If you need an extra source of support or if you wish to do something to help further miscarriage awareness, a number of nonprofit organizations around the world aim to spread awareness of pregnancy and infant loss. Some are regional in focus but others have a national reach. The following is a list of some of the major pregnancy loss awareness organizations. If you represent an organization that should be added to this list, please email me at miscarriage.guide@about.com.
Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support
Share was established in 1977 and has been active in numerous pregnancy loss advocacy and awareness activities, including everything from promoting the rights of parents to bury their miscarried babies to organizing support groups around the nation. The organization's website contains a collection of support resources as well as a list of regional support groups. If no support group is in your area, Share can also advise you on how to start one.
RESOLVE
RESOLVE is a national association focusing primarily on infertility, but the group also provides support for recurrent miscarriages. RESOLVE has information on local support groups as well as advocacy resources for dealing with various forms of infertility.
International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA)
ISA is a coalition of stillbirth awareness groups and organizations that works to promote stillbirth research and awareness of stillbirth. The group offers support resources for parents as well as information about ongoing research into stillbirth.
The Miscarriage Association
The Miscarriage Association is a UK-based support association that offers a great deal of resources to help families cope with miscarriage and to spread awareness of miscarriage. The group has a network of support volunteers who can lend a listening ear, as well as other information and awareness resources.
Sands
Sands stands for Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support. This group is based in the UK, but Sands has chapters in countries around the world. The group offers support to all individuals affected by stillbirth or loss of a newborn infant, and its website includes information on local groups and advocacy opportunities.
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is one of the most well-known and well-established organizations focusing on pregnancy health. March of Dimes has a lot of information on the causes and possible prevention of premature birth, a leading cause of infant death, and it is involved in numerous advocacy efforts to drive research into ways to prevent birth defects and infant death.
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is not exclusively focused on pregnancy loss but focuses on providing support for bereaved families who are grieving the death of a child. The group does offer information and support for pregnancy loss and organizes advocacy efforts to promote rights for grieving families.
MISS Foundation
The MISS Foundation focuses on crisis support and other aid to families grieving the loss of a child. The group is not exclusively focused on pregnancy loss but is involved in a lot of activities related to miscarriage and stillbirth awareness, such as the MISSing Angels Bills that have been considered or passed in many U.S. states with the idea of granting parents the right to receive a state-issued certificate of stillbirth recognizing the loss of a baby to stillbirth.
Hygeia Foundation
The Hygeia Foundation focuses on perinatal loss and bereavement. Founded by an obstetrician, it aims to improve awareness of and support for families who are grieving pregnancy losses. It also advocates for appropriate healthcare for women of all backgrounds in order to prevent stillbirths and potentially avoidable losses. The group offers a 24-hour help line and extensive information on how to find local and Internet support groups.
Center for Loss in Multiple Birth (CLIMB)
CLIMB offers support to parents who have lost babies in multiple pregnancies, including those who have lost all babies in the pregnancy as well as those who have lost one twin. The site offers fact sheets aimed at dads, grandparents, siblings, and survivors as well as information about research into this type of pregnancy loss.
