Grace Baby Loss Support Group

09/10/2017

International Bereaved Father’s Day 2017 is today, Sunday September 10th.
This day recognizes bereaved men all over the world as the beautiful fathers that they are. More often than not the men are left out or forgotten about when it comes to grief support. This needs to change.

Men are always welcome at our monthly meetings and we appreciate and honour their courage and often insightful and sensitive contributions to the group's conversations.

11/23/2016

"It’s taken me seven years to realize that my grief is my way of telling the great vastness that the love I have still resides here with me... It won’t stop. That’s how love goes."
From As the lights wink out... by Jamie Anderson. A piece she wrote about grief.

Just came across this amazing blog from Jamie Anderson with these incredible words: http://allmylooseends.com/2014/03/lights-wink/

08/26/2016

"Bereaved parents need less passive aggressive, shame-based self-soothing of society’s own fears and more self-reflection and compassion as the cultural norm for supporting and understanding parents who have experienced the death of a child." - Lindsey Henke

This articles touches on the many ignorant comments that we have heard after loss that stem from fear rather than compassion.

We all need to be more loving. Education and compassion are key.

https://pregnancyafterlosssupport.com/unitentional-shaming-child-loss-parents/

“I’ve kept her alive this far,” I joked to work colleagues around the snacks in the breakroom, 38-weeks pregnant with swollen feet and belly. It was an innocent joke, or so I thought. Little did I know she would be dead before she was to be born

04/02/2016

A friend of mine makes these amazing keepsakes. She donates some of the proceeds to the H.E.A.R.T.S baby loss support group I used to attend. I don't know where I would be without them. Take a look.

My name is Shawna, and I create sculptures for anyone who loves angels, or as a special keepsake. Created in memory of my baby boy Jacob ♥

02/18/2016

If you or someone you know has experienced loss and needs counselling please keep in mind that the Comox Valley Pregnancy Care Centre offers free counselling by trained peer councellors who are well equipped to help women and their partners with grief, guilt, sadness, anger and all of the other emotions that flood us for the days and months and often years to come.

They can offer counseling in a safe, caring, environment. Sometimes women need someone outside of their situation to talk to. No matter your age or situation you can receive caring, non-judgmental, informative, and FREE peer-counseling in complete confidentiality. No doctor's referral is needed. Call (250) 334-0058 or Text only: (250) 898-7670 or msg their page.

http://www.cvpregcare.ca/

Comox Valley Pregnancy Care Centre

02/17/2016

"Few people realize that one in 200 pregnant women will lose a child after 24 weeks of pregnancy. It’s about ten times more common than cot death. Yet people know far more about cot death than stillbirths – everyone knows about the importance of laying a baby to sleep on its back, for example."

This truth is so disconcerting. How painful it is for the families who experience this and have to feel so alone though sadly it is so much more common than we realize.

Interesting interview with Dr Alex Heazell, a Senior Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and the Clinical Director of the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre in The UK.

http://www.tommys.org/research/research-centres-and-teams/interview-with-dr-alex-heazell-director-of-the-tommys-stillbirth-research-centre

Interview with Dr Alex Heazell, Director of the Tommy's Stillbirth Research Centre

02/12/2016

Coping with loss as a Couple - a struggle that will bring even the strongest relationship to its knees.

The Comox Valley has many Registered Clinical Counsellors who can provide help to couples in need. As well couples are always welcome to come together to our monthly support meetings.

http://seleni.org/advice-support/article/surviving-loss-as-a-couple

Men and women may grieve a miscarriage, stillbirth or an infant loss differently, which can strain relationships. Learn how to survive your loss together.

02/11/2016

Thank you to everyone who came out to this month's meeting on Tuesday evening. These meetings are open to women and their partners who have experienced the pain of miscarriage, stillbirth or the early loss of a baby. Please don't hesitate to message the page if you would like more information on meeting times and locations.
Miscarriage was largely the topic of the most recent meeting and much information and support was shared.
Here is an incredible account from the Tommy's website in England of one woman's struggle with multiple miscarriages: http://www.tommys.org/research/current-research-projects/miscarriage/five-miscarriages-and-one-ectopic-pregnancy

Alex Richards, 36, from Sunderland, has been trying for a family for eight years. She’s suffered five miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy

02/03/2016

The UK has so many great resources for women and families. We may not have the same resources here but we can certainly look to theirs for inspiration, support and guidance.

http://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

01/19/2016

Written by Gwen Flowers, in loving memory of her babies Skyler, Jordan, Hannah, Hope and Nicholas

01/14/2016

If you don’t know what to say to support a family member or friend who has been affected by miscarriage, this video provides a poignant example of simple phrases NOT to say. Compassion is a virtue. Truly.
Maybe start with "I don’t know what to say but I am here if you need someone to listen/hug/bring a meal for your family/talk about something else with."
Maybe start with that. - Kathryn

01/14/2016

Do you know the sad sweet story behind "Love You Forever "?
It started as a song.

“I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
as long as I’m living
my baby you’ll be.”

"I made that up after my wife and I had two babies born dead. The song was my song to my dead babies. For a long time I had it in my head and I couldn’t even sing it because every time I tried to sing it I cried. It was very strange having a song in my head that I couldn’t sing." - Robert Munsch, Canadian Children's Author

http://robertmunsch.com/book/love-you-forever

Hi, welcome to robertmunsch.com. I hope you enjoy this selection of my work, as well as the creative art and short stories donated by kids and teachers.