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Hawthorn House

Pregnancy and infant loss support

A community of parents who've lost a pregnancy or baby, here to support yours.

There's no right way to grieve, and no timeline. Whether you lost a pregnancy last week, lost a baby twenty years ago, or are reading this for a friend, you are welcome here.

If you're newly grieving

What we offer

Four programs, all free for families. All led by people who have been here.

Weekly support circles

Small groups of bereaved parents meeting in person and online. Drop in any week, or join a six-week cohort.

Comfort boxes

Sent to a family in the first month after loss. A journal, a candle, a soft blanket, and a hand-written note from someone who has been there.

Memorial photography

Free professional photography at the hospital, through a network of partner volunteer photographers. Available 24 hours a day.

Annual remembrance gathering

First Saturday of October. A quiet outdoor service with the option to read a name aloud. Open to anyone.


If you're newly grieving

You don't have to read everything on this page. You don't have to know what you need yet. There is a guide on the next page for the first days, the first weeks, and the first year, written by parents who have been there.

Read the guide →

FOUR THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP TODAY

  • What is happening in your body, physically, is normal.
  • You do not have to make any decisions today.
  • If you want to be alone, that is allowed. If you do not, that is also allowed.
  • You can reach a peer who has been here at sarah@example.org.

SUPPORTING A GRIEVING FRIEND

What helps. What doesn't. What to say when you don't know what to say.

If someone you love has lost a pregnancy or baby and you are reading this trying to figure out what to do, you are already doing the most important thing. We have a guide for you, written by parents in our community: what landed, what didn't, and what they wish more people had known.

Read the guide for supporters →


A NOTE ON OUR FRAMING

We are a Christian organization. Our support is offered in that frame.

We welcome people of all faiths and none. Nothing we offer requires a profession of faith.

Stories from our community

Shared with permission. Anonymized as requested.

Maya & Ben

"The first time I came to a circle, I didn't say anything for ninety minutes. Nobody made me."

SUPPORT THE WORK

Comfort boxes are free for the family. They aren't free for us.

A gift of $40 sends one comfort box to a family in the first month after their loss. A gift of $200 supports a six-week cohort. We are a 501(c)(3); your gift is tax-deductible.

Give a comfort box Other ways to give