Support

If you’ve lost your baby, there is support and information available to you to help you. Below you can find links to organisations that we hope you find useful.

Please note that inclusion in this list does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of an organisation and we cannot be held responsible for any information, advice and/or services provided by any listed below.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

SANDS – THE STILLBIRTH AND NEONATAL DEATH CHARITY

Sands works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby; improve the care bereaved parents receive; and create a world where fewer babies die.

Helpline: 0808 164 333 (freephone)

Helpline Email: helpline@sands.org.uk

Helpline support is available from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 6pm to 10pm Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Website: www.sands.org.uk

ANTENATAL RESULTS AND CHOICES (ARC)

ARC offers non-directive information and support to parents before, during and after antenatal screening; when they are told their baby has an anomaly; when they are making difficult decisions about continuing with or ending a pregnancy, and when they are coping with complex and painful issues after making a decision, including bereavement. They offer a Helpline, support network and literature for parents, families and professionals.

Helpline: 0845 077 2290 or 0207 713 7486 (Monday-Friday, from 10:00am until 5:30pm)

Email: info@arc-uk.org

Website: www.arc-uk.org

CHILD BEREAVEMENT UK – CBUK

Child Bereavement UK offers a service for bereaved families and professionals when a child of any age has died or is dying and when a child is bereaved. CBUK Offers support for adults and bereaved children.

Offers free face to face bereavement counselling in these areas: Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, East London, West London.

Helpline: 0800 02 888 40 (Monday to Friday, from 9:00am – 5:00pm)

Email: support@childbereavementuk.org

Website: www.childbereavementuk.org

LULLABY TRUST

The Lullaby Trust provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies, emotional support for bereaved families and raises awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Helpline: 0808 802 6868

Info & advice: 0808 802 6869

Email: support@lullabytrust.org.uk

Website: www.lullabytrust.org.uk

MISCARRIAGE ASSOCIATION

The Miscarriage Association offers support and information to anyone affected by the loss of a baby in early pregnancy. They also raise awareness of miscarriage and promote good practice in medical care. They provide a network of support groups and telephone contacts throughout the UK.

Helpline: 01924 200799 (Monday–Friday, from 9.00am – 4.00pm)

Email: info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Website: https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

SAYING GOODBYE

Part of the Mariposa Trust. Saying Goodbye provides Cathedral remembrance services for anyone whose baby has died at any stage of pregnancy, at birth or in infancy.

Telephone: 0845 293 8027

Email: info@sayinggoodbye.org

Website: www.sayinggoodbye.org

TAMBA BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP (PART OF THE TWINS AND MULTIPLE BIRTHS ASSOCIATION – TAMBA)

TAMBA Bereavement Support Group is for parents who have lost a twin/multiple or both/all twins/multiples. Main website is for support with live twins/multiples so may want to direct them specifically to bereavement area.

The support Group offers parent to parent support via their befriending service and via their closed facebook bereavement support group.

Helpline: 01252 332 344 (usually 9am to 4pm weekdays but it can vary)

Website: https://www.tamba.org.uk/bereavement

Email: support-team@tamba.org.uk

REMEMBER MY BABY

Free remembrance photography. UK based registered charity who have professional photographers volunteering their photography services for the benefit of UK parents losing their baby before, during or shortly after birth.

Website: http://www.remembermybaby.org.uk/

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

ANXIETY UK

Provides support and help if you’ve been diagnosed with, or suspect you may have an anxiety condition.

Infoline: 08444 775 774 (Monday to Friday 9.30am-5.30pm)

Email: support@anxietyuk.org

Website: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/

MIND

Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Telephone: 020 8519 2122

Email: contact@mind.org.uk

Website: www.mind.org.uk

Mind Cymru Telephone: 029 2039 5123

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER UK

Information for those living with PTSD

Website: http://www.ptsduk.org/

SAMARITANS

A registered charity who support anyone in distress, around the clock, through 201 branches across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Telephone: 116 123 (UK) – 116 123 (ROI) (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Email: jo@samaritans.org.

Visit your local Samaritans Branch http://www.samaritans.org/branches

Website: www.samaritans.org

PREGNANCY SUPPORT, INFORMATION & ADVICE

BLISS, FOR BABIES BORN PREMATURE OR SICK

Bliss exists to ensure that all babies born too soon, too small or too sick in the UK have the best possible chance of survival and of reaching their full potential. Bliss supports families, work with health professionals, and campaign for improved hospital resources across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Family support helpline: 0808 801 0322

Monday– Friday, from 10:00am – 4:00pm and from 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Website: www.bliss.org.uk

Email: hello@bliss.org.uk

ECTOPIC PREGNANCY TRUST

Provides information, education and support to those affected by early pregnancy complications and to the health professionals who care for them.

Helpline: 020 7733 2653 (24 hour answering service)

Website: www.ectopic.org.uk

TOMMY’S

In the UK 1 in 4 mums and dads will lose a baby during pregnancy or birth. Tommy’s exists to change this and their goal is to help more mums and dads have a healthy baby and to halve the number of babies who die during pregnancy or birth by 2030.

Tel: 0207 398 3400

Email: mailbox@tommys.org

Website: www.tommys.org

GROUP B STREP SUPPORT

An independent UK charity, formed to help prevent preventable Group B Strep infections in newborn babies.

Telephone: 01444 416 176

Email: info@gbss.org.uk

Website: https://gbss.org.uk/

ICP SUPPORT

Offers support and information to women who have suffered from Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) or suspect they might have the condition.

Support Line: 07939 871 929 (Open Monday – Friday 9:00am – 8:00pm)