Finding hope and healing after loss

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program provides support for grieving families

Story by Blain Fairbairn

CALGARY — The loss of a pregnancy or baby is a devastating experience that changes a family's life forever. Navigating the raw emotions that come with such a loss can make day-to-day life feel completely overwhelming, but hope and healing are possible thanks to the compassion and resources offered through AHS’ Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program.

"Grief affects everyone differently, and there’s no right or wrong way to navigate this profound heartbreak," says Chelsea Hamill, manager, Women’s Health Ambulatory Care at Foothills Medical Centre.

“Our mission is to ensure that no family walks this isolating journey alone. We are dedicated to providing compassionate, accessible spaces where parents can safely honour their pain and find the specialized guidance they need to heal."

The Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program provides complementary grief support to parents and families who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or pregnancy interruption. Families can access a comprehensive range of meaningful resources tailored to their needs including individual or couples counselling, memory boxes for their babies and family, and direct referrals to community resources.

Established in 2005, the program held its first memorial service the following year. Since then, it has continued to provide opportunities for families to remember their babies and find connection and support following loss.

A biannual memorial service called Silent Hopes acknowledges pregnancy and infant loss under 20 weeks while the annual memorial service, Service of Remembrance, recognizes pregnancy and infant loss over 20 weeks. The Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program has expanded the Service of Remembrance to now include a new dedicated space at the Rocky View Garden of Peace Cemetery and a personalized bronze plaque. Both memorial services rely on community partners, volunteers and the specialized staff in the Calgary Corridor.

With October recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, the program is raising awareness of the impact pregnancy and infant loss has on patients, families and loved ones.

“On October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, we remember, we honour and we hold space for hope, love and remembrance.” Says Hamill. “We invite families impacted by loss to join the ‘wave of light’ a global observance where people light a candle at 7 p.m. local time and let it burn for an hour, creating a continuous wave of light across the nation.”

Learn more about pregnancy and infant loss with the video series: ‘A parent’s view of pregnancy and infant loss’.