PALS - Pregnancy & Parenting After Loss -- A New Support Group Founded by Share Southern Vermont

A year ago, when Share Southern Vermont held it's first grief support meeting, we knew our mission: to support grieiving parents by meeting them where they currently needed the most support.

This 'place' changes over time. Just as some parents weave in and out of meetings depending on how they are feeling that month, others reach a place where attending the support group becomes uncomfortable for a time. This typically happens when the couple becomes pregnant again, especially when the mother begins to show.

Although your grief for your angel baby is by no means diminished, it is now coupled with intense fear and anxiety about the baby you now carry. As one mother recently put it, 'censoring' which emotions and feelings are appropriate for support meetings when the couple across from you may be struggling to concieve is too hard.

We, the founding directors of SSV, have always known this day would come. Loss cripples us for a time, then - for most of us - leads us to a place where we have a desire to try again. And so, the new year leads us to a place of natural growth. We are adding a a PALS group to our support services. It stands for Pregnancy / Parenting After Loss Support. It is an additional service, because, sadly, new parents will always be joining us in our second-Wednedsay support meeting.

If you are currently pregnant with your Rainbow baby, actively trying, or are parenting your child after loss and find you have overwhelming emotions you would like to share with others going through the same thing we offer you to have a safe place to do so.

Gretchen Lunderville, mother to Noah - 9 years in heaven, and two living children has lovingly agreed to facilitate this group. The first meeting will be Tuesday, January 19th, 7pm in the Community Room of the Whiting Library in Chester, Vermont. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email her.

Please understand, you are welcome at both meetings. Just because your focus is on health, pregnancy, and delivering a healthy baby does not mean that you have 'finished' or even 'taken a break' from grieving the baby who left you. We only want you to feel like there is a forum to express your pregnancy and parenting related emotions without taking on any additional concern or guilt about others in the group.

Whatever you need...when you need it. If you need to come and share, please do.