Babies walk raises funds for the local chapter and is held in April in Jackson (several other walks are held throughout the state in the spring). www.marchofdimes.org. They have a separate website for parents where you can write blogs and participate in forums – www.shareyourstory.org.
SHARE (A Source of Help in Airing and Resolving Experiences) – National nondenominational organization offering physical, emotional, and spiritual support to bereaved parents. www.nationalshareoffice.com
Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death – Parents and healthcare professionals working together to promote emotional support to bereaved families. www.perinatalbereavementconference.org.
CLIMB (Center for Loss in Multiple Birth, Inc.) – By and for parents who have experienced the death of one or more or all babies from a multiple pregnancy. www.climb-support.org.
MISS Foundation - The MISS Foundation is a 501 (c) 3, volunteer based organization committed to providing crisis support and long term aid to families after the death of a child from any cause. www.missfoundation.org.
Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope – An organization for mothers who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. http://www.facesofloss.com/ The also have local informal, social groups called Face2Face all over the country.
http://grievingdads.wordpress.com/ - a website for Dads
The Baby Center – This well known pregnancy and parent resource group has a special page for those who have suffered a loss. http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a15155/miscarriage_stillbirth_infant_loss_support -
EVENTS
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day – October 15.
All Soul’s Day (Day of the Dead) – November 2
Worldwide Candle Lighting Ceremony – December 12
Spring for SIDS Day – An American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Institute nationwide event held each spring. http://www.springforsids.org/.
There are also national organizations for various syndromes and conditions. Most hold some sort of fundraising/charity event annually.
WAYS TO MEMORALIZE YOUR CHILD
http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/ - Find a photographer with experience taking pictures of children who have died.
Create a Memorial Website - http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/tour.aspx and http://www.memory-of.com/Public/.
http://angelbabymemorials.blogspot.com/ - Create a memorial video through pictures.
http://angelwingsmemorialboutique.blogspot.com/ - Angel wings with your child’s name.
http://butterflyfootprints.blogspot.com/ - Have your child’s footprints turned into butterflies.
http://www.thecomfortcompany.net/ - Gifts to memorialize your child.
Ask family members to donate to a specific charity in lieu of flowers at the memorial service.
Plant a tree or create a memorial garden.
Buy two of everything your child will be cremated or buried in so you can keep one.
Adopt a cause in honor and in memory of your child. Hold annual garage sales, golf fundraisers, bake sales, etc. to raise funds. Ask your employer to match your contributions.
Create a blanket using the clothes of your child.
Engrave jewelry, keepsake boxes, clothing, candle holders or candles (http://www.franscandles.com/childangels.htm), etc. with your child’s name and birth date or use the child’s birthstone.
Raise funds to create a memorial area, garden, room, etc. at the hospital where your child stayed or in the town you live.
Get a memorial tattoo: wings, baby feet, the baby’s name and birth and/or death day, an angel, a heart, a lamb, etc.
Create personalized ornaments for Christmas trees. (Make several and give one to the grandparents.)
Find an artist to draw a picture (touched-up or not) of your child based on pictures.
