Peer Support Programs

Experiencing the loss of a pregnancy or the death of a baby is devastating. But you aren’t alone. Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network is here to help, with peer-led group and individual support services offered at no cost to families across Ontario who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. Our support services are available to residents of Ontario.

Our support programs are led by trained volunteers who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss first-hand. We are a barrier-free, inclusive organization. We can provide interpreters in several languages, at a family’s request.

We know that there is no time limit on grief. For this reason, families can access our services at any time for as long as they need.

For more information about the measures that PAIL Network takes to ensure a comfortable and welcoming group environment for families, please click PAIL Network Group Support Experience: Information for Participants.

To access support from PAIL Network, please fill out our Request for Support Form.

Click Here for our Peer Support Programs Calendar

Online Support Groups

PAIL Network offers peer-led online support to all families across Ontario who have experienced a pregnancy loss or an infant death. Our team of trained volunteers are now providing support during scheduled online meetings that you can access from the comfort of home. These online groups connect families who share a similar experience of loss, and these discussions are moderated by a peer support volunteer who also shares that experience. Please complete a Request for Support Form for group dates and specific details.

Loss Specific Online Support
Group Name	Description	Frequency each month
First Trimester Loss	This group is for families who experience a loss in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy (this may be described as a miscarriage [missed, incomplete], ectopic pregnancy, or other early pregnancy loss [molar pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, etc.]).	2nd and 4th Monday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Second Trimester Loss	This group is for families who experience a loss in the 14th to 27th weeks of pregnancy and the baby is not born alive (this may be described as a late miscarriage or stillbirth [after 20 weeks]).	1st and 3rd Wednesday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Third Trimester Loss	This group is for families who experience a loss after 28 weeks of pregnancy until birth and the baby is not born alive (this will be described as a stillbirth).	1st and 3rd Monday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Infant/Neonatal Death	This group is for families who experience the death of their baby in their first year of life, and is for anyone who had a baby born alive that died after birth with a known cause of death (this may be a medical condition, infection, prematurity, etc.).	1st and 3rd Thursday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Infant Death Due to SIDS/SUIDS	This group is for families who experience the sudden or unexpected loss of their baby that seems healthy but dies suddenly within the first year of their life, and the cause of death cannot be explained.	2nd Thursday from 9pm – 10pm EST
Termination of a Pregnancy	This group is for families who had to interrupt/stop their pregnancy due to medical issues with the baby or pregnant person (this may be due to a life-limiting diagnosis with their baby, or a medical complication such as preeclampsia or sepsis with the pregnant person).	2nd and 4th Tuesday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Grief After Abortion	This group is for families who stopped their pregnancy with an elective or therapeutic abortion (this is what people most commonly refer to as an abortion).	4th Wednesday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Additional Online Groups
Group Name	Description	Frequency each month
Parenting Through Loss	This group is for families who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss and also have living children. This group discusses the challenges of grieving, parenting, and parenting grieving children.	1st and 3rd Wednesday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Partners in Grief	This group is for the non-birthing parent.	4th Wednesday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Pregnancy After Loss	This group is for families who are currently pregnant after a pregnancy or infant loss.	1st and 3rd Tuesday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Trying to Conceive	This group is for families who are trying to conceive after a loss.	2nd and 4th Thursday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Support for Grandparents	This group is for people who have experienced the loss of a grandchild.	(Bi-monthly) Second Sunday from 10am – 11:30am EST
Loss of a Multiple	This group is for families who experience the loss of one or more babies while another baby lives (this may also be described as the death of a twin or triplet).	4th Tuesday from 8pm – 9pm EST
Indigenous Circle of Support	This group is for Indigenous families who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss.	4th Monday from 8pm – 9pm EST

Circles of Support

PAIL Network offers peer-led in person support to all families across Ontario who have experienced a pregnancy loss, an infant death or elective abortion. Our team of trained volunteers provide support during scheduled meetings. These groups connect families who share a similar experience of loss, and these discussions are moderated by a peer support volunteer who also shares that experience. Please complete a Request for Support Form for group dates and specific details.

Location
Guelph	Every 2nd Monday of each month from 7:00 – 8:00pm EST
Belleville	Every 2nd Monday of each month from 7:00 – 8:00pm EST
Hamilton	Every 2nd Monday of each month from 7:30 – 8:30pm EST
Windsor	Every 2nd Monday of each month from 7:30 – 8:30pm EST
Durham North	Every 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7:30 – 8:30pm EST
Toronto	Every 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7:30 – 8:30pm EST
Thunder Bay	Every 2nd Thursday of each month from 7:00 – 8:00pm EST
Peterborough	Every 2nd Thursday of each month from 7:30 – 8:30pm EST
Ottawa	Every 2nd Thursday of each month from 7:30 – 8:30pm EST
Markham	Every 3rd Wednesday of each month from 8:00 – 9:00pm EST (Coming soon – January 2025)
Niagara	Every 4th Monday of each month from 6:30 – 7:30 pm EST (Coming soon – January 2025)
Aurora	Every 4th Wednesday of each month from 7:30 – 8:30pm EST

One-to-one Peer Phone Support

In some circumstances, we may be able to offer one to one peer support by phone. This individual support connects families with a volunteer, who is as closely matched to the family’s circumstances as possible. Families typically complete four, 45-minute phone sessions with a phone support volunteer.

Phone support volunteers have a lived experience of loss, and have completed the training required to meet the unique needs of families who are grieving the loss of their pregnancy or of their baby.

If you are unable to attend either online or in person groups, please let our Referral Coordinator know.

Living With Your Loss: A Guided Curriculum to Living a Meaningful Life After Loss

PAIL Network presents “Living With Your Loss: A Guided Curriculum to Living a Meaningful Life After Loss”. This 6-session curriculum is offered multiple times throughout the year and is a way for families to network together and share tools to support living a meaningful life after their loss. Each series is facilitated by a PAIL Network team who have a lived experience of loss and is an opportunity for anyone who has received support for their pregnancy or infant loss grief, and are now feeling ready to learn how to incorporate the loss of their baby into their life.

Each series meets twice weekly for 3 weeks on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7:30-9. We also offer a one-day condensed group on Saturdays a few times a year. For a complete list of upcoming events, please visit our Peer Support Programs Calendar or email PAILSupport@sunnybrook.ca to register for this group.

To access support from PAIL Network, please fill out our Request for Support Form.