Today, 15 October, is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. In this episode I move beyond what to say and focus on how to build support around a grieving family, and how to keep it going over time.
For grieving parents, I share practical questions to help you find the right support for yourself, ways to support each other as a couple when you grieve differently, and how to include and protect your other children. For grandparents, aunts and uncles, I introduce the Circles of Support model and its simple rule: comfort in, dump out.
For supporters, I walk through how support needs to change from the first days to the first weeks, months and years. And for friends, I share the story of firefighters and builders, so you can ask yourself honestly which one you are, or whether you are neither. I close with an invitation to join the International Wave of Light tonight at 7 pm.
“Support is not a single act. It is a relationship that continues.”
Who this is for: Parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings. Friends, colleagues and professionals who want to support a grieving family not only in the first days, but for the long term.
Table of Contents
In this episode
- Finding the right support for yourself after the death of your baby
- Supporting each other as a couple when you grieve differently
- Including and protecting siblings
- Circles of Support for grandparents and the wider family: comfort in, dump out
- How support needs to change: the first days, weeks, months and years
- Firefighters and builders: which kind of friend are you?
- The Wave of Light, 15 October at 7 pm
Chapters
- 00:00 Intro October 15 Wave of Light
- 01:32 Welcome & Overview
- 02:42 Support Does Not Arrive by Itself
- 04:05 For Grieving Families: Support for Yourself
- 07:31 Spread Your Support
- 08:30 Support for Each Other as a Couple
- 10:50 Your Other Children
- 12:54 Speak Up
- 14:13 The Wider Family: Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles
- 18:24 Supporters: Support Over Time
- 21:08 Friends: Are You a Firefighter or a Builder?
- 25:17 Continuous Support
- 26:21 The Wave of LightCircles
Mentioned in this episode
- Circles of Support (blog): nathaliehimmelrich.com/circles-of-support/
- Episode 106, When Loss Reshapes Our Circle
- Episode 205, PAIL Awareness Month: Dos and Don’ts
- Episode 201, Grief and Time
- Book: Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple
- Book: Bridging the Grief Gap
Access free resources: nathaliehimmelrich.com/free-resources-hub
If this episode helped you, please rate the podcast with five stars and leave a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It takes less than a minute and helps other grieving families find these conversations.
Support the show
💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it.
🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review.
Stay Connected
- 🌐 Visit nathaliehimmelrich.com
- 💌 Subscribe to the newsletter for resources and updates
- 🎧 Never miss an episode—follow the podcast!
- 💛 Socials Instagram Facebook
Find Support Resources
- 💜 For Grievers – Resources
- 💜 For Supporters – Supporting someone
- 💜 Books – Explore books on grief and healing
- 💜 Support – Offers – free and paid