Coping with the devastating loss of your baby

Help and support

Telephone helplines

• Antenatal Results & Choices Helpline 0207 631 0285 (10.00am-5.30pm Monday-Friday)
• The Child Bereavement Trust 01494 446648 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
• Child Death Helpline 0800 282986 (UK) (7pm-10pm every night; 10am-1pm Monday-Friday; 1pm-4pm Wed)
• Foundation for the Study of Infant Death 0870 787 0554
• Samaritans 08457 909090 (UK) 1850 609090 (ROI) 24/7
• SANDS (Stillborn & Neonatal Death Society) 020 7436 5881 (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm - answer machine at other times)
• TAMBA (Twins & Multiple Births Association) 0800 138 0509 (Every day 10am-1pm and 7pm-10pm)
• The Compassionate Friends 08451 23 23 04 (Every day 10am-4.00pm and 6.30pm-10.30pm)

Online forums and support

• Late Loss & Neonatal Death message board
• Various support boards, including Coping with Miscarriage, Coping With Recurrent Miscarriage, Coping With Bereavement, In Memorial, Coping With Depression
• groups.msn.com/babylosssupportgroup
• Antenatal Results & Choices
• www.babyloss.com
• www.bliss.org.uk (premature baby charity)
• www.bonniebabies.co.uk (free premature baby clothing, next day delivery)
• www.childbereavement.org.uk
• www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk
• www.climb-support.org (for twin or multiple loss)
• www.cruse.org.uk (for bereavement care)
• www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm (to light a candle)
• www.samaritans.org
• www.sids.org.uk (Foundation for the Study of Infant Death)
• www.tamba-bsg.org.uk (for twin or multiple loss)
• www.tcf.org.uk (The Compassionate Friends)
• www.tommys.org (baby charity)
• www.uk-sands.org

Counselling

If you want counselling, ask your hospital or GP. Sadly, it's not readily available so SANDS is a good place to start as they run group sessions around the UK and internationally. Call SANDS on 020 7436 5881.

Stopping baby mail

The Baby Mailing Preference Service

'Most units fill in a form on your behalf to suppress mail. It may not totally eliminate such mail, but I think it helps.' Lesley, neonatal nurse

'I registered online to stop baby-related mail but it takes four weeks. Sadly, I received maternity catalogues within days of Frankie's death so I cancelled them personally. I also emailed store Baby Clubs. I didn't want 'congrats on the birth of your baby' letters from them near her due date.' pokem02

'I kept getting 'baby mail' and it hurts just so very much. I didn't know how to stop it.' carolyntracymcallen

Books available on www.amazon.co.uk

• When a Baby Dies: The Experience of Late Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death by Nancy Kohner, Alix Henley
• When Your Baby Dies: Through Miscarriage or Stillbirth (Hope & Healing S.) by Louis A. Gamino, Ann Taylor Cooney
• Living with Leo by Mario Di Clemente (extracts from Living with Leo, used with permission) or visit www.livingwithleo.co.uk
  'This is a book about Leonardo Di Clemente and my life with him. For if in one very obvious way I am without Leo, in so many others we will be with each other forever.' Mario