The loss of a baby before or after birth can be devastating to a mother and father. Some parents, as they deal with their grief, have found it helpful to discuss their loss with others who have had a similar experience.
Support groups offer education, communication, recognition and hope.
There are currently two bereavement support groups under the direction of the Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Advisory Committee of the IWK Health Centre. A support group for people who have experienced the loss of their baby through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillborn or newborn death. Another support group focuses on the needs of parents who have made the difficult decision to interrupt a wanted pregnancy due to critical health issues. The ESP program is an IWK volunteer program serving parents of newborns in the metro Halifax area. ESP is staffed by a full-time coordinator and 40 active volunteers who visit families weekly for two to three hours, for up to six months.