Support Services

The Hygeia Foundation offers a variety of free bereavement support services to those who have lost a pregnancy or infant:

Peer-led Bereavement Support Groups

Please find the current schedule of our support group meetings here.

We hold six free peer-to-peer support group meetings in Connecticut each month for women and men who grieve the loss of a pregnancy or infant. These meetings provide the opportunity to connect with others who have experienced similar losses. Our support groups are not to be confused with professional counseling or group therapy; our informal meetings are designed to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where women and men who have experienced the loss of a baby can freely share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences while supporting each other.

Each of our support group meetings is led by two trained volunteer facilitators who have themselves experienced the loss of a pregnancy or infant. The role of the facilitators is to encourage discussion and to guide the conversation, as needed.

All of our groups are drop-in groups: new participants are always welcome, and you may attend as many or as few meetings as you like. To join a group, simply come to a meeting. You may come by yourself, with your partner, with a relative, or with a friend. There is never any pressure to speak; you may come to a meeting just to listen.

Though most people feel nervous before their first support group meeting, nearly everyone is glad they came. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming meetings. Please find the current schedule here.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Groups

Our Loss groups are open to anyone who has lost a pregnancy or infant, no matter when your loss occurred. You may attend as many meetings each month as you like.

Second Wednesday of the month and
Fourth Monday of the month
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Hygeia Foundation
Woodbridge Professional Center
264 Amity Road, Suite 211
Woodbridge, CT 06525

Third Thursday of the month
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Hygeia Foundation at the
Women and Family Life Center
96 Fair Street
Guilford, CT 06437

Fourth Monday of the month*
7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Hygeia Foundation at
A Child’s Place
90 Hillspoint Road
Westport, CT 06880
*If you will attend the Westport Pregnancy and Infant Loss meeting, please RSVP to 203-389-7700 by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Subsequent Pregnancy Group

If you are thinking about trying to conceive, trying to conceive, or pregnant again following a loss, this group is especially for you.

First Monday of the month
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Hygeia Foundation
Woodbridge Professional Center
264 Amity Road, Suite 211
Woodbridge, CT 06525

Parenting after a Loss Group

This group addresses the concerns of those who have lost a pregnancy or infant and who have living children.

Third Tuesday of the month**
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Hygeia Foundation
Woodbridge Professional Center
264 Amity Road, Suite 211
Woodbridge, CT 06525
**If you will attend the Parenting after a Loss meeting, please RSVP to
203-389-7700 by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Dates and times of all meetings are subject to change, especially if a regular meeting date falls on a holiday. Please visit our website prior to each meeting to confirm the date and time; last-minute schedule changes are posted on the Home page.

One-on-One Bereavement Support

If you can’t make it to one of our support groups, or if you feel you need support between meetings, we can connect you with a support provider who can speak to you via phone or e-mail. Please contact us if you are interested in one-on-one support.

Online Support and Resources

In addition to our website, you can find us on Facebook and on Twitter. You may also wish to visit the websites listed on our Resources page.

Bereavement Resource Lending Library

Our lending library contains books, articles, poetry, and other bereavement support materials. Not only do we have materials written specifically for parents grieving the loss of a pregnancy or infant, but we also have materials for children who have lost a sibling and for grandparents who have lost a grandchild. You are welcome to borrow as many of these materials as you like for as long as you may need them. Please visit our Resources pages for a sample of the books we have available and contact us if you would like to borrow some materials.

Newsletter

Our newsletter is published four times each year. Each edition contains essays, poetry, information about upcoming events, and more. You may read our current newsletter and prior editions here. You may also sign up to have our newsletter delivered to your inbox. Please contact us if you are interested in submitting an item for publication in our newsletter.

Burial Assistance

The Hygeia Foundation Bereavement Fund assists low-income parents in Connecticut who cannot afford a burial or cremation following the loss of a pregnancy or infant. Referrals must come to us through a social worker at a local hospital. Please contact us for details.