Welcome to Sands Manukau- Baby Loss Support.
Sands Manukau are a registered charity (CC32638) set up to support parents and their families who live in the Manukau region and have experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or up to a year following a full term birth. We also support parents facing the difficult decision following a poor prognosis.
Sands Manukau supports our local hospital – Middlemore – educating staff on the experience of baby loss and providing support items for them to give to parents. Our main service is the Care Bags we provide to bereaved parents (see Sands Services).
Sands Manukau was set up in April 2008 after the need for a Sands group in the Manukau region was identified. We hold monthly support group meetings where parents can come together in a friendly, non judgmental space to share, listen, and acknowledge others who may have been through a similar experience to their own.
We would like to warmly welcome you to our website. If you are visiting us because your baby has died or you have had a poor prognosis scan, we send our heartfelt sympathies to you. We hope that this website can be of some help to you and encourage you to contact us for support.
Most of our members/supporters are also bereaved parents. While we do not know exactly how you are feeling, we have been in similar circumstances. We offer empathy and understanding. We are not counsellors and do not give formal advice but we do offer an opportunity and environment to share experiences, to talk and to listen. We promote awareness, understanding and support for those dealing with the death of a baby in pregnancy, birth and up to a year following a full term birth as well as due to medical termination or other forms of reproductive loss.
We are volunteers who will endeavour to get back to any queries within 24 hours. However if you feel you need urgent support at any time, please call 0800 SANDS4U
My Baby Has Died – What do I do now? How can Sands help?
The first thing we encourage you to do is slow down. The decisions made now will have an impact on you for the rest of your life. You may have thoughts today that could change tomorrow. Taking your time to think and discuss options with your family members can ensure that there are as little regrets as possible. Take time to think about what kind of tangible memories you may like to create – see Creating Memories for some ideas. Feel free to give us a ring. We are here to support you and have volunteers available to talk with you who may have been through a similar experience.
I have just had a scan saying my baby is sick, will/may not survive – What do I do? How can Sands help?
Sands Manukau have volunteers who have been through a similar experience and are more than happy to talk this through with you. They can help you understand what will happen in the following days, weeks or months depending on your decision. Sands volunteers will support you whether you decide to continue with your pregnancy or interrupt (terminate) your pregnancy. This is a heartbreaking choice and we strongly encourage you to ask for support. Our Care Bag can be given to you in order to help you think about memories you will be able to create.
We invite you to look around our site and contact us if you would like further information, support or if you would like to help support us. Sands Manukau are here to help.
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