A New Free Guide for Families Following Pregnancy & Newborn Loss
When pregnancy or newborn loss occurs, families are often asked to make countless decisions while navigating profound grief. During those first hours and days, it can be difficult to know what questions to ask, what options are available, or where to turn for trusted guidance.
A new free resource, When Goodbye Comes Too Soon: Acts of Love After Pregnancy & Newborn Loss, was created to help families navigate that difficult time with compassionate information and practical support.
The guide offers gentle guidance to help bereaved families understand options for their baby's care, navigate decisions, plan a meaningful goodbye, and find ways to carry their love forward. Rather than telling families what they should do, it recognizes that every family's experience is unique and encourages parents to make the choices that feel right for them.
Return to Zero: Hope was honored to contribute to the development of this resource alongside the Funeral Service Foundation, Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition, National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), bereaved parents, and professionals from healthcare, grief support, and funeral service. We are grateful to everyone who shared their expertise and lived experience to create a resource that centers the needs of grieving families.
Who Might Find This Guide Helpful?
This guide was created primarily for families experiencing pregnancy or newborn loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, and other forms of perinatal loss. Families may find it helpful in the days immediately following their loss, or later as they revisit questions, explore available options, or seek information at their own pace.
Healthcare professionals, hospitals, funeral homes, doulas, birthworkers, therapists, chaplains, and community organizations may also wish to keep copies available to share with the families they support. Having trusted, compassionate resources readily available can help ensure families receive consistent information when they need it most.
At Return to Zero: Hope, we believe every family deserves access to compassionate, evidence-informed support following pregnancy and newborn loss. Resources like this are possible because bereaved parents and professionals come together with a shared commitment to improving care.
We hope this guide brings comfort, clarity, and reassurance to families navigating one of life's most difficult experiences.
The guide is available free of charge. We encourage families, healthcare organizations, and others who support grieving families to request or download a copy.
Return to Zero: Hope did not create this publication but was honored to contribute to its development alongside many dedicated organizations and individuals committed to improving care for grieving families.
