WNY Postpartum Connection, Inc.
A directory of mental health and support services for pregnant and postpartum families
Grief and Loss
If you are looking for a perinatal specialist who also specializes in loss, please reach out to the WNYPBN for assistance or click here for their very comprehensive listing of community resources including therapists.
For a listing of grief and loss support groups click here.
Western New York Perinatal Bereavement Network
Provides educational support, community programs, and referral services to bereaved parents.
Programs include:
Parent Telephone Support Team
A parent can receive a phone call from a trained parent who has had a similar perinatal loss. Speaking with someone who has experienced perinatal death may help a parent to begin to heal. Contact (716) 626-6363 or email: Christine@wnypbn.org
Forget Me Not Newsletter
This quarterly newsletter is written for and by families who have experienced the loss of a child. If you would like to receive a paper copy, please contact us at: forgetmenotnewsletter@hotmail.com
Tiniest Angels
We are now hosting the Tiniest Angels Support Group at the Wilson Support Center. “Tiniest Angels” Bereavement Support Groups are geared toward men, women, grandparents and families who have experienced the loss of a baby through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or early infant death. There is absolutely no fee to take part in these support groups. Prior registration is required for attendance. Please call the office at (716) 626-6363. The groups meet at WNYPBN Offices 150 Bennett Rd Cheektowaga, NY. For more information on these support groups click here.
Hospice Buffalo - Perinatal Program
The mission of our Perinatal Program is to provide support, education, and guidance to expectant parents and families whose unborn child has a life-limiting illness. This unique program helps expecting parents and families prepare for and cope with physical, emotional, and spiritual issues at the time of diagnosis and through the remainder of the pregnancy. Our Perinatal Program is the only program of its kind in Erie County.
https://www.hospicebuffalo.com/our-services/perinatal-program
- Admission evaluation in hospital, doctor’s office or at home
- Development of a birthing plan that honors parents’ wishes, coordinating with physician, and labor/delivery staff
- 24/7 on-call Registered Nurse availability
- Guidance and emotional support for siblings and other children in the family
- Links to resources that help families cope during pregnancy and after
- Honor cultural rituals, religious and spiritual beliefs
- Help create a comfortable, serene and peaceful environment, preserving dignity
- Help plan final arrangements, memorial services and special goodbyes, according to your wishes
- Bereavement counseling for parents and siblings
- Assist with creating precious keepsakes prior to and after the baby’s birth
- Resource for specialty clinics, community services and financial assistance programs
M. Steven Piver Center for Women's Health at Sister's Hospital:
Footprints on the Heart - for any parents who have experienced the loss of a baby. Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm
M. Steven Piver Center for Women's Health at Sister's Hospital 2121 Main Street Suite 100 Buffalo NY 14214
Group facilitated by Amy Creamer, LMHC. For questions or to register, call Amy at 862-1678. Amy is available to meet with individuals or couples. Amy can also be reached by email at acreamer@chsbuffalo.org
Sister's Perinatal Bereavement Group - Footprints on the Heart, now offering a virtual support group. Call Amy for details at 716-346-1013
https://www.chsbuffalo.org/services/pregnancy-loss
First Candle
First Candle is an organization that supports parents through the grief of child loss and supports research in healthy pregnancy and infancy. Click here for a copy of "Surviving the Death of a Baby".
For a listing of online resources and peer support click here.
The FRAT
Fathers Rallying Against Tragedy. Contact Joe at 716-213-3277 or jdjquin5@verizon.net
Grieving Dads
Kelly Farley opens up about his own experience of being a grieving father on his website: Grieving Dads.
(630) 561-5989
A Heartbreaking Choice
This website supports women who have made the Heartbreaking Choice to terminate a much wanted pregnancy. For those who have undergone a pregnancy termination due to a poor prenatal diagnosis, problems with their own health, or for the health of another fetus (selective reduction). If you have had a pregnancy termination for medical reasons, we are here for you. You'll find articles on how to deal with the grief, stories from women just like you, who have have made this Heartbreaking Choice to end a much wanted pregnancy. This official "A Heartbreaking Choice" support group is a private, membership only discussion forum where those who have undergone a pregnancy termination due to a poor prenatal diagnosis, problems with their own health, or for the health of another fetus can get unconditional support. These forums are completely private and are not crawled by Google nor connected to Facebook or Twitter for security reasons. For more information: aheartbreakingchoice.com
MISS Foundation
The MISS Foundation provides support those have lost a child at any age, to any cause.
Molly McDermott - Bereavement Doula
Molly is a prenatal yoga instructor, birth doula, and certified bereavement doula. Molly can assist during pregnancies that are not going to have favorable outcomes, and with women who have had prior losses. Contact Molly by phone 716-949-1115 or email
mmcd5mcder@gmail.com. Molly facilitates a loss support group - click here for more information.
Postpartum Support International
Loss and Grief resources for pregnancy and postpartum
www.postpartum.net/get-help/loss-grief-in-pregnancy-postpartum/
Refuge in Grief
Refuge in Grief is a website created by Megan Devine, therapist and bereaved spouse. Her website has many helpful resources, including a 30-day writing course for the bereaved.
Return to Zero: HOPE free (or donation if you can) Growth and Healing after Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Rhiannon Needham, MBA, CD, Full Spectrum Doula - Rhiannon works with individuals and families through fertility, adoption, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, loss, and more. Rhiannon is a certified full spectrum, birth, postpartum, and bereavement Doula. She works with individuals through any step of their reproductive journey. Rhiannon has completed training and certifications through Life Cycle Doulas (Birth & Postpartum), Cornerstone Doula Trainings (Advanced Full Spectrum), and Stillbirthday (Birth & Bereavement). Rhiannon is also working toward her doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD) with a focus on reproductive journeys, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, loss, and beyond.
Contact Rhiannon by phone (315)243-7094, email doularhi@gmail.com, or visit her website rhiannonneedham.com
Jennifer Senn - Pregnancy Loss Recovery Coach
Jennifer is a pregnancy loss recovery coach who offers individual and group support. On her website she has a free e-book and a 3-video series. Jennifer also offers a free weekly zoom/Facebook group coaching session on Tuesdays. Contact Jennifer at 716-499-3613 or jen@jennifersenncoaching.com
Website: www.jennifersenn.com
Star Legacy Foundation
The Star Legacy Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing pregnancy loss and neonatal death and improving care for families who experience such tragedies. We are a community of families, health professionals, researchers, policy makers, and individuals dedicated to helping every pregnancy have a happy ending.
Our Mission: To increase awareness, support research, promote education, and encourage advocacy and family support regarding stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and neonatal death.
For more Information: For Families and Friends | Star Legacy Foundation
952-715-7731
Still Standing
Still Standing is an online magazine for those who have experienced pregnancy loss.
Pregnancy Loss Support Program (PLSP)
A free resource that offers a list of support resources available nationwide and in the New York metropolitan area including support groups, counseling, suggested reading and other information. PLSP is for anyone who needs help. Pregnancyloss.org
Books and Other Resources
Empty Arms: Coping with Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Death is designed to help you through the decisions you will make surrounding those early moments of loss.
Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief
It's Okay that You're Not Okay
Stillbirth, Yet Still Born: Grieving and Honoring Your Precious Baby
Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple
Grieving Dads: To the Brink and Back
Pregnancy After a Loss: A Guide to Pregnancy After a Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Death
Click here for a guide on planting a memorial garden.
Another resource that might be helpful at this difficult time, Katrina Villegas is the author of several books for siblings of babies that have died. For a listing click here.