Monday, October 11, 2010
There is help for those who have experienced miscarriage or sudden infant death
When a miscarriage, stillborn or sudden infant death occurs, the grief can be overwhelming.
It may seem like you are on an island, all alone.
But that is far from the case. In fact, one in three pregnancies ends in this tragic way.
To bring attention to this startling statistic, and highlight the support and resources available to those who find themselves in these heartbreaking situations, Remembrance Day is held each year.
On Friday, Oct. 15, a wave of light will gently brighten our world to remember the babies we have lost in pregnancy or early infancy. All who have experienced this loss around the world are invited to light a candle at 7 p.m. for one hour to ensure that these angels are not forgotten.
Locally, support can be found at the monthly Angels Remembered Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group meeting held at The William W. Backus Hospital. Here, women and men can find a safe place to share their grief as well as their stories of hope and healing surrounding their own experiences of pregnancy or infant loss. Also discussed are various coping strategies and meaningful activities that can facilitate the healing process.
The group is held the second Tuesday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Medical Office Building (MOB) conference room located on the first floor. For more information call (860) 889-8331, ext. 4239.
As a Backus social worker, I moderate the group and see firsthand how it helps.
I have also seen the other side, where the grief associated with the loss of a child during pregnancy or in infancy can linger and cause long-term mental health issues.
Remembrance Day is one way to help grieve and heal. So is the support group, where you can learn that you are not alone, or that just because you had one miscarriage doesn’t mean you will have another.
Or, just remembering helps. Please join me this Remembrance Day to support or friends, neighbors and loved ones.
Elynor Carey is a social worker in the Backus Hospital Care Management Department. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Carey or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
It may seem like you are on an island, all alone.
But that is far from the case. In fact, one in three pregnancies ends in this tragic way.
To bring attention to this startling statistic, and highlight the support and resources available to those who find themselves in these heartbreaking situations, Remembrance Day is held each year.
On Friday, Oct. 15, a wave of light will gently brighten our world to remember the babies we have lost in pregnancy or early infancy. All who have experienced this loss around the world are invited to light a candle at 7 p.m. for one hour to ensure that these angels are not forgotten.
Locally, support can be found at the monthly Angels Remembered Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group meeting held at The William W. Backus Hospital. Here, women and men can find a safe place to share their grief as well as their stories of hope and healing surrounding their own experiences of pregnancy or infant loss. Also discussed are various coping strategies and meaningful activities that can facilitate the healing process.
The group is held the second Tuesday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Medical Office Building (MOB) conference room located on the first floor. For more information call (860) 889-8331, ext. 4239.
As a Backus social worker, I moderate the group and see firsthand how it helps.
I have also seen the other side, where the grief associated with the loss of a child during pregnancy or in infancy can linger and cause long-term mental health issues.
Remembrance Day is one way to help grieve and heal. So is the support group, where you can learn that you are not alone, or that just because you had one miscarriage doesn’t mean you will have another.
Or, just remembering helps. Please join me this Remembrance Day to support or friends, neighbors and loved ones.
Elynor Carey is a social worker in the Backus Hospital Care Management Department. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Carey or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
# posted by ----------------- @ 11:48 PM 
