Massachusetts
Parental Rights After Miscarriage (as of October 2023): In Massachusetts, parents have the right to the release and burial of their child. (Please note: A death certificate is mandatory if a stillbirth occurs after 20 weeks of gestation or if the baby weighs 12 ounces or more at the time of birth.)
The Compassionate Friends
If you are a member (or a friend) of a family that has suffered the death of a child, The Compassionate Friends is here to help you and provide support for the family. Feel free to contact TCF’s National Office at 877-969-0010 or nationaloffice@compassionatefriends.org if you need assistance in finding a local Chapter or you have any other questions.
Mass General Brigham - Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Newton-Wellesley Hospital serves a wide geographical area. Here is a listing of some support group resources in that area. Since support groups change over time, please call ahead to get more information. If you are having a difficult time finding a support group or are in need of more resources, please call 617-243-LOSS (5677) and we will try to assist you.
The TEARS Foundation
At The TEARS Foundation Center for Child Loss in Northborough, Massachusetts, we have created a comforting space for bereaved families to receive compassionate support following a pregnancy or infant loss (including but not limited to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, terminated for medical reasons loss, stillbirth, neonatal loss, SIDS, etc). The Center is 100% operated by donations and is staffed by trained bereaved parents who are dedicated to helping other families during their time of need.
UMass Memorial Health
The UMass Memorial Community Birth Loss Support Group provides emotional support to parents who have experienced the loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death. This support group also:
Assists parents in understanding the grieving process and fosters emotional insight into coping with the loss of their child
Creates a safe, supportive forum in which parents can share their thoughts and feelings with others who have had a similar experience
Provides acceptance and creates a framework within which parents can integrate their loss and learn that there is hope, and there is a future
North Shore Mother Visiting Partnership
NS MVP is committed to supporting all mothers. If you have experienced infant loss, we would like to offer you extra support. Here is a list of resources which may be helpful. Contact us for more information or to schedule a NS MVP visit.
Cape Cod Baby
A bereavement doula supports women during any stage of birth. If you have suffered a miscarriage, gotten a fatal diagnosis or have been told your baby no longer has a heartbeat, bereavement support may be right for you.
Share
Share offers in-person and online support groups for grieving families in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Center for Unexpected Infant and Child Death
The Massachusetts Center for Unexpected Infant and Child Death supports families, communities, and professionals after an unexpected death during pregnancy, infancy, or early childhood.
The Center's mission is to provide an individualized and compassionate response to bereaved families, offer integrated, meaningful, and professional resources, and help affected families and their communities grieve.
We are here to support you and your family during this incredibly painful time.
The Baby Mavens
Everyone feels loss differently, whether you acknowledge this loss as a child and are grieving or are looking for support through the physical sensations of loss, we want you to know that your experience is valid and we can support you. You do not have to experience loss alone.
South Shore Health
Losing a baby at any gestational age is devastating. South Shore Health offers support and resources to women and families who have experienced a pregnancy loss through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirth, or infant death.
Boston Medical Center
A miscarriage can be devastating no matter how far along a woman is in her pregnancy. Our caregivers provide patient-centered and compassionate care for miscarriages through the second trimester. A full range of management options for women suffering with pregnancy loss is available, including:
Medical management
Surgical management
Expectant management
Counseling and post-pregnancy loss referrals
Resolve New England
RNE Peer Support Groups are…
…free, virtual, and open to anyone who is struggling to build their family.
…confidential spaces for open discussion with others who understand fertility and family building challenges.
…for those who are newly diagnosed, have been in the trenches for years or anywhere in between.
…led by volunteer peer facilitators, not mental health professionals.
Empty Arms
Empty Arms offers a variety of bereavement support to grieving families across Western Massachusetts. One in four pregnancies ends in a loss, and we are grateful to be able to support families during their darkest times.