Support Groups & Maternal-Fetal Centres
There are some support groups for parents who are currently expecting children with a poor or fatal diagnosis. Those services vary from State to State and from Country to Country.
However, we have listed some groups below. If you know of any other ones which should be listed on this page, please contact us to let us know.
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Australia
SAFDA Victoria(Support After Fetal Diagnosis of Abnormality)
8345 2180
SIDS and Kids Victoria
9822 9611
1300 308 307 (24 hour grief support)
SANDS Australia
1300 072 637 (support)
Bonnie Babes
1300 266 643 (grief counselling)
Very Special Kids
1800 888 875 (free call)
Genetic Counselling Service, Royal Women's Hospital
www.thewomens.org.au/GeneticCounsellingService
8345 2180
Genetics, Monash Medical Centre
9594 2026
Clinical Genetics Service, Mercy Hospital for Women
8458 4250
Fetal Diagnosis Centre Royal Women's Hospital, Brisbane
Royal Women's Hospital
Brisbane,QLD.
07 3636 0840
OzMOST
OzMOST is an internet based peer support group for families in Australia and New Zealand raising the sole surviving child of a multiple pregnancy.
Overseas
Antenatal Results Choices (UK)
ARC is a national charity, which provides non-directive support and information to parents throughout the antenatal testing process. Their role is to help parents arrive at the most appropriate decision for them in the context of their family life. www.arc-uk.org
Perinatal Hospice (USA)
A website offering resources for mothers who wish to continue their pregnancy despite a poor prenatal diagnosis. Facilitates the creation of a "Perinatal Hospice frame of mind" through a peaceful approach. Links to useful books for families as well as US Perinatal Hospices. www.perinatalhospice.org
Be Not Afraid (USA)
Benotafraid.net is an online outreach to parents who have received a poor or difficult prenatal diagnosis. The family stories, articles, and links within this site are presented as a resource for those who may have been asked to choose between terminating a pregnancy and continuing on despite the diagnosis. The benotafraid.net families faced the same decision and chose not to terminate. By sharing their experiences, they offer encouragement to those who may be afraid to continue on.
http://www.benotafraid.net/default.asp
A heart- breaking choice (USA)
For those parents who choose to interrupt their pregnancies after poor prenatal diagnosis, they hope to create a safe haven of encouragement and validation.
http://www.aheartbreakingchoice.com/
DISCLAIMER:
The PDS Australia website, its content and any services offered to anyone are provided for informational purposes only. None of the foregoing is a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a Doctor or Mental Health Clinician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding pregnancy or grief and loss issues. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the PDS Australia Site.