Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss and Grief: Resources, Support and Worker Rights for Miscarriage, Stillbirth, Abortion, TFMR, Infertility and Neonatal Death

Holding space for loss and grief

Experiencing the loss of a pregnancy or an infant—whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), or neonatal death—is an incredibly painful and personal journey. Infertility is also a painful grief process impacting as many as 1 in 8 couples. Grief in these moments can feel isolating, and it may be difficult to navigate the next steps. Support and resources are available for those experiencing this loss, for couples, as well as for loved ones who want to provide comfort and understanding.

Below, you will find a collection of books and resources to help process grief, find community, and offer meaningful support. Each book and resource is hyperlinked for easy access, and many of these books can also be found at your local library. If you are located in orange county, FL I suggest the home delivery service with the local Library where they will drop off the books at your door. The Libby app for libraries through overdrive offers free access through your library to audiobooks, e-books and magazines. Additionally, there are nationwide and local Orlando and Central Florida resources listed below for those seeking in-person meetings and community support.

Returning to work after a pregnancy loss can be overwhelming and may feel inconceivable. You may be lactating, need extra time to grieve, time for counseling, recovery, etc. and those rights and needs should be protected. The problem often arises when employees and employers don't understand or follow the laws and rules that should be protecting grieving individuals, including the partners. Below are a few resources to help you better understand the rights as an employee and garner more legal support.

Worker and Employee Rights

• Fact Sheet: Pregnancy Loss and Workplace Rights-A Better Balance

• The Liberated Motherhood Society - Attorney with fact sheets and resources to better navigate the workplace with pregnancy, pregnancy loss and postpartum

• Pregnant at Work- Abortion, Pregnancy Loss & Your Rights at Work: Frequently Asked Questions. Free legal services to ask questions about the laws, your rights, protections and options. free legal helpline at 415-703-8276 or email hotline@worklifelaw.org.

Central Florida / Orlando, Florida Local Resources

• Angel Of Hope-  The monument is a beautiful and lasting tribute to our beloved babies who left us too soon due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. Address: 888 Oakland Rd Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

• Mother’s Milk Bank of Central Florida – Milk may still come in following a perinatal loss. This organization provides support for donating milk after loss. Contact: 407-248-5050 | info@milkbankofflorida.org

• H.E.A.L. (Helping Endure Infant Loss) Group at Advent Health – A 7-week closed support group. Contact: (407) 260-9222

• The Compassionate Friends. Providing friendship, understanding and hope to those going through the grieving process.

• FL SIDS Alliance – Provides resources for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) support. Contact: 800-SIDS-FLA

• Center for Loss and Life Transition- An organization dedicated to helping people who are grieving and those who care for them.

• Center for Loss in Multiple Birth- Support and resources for the loss of a twin.

• The Finley Project – Provides practical, emotional, and professional support after infant loss. Contact: 407-463-7576 | Noelle Moore

• Angel Of Hope-  The monument is a beautiful and lasting tribute to our beloved babies who left us too soon due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. Address: 888 Oakland Rd Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

• Resolve - Online support groups for Infertility

• Central Florida Postpartum Alliance – Resource for postpartum mental health and pregnancy loss providers.

  
  

  

  Books for pregnancy loss and grief

  Pregnancy Loss and Infertility Books

• Unspeakable Losses: Healing from Miscarriage, Abortion, and Other Pregnancy Loss – Kim Kluger-Bell (2010)

• Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby (Revised Edition) – Deborah L. Davis (1996)

• Empty Arms: Hope and Support for Those Who Have Suffered a Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Tubal Pregnancy – Pam Vredevelt (2001)

• A Silent Sorrow: Pregnancy Loss Guidance and Support for You and Your Family – Ingrid Kohn & Perry Lynn Moffitt (2000)

• Life, Almost – Jennie Agg (2023) – A memoir about miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and navigating grief.

• Unexpecting: Real Talk on Pregnancy Loss – Rachel Lewis –

• Miscarriage Map Workbook - Sunita Osborn

• The Miscarriage Map- Sunita Osborn

• Resolve: Book List and Podcasts for Infertility

  
  

  Books specific to Couples:

• Couple Communication After a Baby Dies: Differing Perspectives – Sherokee Ilse & Tim Nelson (2008) – Insights into how couples grieve differently and how to strengthen communication.

• Stronger Than Infertility:The Essential Guide to Navigating Every Step of Your Journey – Heather Huhman (2022) – Covers the emotional and relational impact of infertility.

• When Bad Things Happen to Good Couples by Les Parrot

Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR )

TFMR refers to the interventions that result in a wanted pregnancy being ended, either because of a medical condition relating to the baby or because of maternal health.

• TFMR Psychologist - Psychologist that offers resources, support groups and a provider list of trained tfmr providers.

• TFMR Postpartum Support International free support group -free support group offered the 1st & 3rd Thursday at 6:30pm ET and 4th Thursday at 8:30pm ET. 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 6:30pm ET

• TFMR Mamas- Offers free support groups and private facebook groups, podcast as well as other resources. LGTBQ+ allied.

• TFMR Mamas Book List

National Organizations

• Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support – Support for families who have experienced the loss of a baby.

• Exhale – after abortion support. The Exhale textline is available to individuals who have had abortions, and to their partners, friends, allies, and family members. Call1-866-439–4253 and text- 617-749-2948.

• Resolve- National Infertility Association

• Postpartum Support International- Termination for Medical Reasons support group

• The MISS Foundation – Support and resources for grieving families after child loss.

• Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep – Volunteer bereavement photographers offering remembrance photography.

• Still Standing – An online magazine offering support for those coping with loss and infertility.

• Return to Zero – Healing retreats and support for those navigating pregnancy and infant loss.

• #ihadamiscarriage – A movement by Jessica Zucker, PhD, sharing stories of pregnancy loss on Instagram and Twitter.

• The TEARS Foundation – Financial and emotional support for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss.

• Postpartum Support International- Providers free support groups, resources and provider search

  
  

Ways to Support a Grieving Partner, Friend or Family Member

• Use their Name- If the parents or your partner named the baby- use and call them by their name. Reflect the parent and partner language.

• Advocate for Work Leave- There are not a lot of work protections for employees when it comes to pregnancy loss and complications. It might be helpful to walk with the grieving to help advocate for more paid time off and legal protections. Explore your states workplace rights for pregnancy and pregnancy loss.

• Acknowledge their grief – Grief looks different for everyone, and partners may process emotions in unique ways. Acknowledge their grief without trying to fix it.

• Create space for open communication – Encourage honest discussions about feelings without judgment. Do not give opinions or advice. Do not say "at least" or "you should". Speak less and listen more.

• Seek counseling – A therapist, specializing and certified in this area can help navigate this journey as a couple, individually or as a family or friend wanting to support a loved one.

• Honor the loss together – Consider and discuss rituals such as planting a tree, writing letters, or creating a memory box to process the loss. Ignoring the loss, anniversaries and their name is painful and can isolate the grieving.

• Respect different grieving timelines – One partner may move forward faster than the other; patience and understanding are key. There is no timeline on grief.

• Grief and fear with following pregnancies- It's common to have fear and grief come up with future pregnancies. Be kind, patient and acknowledge all the feelings and thoughts as valid.

Reach out to Tiffany at Tiffany@LowtherCS.com  to request a PDF copy of this resource.

Lowther Counseling Services, www.LowtherCS.com, 2025