First Candle — Free 24/7 Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Line

First Candle is a national nonprofit focused on infant health and survival — including SIDS, SUID, stillbirth, and other forms of pregnancy and infant loss. Beyond its public health work on safe sleep and infant loss prevention, First Candle runs free online support groups for bereaved families, a 24/7 grief support line, and ongoing community for parents and family members navigating the death of a baby. The peer support work has been a core part of First Candle’s mission since its founding.

What to Expect

First Candle’s online support groups meet on a regular weekly or biweekly schedule, organized around specific loss experiences — SIDS, stillbirth, miscarriage, infant death from medical conditions, dads and partners, subsequent pregnancy after loss. Groups are led by trained facilitators (often bereaved parents themselves who have completed First Candle training) and create space for honest peer sharing without time pressure. The 24/7 grief support line at 1-800-221-7437 is staffed by trained peer responders who can talk with bereaved family members anytime. First Candle also publishes resources, runs safe-sleep education, and partners with hospitals on bereavement protocols.

Who This Group Is For

First Candle serves families bereaved by SIDS, SUID, stillbirth, miscarriage, and other forms of pregnancy and infant loss. Members include mothers, fathers, partners, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, and other extended family. The breadth of loss types covered means families can find peers with closely matching experiences. The 24/7 line makes support accessible at the unpredictable hours when bereaved family members often most need to talk.

Why Peer Support Works

Infant loss carries a particular weight that other forms of grief don’t always — the brevity of the child’s life, the questions about cause, the silence that often surrounds infant death in mainstream culture. First Candle’s peer support groups give families a place where the loss is fully acknowledged and discussed — without the discomfort that bereaved parents often encounter from people outside the community. Members frequently describe their First Candle group as the place they could finally say their baby’s name aloud.

How to Join

First Candle support is free. Visit firstcandle.org to register for online support groups, contact the 24/7 grief support line at 1-800-221-7437, access bereavement resources, and learn about First Candle’s broader work in infant health.