Bereavement Services

Welcome!

If you are you are experiencing a pregnancy loss or you have received a difficult diagnosis, I am so sorry.  These are indeed dark times, but . . .

You are not alone.

I am trained by Stillbirthday as a bereavement doula to  support you through the birth of your baby, in any trimester, with any outcome, and to provide continuing support in the postpartum period as you process your loss and begin your path of healing.  I will provide a judgment-free space where you can tell your story and process your emotions as you work through your experience of grief in the ways that feel natural to you.  I can then help you to consider all of your options as you make decisions about the birth and welcoming of your baby as well as in how you will say farewell.  I will offer physical, emotional, and informational support during your labor, birth, and postpartum period.  I can help you to access the many community resources which are available for you.

Services

Include (but not limited to)

• prenatal support (if circumstances allow) to discuss options and planning
• labor support in the place of your choosing
• assistance with gathering mementos, photography, bathing baby
• planning farewell ceremonies
• referrals to community resources, including counseling, support groups, financial help for funeral costs
• postpartum support, including organizing meals and housekeeping, post-loss lactation

Love Offering

There are no fees for bereavement support; however, I do accept love offerings so that I can continue to provide this service to other families.  If you or your friends and family would like to give a love offering in honor of your baby, it will go to a special fund specifically for covering the costs of supporting families dealing with loss.  Since my services are limited by available funding and time, I will do my best to help you find another available bereavement doula to support you during your time of loss if I am unable to.

Resources

Local Support Groups

HOPE Perinatal Loss Group--This is a closed group, meaning the same individuals attend each of the six consecutive weekly meetings.  In Austin on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. 3-4 times per year in the Community Room of the Ronald McDonald House at 1315 Barbara Jordan Blvd.  Facilitated by Worth Kilcrease.  Conctact at (512)568-2764 or worth@kilcrease.com

Pregnancy Loss Support Group--Meets the 1st Sunday of the month from 2-4pm in the Auditorium at St. David's South Austin Hospital. For families who have lost a baby due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillborn or early infant death. Contact (512)282-4123

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group--Held on the first and third Thursday of the month at 7:00 in Classroom #3 at Round Rock Medical Center.  SIDS support group is held on the fourth Thursday and Pregnancy After Loss on the second Thursday of the month. Facilitated by Dr. Kelly Boyd.  Contact (512) 341-6493

Local Counselors Specializing in Perinatal Loss

Worth Kilcrease, Licensed Professional Counselor.  Contact at (512)568-2764

Dr. Kelly Boyd, Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Contact at (512)733-5224

Online Support, Information, and Resources

Stillbirthday:  This website is full of resources to help you navigate your options, tell your story and read others' stories, and provide you resources to support you in your journey toward healing.

Sufficient Grace Ministries--A Christian organization providing support, perinatal hospice, resources, photography, articles, and memorial items

Remembering Our Babies--This is the official organization for National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day (October 15). It includes awareness campaigns, Facebook support groups, resources, and memorial items.

MISS Foundation--An organization that provides information packets, counseling, mentors, support groups, online forums, articles, research, and resources for families grieving the loss of a child and participates in community awareness and advocacy

Bereaved Parents of the USA--This organization has many local chapters with support groups and articles and resources online.

Still Standing Magazine--An online magazine devoted to pregnancy loss and infant loss and infertility

The Compassionate Friends--An organization with local chapters as well as online support groups, a crisis hotline, resources, and memorial items, and a print magazine

Unspoken Grief--An online forum devoted to pregnancy and infant loss where you can read and share your story

Perinatal Hospice and Palliative Care--An organization that links a network of perinatal hospice providers for families carrying to term after a difficult diagnosis, also provides online resources

Be Not Afraid--A Catholic organization that provides peer-based support to families carrying to term after a difficult prenatal diagnosis

Photography

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep--a network of professional photographers who provide remembrance photography on a volunteer basis for families suffering a stillbirth

Memorial Items

Molly Bears--Donates weighted teddy bears to families suffering the loss of a baby

Angel Gowns--An organization turning wedding dresses into burial gowns for babies

NICU Helping Hands/Angel Gowns--Another organization providing burial gowns made from donated wedding dresses

My Forever Child--Keepsake jewelry commemorating the life of your baby

Heaven's Gain--provides tiny caskets, burial, and memorial items for infants

Ashley's Angels--angel gowns, burial wraps, blankets, and memorial envelopes

The Midnight Orange--hand sculpted figurines and keepsake collectibles

Hollyday Designs--handcrafted, personalized jewelry made from your own breastmilk, baby's hair, ashes, and photos

Beyond the Willow Tree--keepsake jewelry made from breastmilk, placenta, umbilical cord, hair, and ashes

Funeral/Burial Assistance

Healing Hearts Program-- Through Ronald McDonald House Charities Central Texas provides financial assistance for families in need to cover burial costs

All Faiths Funeral Home--Local funeral home with low-cost options for infant funeral services

Trappist Caskets--provides donated or discounted caskets for families in need

David's Gift--provides funds for caskets and other funeral expenses

Angel Names--assists families with end-of-life financial expenses after stillbirth

Dempsey Burdick Memorial Foundation--provides headstones to families in need who have lost a child