Klinikseelsorge

"Speaking once more of warmth and love..."

The loss of a child, even before it has been allowed to start its life properly, plunges affected couples into deep despair. Hopes and wishes are lost and the entire life plan is thrown out of joint. The different experience of pregnancy and birth is also a challenge for the partnership. There is hardly any memory of the child for those around you and so there is little time and opportunity to live your grief...

The evening series is aimed at couples who have lost their child during pregnancy, birth or early life. It aims to provide space and support in the trusting atmosphere of a closed course group. It deals with topics such as "saying goodbye", "women's and men's grief", "my body and my grief" and "rituals and their healing effect".

Location: Outpatient hospice group Freiburg, Türkenlouisstr. 22 (next to the Wiehre train station)

Course leader: Karin Stöcklin and Sina Zaun

For further information please contact:

Karin Stöcklin

karinja@gmx.at, Tel: 0157 75825708

Especially in the early days, but also much later, it can be helpful to talk to other mothers who have experienced a similar loss. The hospital chaplains can arrange appropriate contacts in the Freiburg area.

There is also a postnatal exercise program in Freiburg especially for affected mothers. Information can be obtained from Andrea Appelt (Tel. 0761 766-4955).

Information and contacts via Hildegard Bargenda (Tel. 0761 8814988).

When a pregnancy ends in miscarriage, the grief for the lost child often has little external space. The clinic's pastoral care team therefore offers a non-denominational funeral service three times a year to help you grieve and say goodbye. As part of this service, we also go together to the burial ground where children under 500g born in Freiburg are buried anonymously, unless you have decided on an individual burial. We start in the blessing hall at the main cemetery, the second part of the ceremony takes place at the "Den Ungeborenen - Gedächtnistor" at the burial ground.

For your orientation: From the main entrance you walk directly to the blessing hall, you will find the burial ground at number 35 on the orientation map of the main cemetery (click on the map to enlarge).

Dates of the funeral services 2025: July 17, 2025, November 20, 2025, March 19, 2026, each at 3 p.m.

For further information please contact the pastoral care: Susanne Lindinger (Tel. 0761 270-60510)

Parents who have been affected themselves have compiled books for you that have helped them during their time of grief. You can find literature recommendations here , also for relatives and on the subject of "sibling grief".

There are several large associations of affected parents that offer a wide range of information and support. You can find a list of contact addresses and links here

In addition to the websites of official bodies and parents' associations, there are many private, personal websites and forums. We have put together a small selection here. You will find many more links on the pages, as well as direct contact options.

Please note: The legal regulations vary from state to state, which is why not all of the information on these pages applies to Baden-Württemberg. Nevertheless, the pages can be very helpful for the areas of grief work, forums...

Nationwide associations and initiatives with a comprehensive homepage

Parents' associations

• Verwaiste Eltern in Deutschland e.V.: www.veid.de
• Initiative Regenbogen: www.initiative-regenbogen.de
• Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung
• www.familienplanung.de/schwangerschaft/frueher-abschied/ (comprehensive and sensitive factual information)

Internet forums

• www.leben-ohne-dich.de (protected forum, also separate forums for fathers and siblings; pinboard, literature)
  

Bereavement work

• www.leere-wiege.com (including tips on saying goodbye)
• www.stille-geburt.net (Austrian site!; good tips on grief work, also for those accompanying the bereaved)