New website to support families grieving loss of a baby

A new website has been set up to support families grieving the loss of a baby.

Pregnancyandinfantloss.ie is the first of its kind website in Ireland and was developed in response to parents reporting they found it difficult at the time of their pregnancy loss to access relevant information in Ireland.

Pregnancy loss is the most common complication of pregnancy. This website is a valuable resource for parents who experience pregnancy loss or perinatal death. The site provides accurate and accessible information on a sensitive and often stigmatised subject, shares the latest research into the causes of baby loss, promotes emotional well-being, and offers details on how to access the appropriate support services.

“The website is a step forward in our commitment to consistent quality care for parents, as well as education and support for maternity staff while raising awareness of pregnancy loss and recognising its wide impact,” said Dr Keelin O’Donoghue, Consultant Obstetrician at Cork University Maternity Hospital and Principal Investigator at INFANT, Ireland’s only dedicated perinatal research centre.

Dr O’Donoghue and her team at INFANT, UCC, are leading investigations into the causes of pregnancy loss and perinatal death.

Pregnancyandinfantloss.ie was launched by by the INFANT Centre at University College Cork in partnership with the Irish Hospice Foundation.

The website is an initiative of the Implementation Group for the National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death. The programme of implementation of the Standards was led by Dr O’Donoghue and HSE Programme Manager Riona Cotter.