To Parents and Families
If you recently experienced the loss of a baby during pregnancy or in early infancy, the Marion County Public Health Department FIMR Program extends our deepest sympathy. Words cannot express the depth of sorrow after such a loss.
What to do after the loss of a baby
Losing a baby is hard on your emotions and your body.
Here are some suggestions on how to take good care of yourself.
Rest and Sleep: It is common to have problems sleeping. If you have problems sleeping, try to rest during the day.
Exercise: Do something active every day.
Talk with Others: Consider seeking out others through support groups, church groups, friends, or family.
Honor Your Feelings: Embrace your emotions. They may range from anger to sorrow to hope; everyone reacts differently.
Don’t Expect to “Get Over It”: You will begin to experience happy times again in your life, but you may never “get over it”. It is a gentle gradual acceptance that takes time.
Remember: All people grieve differently; what is right for someone else might not be right for you. Follow your instincts and take good care of yourself.
Resources
Amos’ Anchors
The Anchor to the Indianapolis area & online grief resources for parents facing the storm of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or infant loss.
https://amosanchors.org/
First Candle SIDS/SUID Support Group
This is First Candle’s online support group forum for parents and loved ones affected by the sudden, unexpected death of a baby. This includes SIDS/SUID or any cause of sudden infant death.
https://firstcandle.org/online-support-groups/
A Blog for Fathers When a Baby Dies
A blog, created by Tim Nelson, for dads to share thoughts, experiences, and support.
https://fathersgrievinginfantloss.blogspot.com/
SPALS: Subsequent Pregnancy After a Loss Support
SPALS is a place for mutual self-help — a place to receive and provide support by exchanging experiences to others facing similar circumstances. Subscribers to SPALS strive to support each other through subsequent pregnancies by discussing issues that often arise in a pregnancy after a loss.
https://spals.com/home/index.html
Children’s Bereavement Center
Offers free grief support groups for all ages
Online groups are available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
More info here: https://childbereavement.org/
The Milk Bank Bereavement Program
Lactation during such deep sorrow may bring a range of emotions – all valid. Whether you need support with milk suppression, milk expression, or milk donation, we are here to support you.
https://www.themilkbank.org/bereavement-program/
Other Information
To remove your name from marketing list for baby/child products, go to https://www.dmachoice.org/.
FIMR Is Here for You
The FIMR Program provides support to parents and families whose lives have been affected by the death of an infant or the loss of a pregnancy.
We can provide:
- Referral to resources
- Information and emotional support to help deal with grief and other emotions following the death of a baby
- A listening ear for you to share your baby’s story
Your Story
The FIMR Program wants to offer better services for mothers and children. We survey mothers and families who have recently experiences the loss of a baby and are open to share their story.
As a parent, only you can tell us your story and what your experiences with medical and social service providers were. This information helps us to develop better services for women, infants, and families. If you would like to share your story, we can speak with you by phone, in your home, or we can send a survey to you. Everything you say will be private; your name and the name of your child will not be shared.
Parents who have shared their stories often say that it has helped them. The program has trained nurses who can help families with referrals to resources. FIMR also offers a token of appreciation to the family for sharing their story. It is a way to honor their baby’s precious memory.
These stories help us understand what services are helping families, if there is a need for more services, or if changes need to occur to better help families.
For More Information
Fetal Infant Mortality (FIMR) Program
Marion County Public Health Department
3838 N. Rural St., 6th Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46205
317-221-3103