John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Baby Loss Advisors, also called Baby Loss Doulas, are a companion and an advocate to the mother and family experiencing the death of a baby during pregnancy and around the time of birth.
859-533-4667 Call if you want to contact a free Baby Loss Advisor.
We are so sorry if you have had a baby die, if you have loved ones whose child died, or a patient or client who has had such a loss. The journey ahead is tough and uncharted. We would like to walk along side you.
We offer--
Free Birth Doula Services
Understanding about the depth of despair, healing light, information, and hope to grieving families facing the darkness after the loss of a precious baby, no matter size or age, and to all who are touched by such tragic losses.
Help in finding support groups, understanding, compassionate care, guidance, resources, networking links, excellent standards of bereavement care, literature to help you, and so much more.
Guidance to be fully informed about the options ahead before you make decisions.
Ideas to help you parent your baby to minimize regrets and maximize memories.
Continued contact for the first year by e-mail, calls, and cards.
Help in using a CuddleCot (cooling unit for baby's body). To learn more, click here. You can also read about it online.
Any loss services and mama to mama support is free.
Lactation Support:
Kate Cropp (Kate@nashvillebirthandbabies.com)
Photography:
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep does free newborn photography.
Kalimana does free birth videos and photography for loss mom's 615-663-5971
Free Loss Birth Doulas:
■ Amanda Dier: The Singing Doula Birth Services
■ Rebekah Porter 859-533-4667
■ Jessica McGilvray 615-375-4533
We offer our services for free, regardless of income, because we want families to have the guidance, support, and love they need at this most vulnerable, yet important time in their lives. The one-on-one personal services of our Baby Loss Advisors are partially funded through Love Gifts given in honor of the work our Advisors have done with families and/or in memory of special babies by relatives and friends. In this special way, babies are honored and newly bereaved parents and families benefit with this specialized care. We want to help families minimize regrets, which can haunt them for the rest of their lives. In addition, we also want to help families maximize memories as a way to ‘parent’ their babies forever while also finding health and healing. We gratefully accept Love Gift donations which support our people and our program so that we can do the following:
Train our team members in how to give excellent care and how to support the extended family at the time of loss and over time, and empower them with hundreds of resources to benefit the families and caregivers. Each person receives over 26 hours of training, reads dozens of books, watches helpful videos, and receives mentoring
Purchase books and other materials for our sharing library for our team and the families we serve
Purchase memory-making tools, items, and resources to use and share with families
Nashville Resources: Sharing of Middle TN: They have a counselor taking calls every day and a support group once a month. Alive Hospice (615-327-1085) and Hope Clinic (615-321-0005) offer free counseling and group support. Books that might help: 30 Days of Hope for Restoration in Infant Loss Empty Arms by Sherokee Ilse Websites: Babies Remembered: resources for families and friends about grieving and more
MEND: More resources
Donations:
Blissful Birthing TN: You can donate to pay for the doula support of another loss mom.
The Kyler Project: a local nonprofit for support of families whose baby dies.
Strick's Gift: helping newborn in need
Request a loss support box, by clicking here.
Here are wise words from a local mom who has experienced a baby loss... Here's things I wish we'd done:
Slowed the whole process down
Skin to skin
Poured over every inch of his naked body
Taken COLOR photos or video
Had a nice baby gown
Kept the baby with me until I was ready to let the baby go
Things we did:
NILMDTS (Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep) photos: Free
Signed him out to take to funeral home ourselves
Took him home for several hours or longer
Took photos at home
Donated my breastmilk: locally or to the TN Milk Bank
"Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place."
-13th century poet
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.