RESOURCES
It’s easy to go down the rabbit hole surfing the net, and too often that road just leads you to more anxiety. I’ve been there a million times. That’s why I wanted to curate a list for you. A few of my favorite resources to help your grieving hearts.
Books
It's OK That You're Not OK
A great read especially if you are in early grief. This book doesn’t sugarcoat anything and gives you all the permission in the world to be in your grief. It’s great for validating your experience and normalizing grieving. Filled with practical tips for both the griever and loved ones of grievers.
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Drawing from buddhist teachings, this book beautifully illustrates the spiritual teachings grief can unfold. A great read if you are suffering with anxiety and fear as the book takes a more general approach to loss and doesn’t contain any baby loss specific stories that can have potential to trigger.
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby
Written by a fellow mama of loss, this book is specifically for women who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. It beautifully helps orient you in your grief experience and can offer guideposts to where you are in your grief journey. Also includes chapters for grieving fathers as well as helps for how to be there for your living children.
Sites
GRIEF coach
A text messaging system that sends personalized messages of support right to your phone. Can also be configured to send messages to close friends and family, like various grief anniversary reminders and support tips - helping them, help you.
RETURN TO ZERO: H.O.P.E.
This non-profit started as a film to break the silence of stillbirth. Now, it’s a non-profit raising awareness and helping both bereaved parents as well as medical professionals navigate infertility & baby loss.
Faces Of Loss, Faces Of Hope
Stories of miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss from women just like you and me. If you’re feeling like you’re the only one in this club no one wants to be a member of, scroll through - it’s powerful medicine to know you’re not alone. And sometimes, just seeing the faces is enough - it’s totally okay to skip the stories. Stories can be triggering.
Parent Support of Puget Sound
So this is a local organization in the Pacific Northwest, one that I personally got a lot of benefit from their annual “Walk to Remember” event. If you’re local, check them out. If not, visit the Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss website to find your local support chapter.
Articles
What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Someone Who’s Grieving
The million dollar question. What to say and not to say to someone who is grieving. Here’s a well thought out list from the New York Times. Great for texting to parents and loved ones with a simple “Hey, found this, thought you might find it interesting” and hit send.
The 'I Had a Miscarriage' Instagram Account Is Breaking the Silence Around Pregnancy Loss
This article tracks the creation of the #ihadamiscarriage campaign on Instagram. Read about it here, or check it out on Instagram. With now close to 35,000 followers, it’s safe to say you are not alone.
Seven things I wish I’d known before I had a miscarriage
A well researched, science-backed look at what causes miscarriages (read: why it isn’t your fault), and what to expect after having one.
This Home Practice Will Help You Reconnect to Your Body After a Miscarriage
Connecting back with your body and sending it some love, tender TLC, can be a beautiful way to counter the only too normal tendency towards feelings of betrayal, confusion and anger towards your body. Here is a simple sequence from Yoga Journal to do just that.
We Need To Talk About Men And Miscarriage
A needed look into how Men, or really the non-pregnant partner in the relationship suffers and carry the pain of miscarriage. So often they take on the role of “the rock” while the women rides the hormones and emotional train (and thank you!) but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting too. A great read to send to your partner.