Sands Nelson

About

We are a voluntary, parent-run, non-profit organisation set up to support parents and families who have experienced the death of a baby at any stage during pregnancy, as a baby or infant.

If you have found this page because your baby has recently died, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to you. Many of our Sands members can relate to the feelings you are experiencing right now and we sincerely hope that the information on our website may be of some help to you over the following hours, days, months or years.

Most of our members/supporters are also bereaved parents. While we do not know exactly how you are feeling, we have been in similar circumstances. We offer empathy and understanding. We are not counsellors and do not give formal advice but we do offer an opportunity and environment to share experiences, to talk and to listen. We promote awareness, understanding and support for those dealing with the death of a baby at any stage in pregnancy, birth or as a newborn, and due to medical termination or other forms of baby loss.

Every year in New Zealand, over 600 babies die between 20 weeks gestation and 12 months of age. No official statistics are kept for pregnancy loss prior to 20 weeks. However, the Ministry of Health estimates that 1-2 out of every 10 pregnancies results in a miscarriage. Using these figures, we estimate between 7,500 to 14,750 miscarriages occur every year in New Zealand.

Baby loss, miscarriage, help line