Our Stories

Support Groups

​The loss of a baby can leave you feeling very alone.  Connecting with others who are walking this journey is an important part of the grief process.  Support groups provide an atmosphere where parents can come together and share their feelings about their loss, learn about the grief process and receive emotional support from others with similar experiences.  To learn about why it is important to attend, and what to expect, click on the "Why Attend a Support Group" button below.
All support groups offered by the Northside Hospital H.E.A.R.T.strings Perinatal Bereavement & Palliative Care are open to the community. There is no charge to attend. Special note: If you are pregnant following a loss, we respectfully ask that you not attend this group out of consideration for others. We encourage you to join the Rainbow P.A.L.S-Atlanta (Pregnancy After Loss Support) group which is highlighted below.  For more information about any of the Northside Hospital support groups listed below, contact us.

PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL
​CARING & COPING PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS
Caring & Coping is our pregnancy and infant loss group that offers support for parents and grandparents who have lost a baby due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and newborn death. Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of most months at the Northside Behavioral Health Building.  Sessions are from 7:00-9:00 p.m.  ​Click here for location, directions and schedule details about Caring & Coping.  Please note the group cancellations for COVID-19 by checking our calendar.  
RAINBOW P.A.L.S (Pregnancy After Loss Support)
Rainbow P.A.L.S. is our social support group open to anyone who is considering or experiencing a subsequent pregnancy after loss.  Meetings are usually held  in a social setting.  Past gatherings have been dinner at local restaurants, picnics and group art sessions. The mission of this support group is to celebrate the joys of pregnancy, while supporting other attendees navigate through the anxiety and fear that surrounds pregnancy after loss. Contact us If you would like to join this group.
BUTTERFLY M.OM.S. (Missing Our Multiples)
Butterfly M.O.M.s is our social support group for parents who have a surviving multiple(s) and are coping with the joys and challenges of creating a future without one (or more) of their multiple.  Losing one or more babies from a set of multiples is indescribable, complicated and often misunderstood. Contact us if you would like to join this group for friendship and dialogue.
COMPANIONS PEER-TO-PEER MENTORING
The H.E.A.R.T.strings Companions Program matches trained volunteer mentors who have experienced the loss of a baby, with bereaved parents for personal, one-on-one support and companionship. H.E.A.R.T.strings will seek to match people with similar experiences when possible and will monitor the matches to make sure both parties are comfortable. If you are interested in being matched with a mentor, please contact us.
TIME TO HEAL
The Time to Heal support group is what we offer to those that have had to make the difficult and painful decision to end a wanted pregnancy due to a poor prenatal diagnosis.  This group provides the opportunity to communicate with others in a social/support setting. Contact us if you would like to join this group.