BabyLoss New Zealand

About

Baby Loss NZ is a registered charity (CC32638) set up to support bereaved parents and their families/whanau/aiga

Story

Baby Loss NZ was set up in April 2008 after the need for a support group in the Manukau region was identified. We hold monthly support group meetings where parents can come together in a friendly, non judgmental space to share, listen, and acknowledge others who may have been through a similar experience to their own, coffee mornings, practical workshops, training and education for health professionals and baby loss awareness events.

In November 2012, the Baby Loss House was officially opened by Jami-Lee Ross, MP at our VIP party also attended by Megan Alatini and the financial friends who without, we would not have been able to secure this beautiful property.

Most of our members/supporters are also bereaved parents. While we do not know exactly how you are feeling, we have been in similar circumstances. We offer empathy and understanding. We are not counsellors and do not give formal advice but we do offer an opportunity and environment to share experiences, to talk and to listen.

We promote awareness, understanding and support for those dealing with the death of a baby in pregnancy, birth and childhood as well as due to medical termination or other forms of reproductive loss.

As we understand how important physical items are, we offer a Tangible Memory Making Service. Members of our team come to the hospital and help you to make memories that you can hold on to forever. This free service consists of hand and foot casts which are framed as well as on granite and freestanding, photos (placed on a CD) in colour, black and white and set to music in a slideshow and inkless hand/footprints.

We can also help with parenting your baby e.g. bathing, dressing etc. The casts are best taken as soon as possible so we encourage you to call us while you are still in hospital and we will arrange a time to come in. Parents are more than welcome (and in fact we encourage it) to be involved in this service.

For more information on other ways we support, please head to our website www.babyloss.co.nz

Mission

Baby Loss NZ Philosophical Statement

That support is adaptable to different ethnicities and the beliefs of all parents and their families/whanau/aiga

That recognition, acceptance and acknowledgment of each diverse experience of loss is equal in duration to the often lifelong impact on their lives

That grief can be a trigger for ongoing physical and mental health conditions

That providing all families/whanau/aiga with the opportunity of making memories of their baby will assist in helping to keep their memory alive and positively channelling grief to minimise any possible health conditions

That encouragement through support, care, trust and respect ensures every moment during the finite time their baby is present, counts

That the diversity of all individuals must be acknowledged and respected regardless of their ethnicity

Baby Loss NZ Objectives

To improve, promote and protect the health and wellbeing of women, their partners, families/whanau/aiga and communities

To provide parents with tangible memories of their baby and information to assist them in making informed decisions regarding their loss or impending loss

To provide ongoing education to health professionals and other care givers about the experience of early loss, stillbirth, newborn and infant loss

To raise awareness of the experience and impact of early loss, stillbirth, newborn and infant death

To network with other organisations which hold similar aims to Baby Loss New Zealand

To carry out other activities consistent with the charitable purposes of the Trust