How we can help you

The death of a baby is a devastating experience. The effects of grief can be overwhelming, and in the early hours and days parents can be left feeling dazed, disorientated, isolated and exhausted. It can be hard to take in information, to make decisions or to imagine how you are going to cope. At Sands there are people who understand what it's like because many of us have been through this experience ourselves, and we are here to offer support and information when you need it.

Early moments of loss There are choices you can make about what happens to your baby and to you in the early hours and days of their death. These decisions, whether they involve keeping momentos of your baby or decisions about naming your baby, can have an impact on how you will feel about this time in years to come. You may want to talk to someone or read about the feelings of other parents who have been through the same experience.

Important practical information There are some things that you may have to do after your baby dies including registering your baby's death and deciding about a post mortem and funeral. In this section we also include information about your post-natal check as well as any benefits you may be eligible for.

A bereavement journey We understand that the death of a baby is not a one-off event but an emotional journey, that affects every aspect of your life. In this section we look at issues such as going home and back to work, thinking about a new baby, and remembering your baby in the years to come.

Family and friends As well as supporting mothers and fathers, we are also here to help other members of your family, especially other children you may have and grandparents. Many people may be touched by your baby's death, whether they be close friends or relations, and all are welcome to contact us for support and information.

Second trimester loss Your baby may have died during its 2^nd trimester. The death of a baby can happen to any one of us at any stage and Sands aims to provide support no matter what your situation.

Talk to someone You may want to talk to someone who can listen to how you feel or can help you think through what you want to do. You can do this by calling our national helpline or by exchanging experiences via our forum. It may help to hear the stories of other bereaved parents in our personal experiences section, from our list of publications, or indeed from the various articles and media which have covered the issue of baby loss. We have a network of over 90 local groups around the UK and you may want to find out whether there is one close to you, or indeed you may prefer to find other support links - listed here in alphabetical order.