An On-Line Community

Losing a baby is one of the most painful situations you may ever encounter. The first few weeks and months after a loss are often a whirl of impressions, painful decisions, tears, questions, and physical healing. It is often helpful to have a close friend or family member share with. Many have found it very helpful to talk to someone who has “been there,” who can understand the effects of a loss. Support groups, such as those offered by HAND, are a very helpful way to meeting with others traveling the same path to begin feeling connected again.

Hopefully, you have discovered this through one of our in-person support group meetings — we highly recommend them for the healing process. Some people, however, are not conveniently located to a support group meeting or need a “booster” in between meetings. For that, we have developed the HAND eGroup for online support for pregnancy and infant loss.

To join our group, go to: http://www.egroups.com/group/H-A-N-D. Because this is a moderated group, your membership will have to be “approved” to enable access to the group. Please don’t be put off by this — it is just a way to keep the group focused on the topics of interest to bereaved parents, their families, and their healthcare providers.

Once you join, you may want to browse the postings of the others who have come before you to hear about their successes and challenges. When you are comfortable, you should make a post introducing yourself to the group so that others know that you are there. Many people use this opportunity to share the story of their loss.

The eGroup functions based on responses to questions, comments, thoughts, and other postings from the group, so feel free to post away. Chances are that someone in the community has encountered a similar situation, has some advice, or can offer a kind word of support when you need it.

The Internet has made us a truly global community, and HAND eGroups was created to support anyone who has lost a baby before, during or after birth. Our online community can be there to support and offer words of encouragement any time of day or night. We welcome you with open arms, and offer a strong shoulder to cry on, lots of understanding, and lots of encouragement.