Support for Parents

No words can describe the pain

When we lose someone we love the grieving process and period is different for everyone.  Whether we suffer the loss of a family member we have known for many years or someone we have barely known or perhaps never even met, the grief for those involved is no less painful.

As family members or friends it can be unbearable watching those we love grieving and trying to cope with situations that we could never imagine or prepare for ourselves.  Losing a baby is unimaginable to most of us and something we are rarely prepared for which makes it even harder to know how to act or what to say to other family members.

We don’t pretend to have all the answers however, we do know that the more you understand about how the parents are feeling the easier it will be to support them.

• The provision of the Abi cooling cots gives bereaved parents much needed extended time with their baby before saying goodbye which is vital in the healing process.
• Training midwives in bereavement support and how to manage and care for parents who have experienced the loss of a baby is also extremely important.
• While our baby loss counselling service funds sessions for parents and families once they have returned home to help them through the grieving process.

If you need support for your family you can contact us here and if you would like to support our charity in memory of a loved one we would be very grateful. See here for the different ways you can help us.

DADDY AND THE TWO BEARS By Gary Anderson

In this heartfelt, brave and honest account, Gary Anderson shares his journey through his wife’s pregnancy, birth of his daughters and the difficulties he had to face.  These events were happening whilst Gary was also trying to deal with his own poor mental health demons and reflect on where his life had taken him to.  Gary writes with rawness and insight that will portray to readers the depth of his emotions  at that time, as well as offering hope, especially to those who may be going through, or have been through, a similar experience.  His story will be enlightening for those who may be trying to understand a partner’s emotion in such difficult circumstances, or medical professionals who want to gain an additional perception of a parent’ version of events. Having said that, anyone who reads this will take from it the struggle, denial, despair and then, hope, that Gary’s story offers.

Click here to order your copy for £8.99
[Abigail’s Footsteps will receive a small sum of sale proceeds.]

Takes place 9-15 October every year, Baby Loss Awareness Week aims to raise awareness about pregnancy and baby loss in the UK.

Throughout the week, bereaved parents, and their families and friends, to unite with others across the world to commemorate the lives of babies who died during pregnancy, at or soon after birth and in infancy.

Every year we join in partnership with Rochester Cathedral to for a Wave of Light service to mark the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week, we join with families across the world by lighting a candle to remember all babies that have died too soon.