Living with Loss: A new online program for pregnancy and baby loss

The loss of a baby during pregnancy or soon after birth is devastating for families, with enduring psychosocial and emotional impacts. Families need appropriate bereavement support, yet access to services is often limited.

The Living with Loss (LWL) program is a new online support option for those who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss. LWL has been carefully created for you by parents, health professionals, researchers and support organisations.

The program features six modules and aims to share practical strategies to support grief and loss in the short and longer-term. The program is online, flexible and available to you at any time. You can choose to complete any modules that interest you.

Program modules:

Module 1: Understanding grief
Module 2: Coping with grief
Module 3: Thinking about grief
Module 4: Facing hard situations
Module 5: Strengthening relationships
Module 6: The future

What parents have said so far:

• “I absolutely loved the stories and how it linked into some of the strategies. Even the knowledge of grief itself and what can happen is so helpful”.
• “This was relatively quick and provided helpful suggestions to put into practice.”
• “I so related with all the scenarios in this module, and I've applied some of the activities and tools to my own grief without even knowing about it, so its good to see them written down. So important to pass through those moments after losing your baby but always knowing your limits and respecting what you are feeling.”
• “The regret topic was super helpful.”
• “Just listening to the stories and grief reactions and knowing what 'normal' is.”
• “Reading the character’s thoughts and feelings as they were often similar to my own.”
• “I can share this with my husband as he does not feel ready to talk to others about losing our daughter, and I want to help him in the best way possible as he grieves in his own way”.

What health professionals have said so far:

• “Women and their partners often remarked that they liked the idea they could access support in their own time and space.” Bereavement midwife, NSW.
• “It felt warm, safe, and gentle as I moved through the modules. George is great and the characters cover so many different areas with such real feelings and practical tools. As a clinician I also found it very helpful and have taken things that I can implement into my own practice when caring for families.” Bereavement midwife, QLD.

How to access: LWL can be used as a standalone self-guided and self-paced support option with individuals completing the program in their own time and space. Or LWL can be accessed alongside other supports that might be helpful such as counselling or peer support groups.

If you think this could be a helpful option for you, we invite you to register for the program by clicking the link below. You will then have immediate access to the program. If you are a health professional, you are welcome to review the program before recommending to your clients.