Our care
Care and support after pregnancy loss
The grief of a lost pregnancy calls for gentleness and time. We are there for you with a listening ear, emotional support and medical follow-up at home.
The loss of a pregnancy or baby brings the world to a standstill. From the very first line on the test, a bond grows, along with expectations and dreams for the future. No matter how early or advanced the pregnancy was: the grief and the emptiness are real. Grieving takes time, space and a gentle bedding.
You don’t have to carry this vulnerable period alone. As midwives we stand beside you to bring calm, follow up physical recovery and look together for what you need right now.
What can a midwife do for you?
Good follow-up after loss is about a safe combination of medical care and emotional closeness, simply at your home:
Physical follow-up
We check the recovery of the uterus, blood loss, any stitches or wound healing. If milk production unexpectedly starts, we offer targeted guidance to gently and comfortably slow down engorgement.
Emotional support and a listening ear
There is room to share the whole story, as often as needed. We listen without judgement, acknowledge the loss and help with the first steps in the grieving process.
Making memories
Tangible memories can bring enormous comfort later on. If you wish, we can gently make plaster casts of your baby’s hands and/or feet together, or help collect small keepsakes.
Reimbursement
After a miscarriage or stillbirth you are also entitled to reimbursed midwifery care through your health insurance fund. We come to your home at the pace that feels right for you; you are entitled to 3 to 4 visits.
Practical matters and legislation in Belgium
Around a stillbirth or early loss, a lot of paperwork suddenly appears at a moment when your mind is anywhere but there. We guide you through it step by step:
Registration with the civil registry
- Before 140 days (20 weeks): there is no legal registration obligation with the municipality.
- Between 140 and 179 days (20 to 25 weeks): parents can optionally choose an official certificate, including a first name.
- From 180 days (26 weeks): an official certificate is legally required. The baby officially receives a first name and surname and is entered in the registers.
The star register (Sterrenregister)
More and more Flemish municipalities keep a star register. Here you can register every baby that was stillborn, regardless of the length of the pregnancy. This gives parents official and symbolic recognition in their own municipality.
Farewell and leave
Depending on the length of the pregnancy, you are entitled to maternity or birth leave. We are also happy to think along with you about organising a fitting farewell, funeral or cremation.
Valuable support and organisations
There are wonderful, warm initiatives in Flanders specialised in surrounding families after loss:
Boven De Wolken
Volunteer professional photographers come free of charge to the hospital or your home to make tangible, serene images of your stillborn baby with great respect and love.
To the website →Het Berrefonds
Offers parents a “Koesterkoffer” with items to make and keep memories. They also offer a warm community, support groups and information for the whole family.
To the website →Met Lege Handen
A self-help group for and by parents of a deceased baby, centred on recognition and contact with others who have been through the same.
To the website →Never hesitate to contact us, even if you are unsure or have a question about what is happening to your body. We are there for you.
Contact a midwifeFrequently asked questions about pregnancy loss
Am I entitled to a midwife after a miscarriage or stillbirth?
Yes. After a miscarriage or stillbirth you are entitled to reimbursed midwifery care through your health insurance fund: 3 to 4 home visits, at the pace that feels right for you.
Do I have to register my baby with the municipality?
Before 140 days (20 weeks) there is no legal registration obligation. Between 140 and 179 days (20 to 25 weeks) parents can optionally choose an official certificate, including a first name. From 180 days (26 weeks) an official certificate is legally required. In addition, more and more Flemish municipalities keep a “star register”, regardless of the length of the pregnancy.
What if milk production starts?
That can happen unexpectedly after a loss. We offer targeted guidance to gently and comfortably slow down engorgement, at home.
You are not alone
Get in touch with a Juno midwife. We come to your home, at the pace that feels right for you.
Contact a midwife