Pregnancy Loss

For Urgent and Immediate Help:

If you believe you are having a miscarriage or need medical help, call 9-1-1 if it is an emergency or seek medical attention from your health care provider, right away. If you are considering harming yourself or others, call or text the New York State Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Available 24/7, in English and Spanish. Translator services available.

The loss of pregnancy can be emotionally painful. Pregnancy loss can feel isolating. It is difficult to talk about and may feel like people cannot understand. Feelings of grief, pain, and even anger are common and normal. Partners, spouses, and extended family members may grieve differently which can make it harder to process your own grief.

If you experience more concerning symptoms of emotional or physical distress after the loss of pregnancy or a baby, it is very important to get connected and get help. If you feel:

  • depression
  • fatigue
  • trouble sleeping
  • difficulty concentrating
  • loss of appetite
  • frequent episodes of crying
  • broken or suffering relationships with family or friends
  • self-harm/suicidal thoughts or attempts

Reach out for help immediately. Here are some resources:

Free, confidential, 24/7 mental health support for people who are pregnant or recently gave birth and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)

If your pregnancy loss is due to a medical, therapeutic, or elective abortion, you deserve nonjudgmental after-abortion support. Text Exhale Pro-Voice: 617-749-2948 for help or go to exhaleprovoice.org

It is important to remember that you don't have to face a pregnancy loss alone. As you navigate your grief, you may:

  • Reach out to those closest to you and ask for understanding, comfort, and support
  • Seek counseling, go to your place of worship, or to a support group
  • Give yourself plenty of time to grieve and the opportunity to remember

Who can help?

  • Family
  • Friends
  • Your health care provider
  • Your Doula if you worked with one during your pregnancy
  • A social worker or mental health professional
  • A grief counselor
  • A religious or spiritual leader
  • Virtual and in-person support groups

For more information on causes, risk factors, signs, symptoms and types of pregnancy loss, see Types of Pregnancy Loss

Support and Resources

  • Share: National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support - while there is not a New York State chapter, there is still helpful information about pregnancy and infant loss as well as national and state resources. The website has information about bereavement and peer support groups in New York State. The instate supports include bereavement groups at St. Peter's in Albany, Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, Western New York Perinatal Bereavement Center in Cheektowaga, St. Killian Church in Farmingdale, Bereavement Parents Support Group in Goshen, North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, Lenox Hospital in New York, and National Council of Jewish Women in New York. The National Share office also offers weekly online group chats that are free of charge.
  • Pregnancy Loss Support Program for Miscarriage, Stillborn Birth, and Newborn Death - provides free, downloadable resources about Understanding Your Pregnancy Loss. The site provides links to telephone peer counseling, support groups, and referrals for bereaved families. The program is located in New York City, but many of their resources are virtual.
  • Mount Sinai Health System (New York City) - has a Bereavement Program. They utilize a team approach, including social workers, child life specialists, creative arts therapists, and chaplains, to provide concrete and supportive services to help families navigate this difficult time. There is contact information to connect to the program.
  • Public Health Solutions (New York City) - offers a virtual bereavement support group called Remembering You, Remembering Us. Each session is facilitated by a trained counselor and is uses focused discussion questions. Sessions also leave room for participants to guide the conversation based on their individual experiences. There are sessions in English and Spanish.
  • Postpartum Support International - has information for a tollfree number in English and Spanish 1-800-944-4773 (#1 for English, #2 for Spanish) and text options in English and Spanish. There are links to virtual peer mentor and support programs.
  • Exhale Pro-Voice - provides information about resources after an abortion. Their free national text line is available weekdays from 3-9pm, Saturday 1-9pm and Sundays 3-9pm. The website has other resources that have been vetted by their organization to provide supportive, nonjudgement help.
  • The March of Dimes - offers a digital resource booklet for families who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a baby at or after birth. It has information about the grieving process, how to help and care for yourself and your family and friends, and how to remember and honor your baby.
  • The New York Milk Bank - allows mothers who are expressing milk to donate extra milk to others who are not able to breastfeed or chestfeed. Donors are screened and are trained in how to collect and send donated milk, to keep the supply of donated milk healthy for recipient families. Some mothers who have experienced a loss may find that being able to donate milk helps them grieve.