Professionals are welcome to call the Helpline.  Trained advisors are available to take your call from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday. 

Bereaved parents and their families can call the Helpline during working hours. In addition, from 6pm to 11pm calls to the Helpline will be answered by trained advisors who are themselves bereaved parents to offer a befriending service.

Advisors will be pleased to offer information on the latest research findings, published data and helpful literature.  Many professionals also welcome the chance to talk over the most helpful way to approach and support a bereaved family.

Many are surprised to learn that parents do not expect instant answers, and know that there is nothing that professionals can say to make them "feel better", but greatly appreciate offered contact with someone who knew their baby, uses the baby's name, and can listen and allow them to express their feelings.

Contact very soon after the baby's death is important, so that families can be fully informed about practicalities, and their options.  It doesn't need to be a long visit,and families may be too shocked and distressed initially to let you know that they appreciate your contact.  Families invariably say later that they valued the pro-active support from professionals, and gained comfort from the visit.

Make sure that the family knows how to get in touch with you, if they need you, and consistency of contact thereafter (not necessarily frequency) is very important.  Take your lead from the family, and ask if there are particular ways in which you can help or advise them, according to their own perceived needs.  Even though most bereaved families will describe very similar pain and reactions in their bereavement; meanings and possible solutions may vary greatly between individuals. Avoid cliches.

Never break an arrangement for a visit if you can possibly avoid it, don't promise anything you can't deliver, and be honest about anything you don't know. Give information about FSID, so that the family can contact if and when they feel it appropriate