Canadian Resources for Infant Loss and Stillbirth

Hi everyone,

I thought it would be a good idea to share some resources available to Canadian families who have lost an infant, experienced Stillbirth, and/or struggling with pregnancy loss. I hope this can bring some comfort to parents that may, like us, have been handed a bundle of pamphlets at the hospital and recycled them as soon as they got home because they didn't want to read about help right away. (In fairness, it would have probably been a good idea to tuck them away but grief really had gotten the best of me.) Having a page available with resources for a Canadian family (or really any family) dealing with the loss of a baby was really important to me, because it's probably a tool I would have used had I known about it. I've researched many websites and resources, and I've only included the ones that I think are useful, or have a well-established reputation. For now, I've focused on Canadian resources and a specific look at Ontario resources, but I intend to update it as I research more for around the country, and eventually even including International resources for grieving families. 

Canada-Wide Resources

Baby’s Breath 

This organization, linked here, was established in 1973 and works on sharing resources with Canadian parents and families that have experienced the loss of an infant. It began with a focus on SIDS, and therefore much of its resources are directed at families who have lost a baby from SIDS, but it has more recently broadened its focus to all infant loss and grief for the families of lost infants. It conveniently links to many smaller, regional organizations that can help more locally, as well as focusing on personal stories of grief and helpful pages that focus on topics such as pregnancy after loss, and many with a focus on SIDS. 

Ontario

PAIL Network

The Sunnybrook PAIL (Pregnancy and Infant Loss) Network (linked here) is another Ontario-based organization that supplies resources and support for families who have experienced loss. It is a wonderful space designed for all sorts of individuals looking for help during a difficult infant or pregnancy loss, such as what to say to a grieving parent etc. It has an abundance of referrals to international websites that specialize in the topic of loss, as well as links to publications on infant and pregnancy loss and more. Of all the websites linked, I've personally found the PAIL Network to be the most well-rounded and useful for specific needs during the loss of a baby. If I had to recommend one Canadian source on loss to somebody who wanted to educate themselves, this would be the one I would choose. 

Ontario Prenatal Education: Pregnancy and Infant Loss

The Ontario Prenatal Education website (linked here) has a separate page which focuses on pregnancy and infant loss. At its surface, it seems like a very simple and easy to digest page which discusses infant and pregnancy loss very broadly, but goes into detail on what these topics are. It would be a good first stop for families of those who have lost a baby, as it breaks everything down into well spoken, simple descriptions that may help those who are unsure of what is going on or how to approach the topic of loss. It also links to medical resources and other Canadian organizations designed to support those grieving a baby. 

Bereaved Families of Ontario

The Bereaved Families of Ontario is a site that is very simple to use, but doesn't seem as polished as the others. It focuses on regional support and directing those in need to regional affiliates who can then more easily assist with grief and loss. They are focused on helping grieving parents with peer support, if that is something that interests you, but it does seem that most help needs to be done with an affiliate by email or phone, and/or then in person, which I understand for some may not be as approachable of a path to take. 

Light House: Peer Support for Grieving Children

Light House (linked here) is an Oakville based organization, an actual building designed to help children and teens deal with grief. It isn't focused on Infant and Pregnancy loss necessarily, but would certainly be helpful for a sibling or other young family member struggling with the loss of a baby. While the building itself is located in Ontario, the website offers many useful tools and resources for young people or families of young people who are dealing with loss. Not only does it link to other online resources but it has book recommendations for youth depending on age, as well as resources for parents and family struggling with loss themselves and/or how their other children are experiencing grief.