Support for anyone who has experienced cancer in or around baby loss
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If you are reading this page, it is likely that you or someone close to you may be currently facing or trying to make sense of one of these heartbreaking losses while also trying to come to terms with a cancer diagnosis:
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miscarriage
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stillbirth
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termination for medical reasons (TFMR) - due to mum or baby's health
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Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (GTN)
We are so sorry for your loss.
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Cancer never comes at a good time, but when it coincides with an already deeply painful experience it can feel especially overwhelming.
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If you have been diagnosed with cancer either:
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during a pregnancy that ended in loss, or
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in the 12 months after experiencing baby loss
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we are here to support you.​
After such a devastating loss, you may be feeling numb or you may be experiencing an array of confusing thoughts and feelings which will be unique to you.
There is no right way to feel, nor is there a one-size-fits-all roadmap to moving forward, but you do not have to be alone at this time.
We can be here to listen and give you a safe space to talk at a pace that works for you. Sometimes feelings can become overwhelming and if more specialist bereavement support is needed we can signpost you to other trusted organisations that can offer this to you.
​​Emotional Support
Here at Mummy’s Star we offer a dedicated Support Worker who will check in with you regularly in whatever way works best for you (email, text, phone call, etc.).
As well as being there to listen and offer emotional support, they may be able to suggest practical steps to help you manage some of the challenges that you are experiencing as well as signposting you to other groups or organisations with the expertise to help.
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​All our Support Workers have either worked in cancer and/or maternity support services or have themselves experienced cancer in or around pregnancy or loss. Although no-one can truly know what you are currently going through, their experience will allow them to offer you support in a sensitive and pragmatic way.​
There is no time limit to the support that Mummy’s Star offer. If you want us, we will be here for you through your diagnosis, making difficult decisions, going through treatment, and beyond. You can reach out for support at any time, even if it has been a while since your loss and we can help you navigate:
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the emotional and psychological impact of finishing treatment
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talking to others about your loss
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managing any physical effects of your treatment, e.g. menopause, anxiety
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living alongside grief
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returning to work
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concerns around future pregnancies / fertility
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fear of cancer reoccurrence
If you are looking for more specialised support with any of these issues, we can help you to find the right space for you to get the expertise that you need.
​Specific resources
Some types of baby loss can bring with them specific difficulties and you may want to find out more about them and how we can offer support:
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If your cancer diagnosis has resulted in your medical team suggesting that you consider the heartbreaking option of a Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR) you may find it helpful to read our blog.
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If you have been diagnosed with Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (GTN) we will soon be releasing a blog GTN based on information shared by other couples who have had to deal with this cancer diagnosis instead of the new life that they had hoped for.
Support for partners
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This blog explains some of the ways that we can support partners.
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If you are a Mummy’s Star mum and your partner would like our support, they can contact us direct at info@mummysstar.org or you can speak to your Support Worker to arrange this.
Peer Support
We host two private Facebook groups for individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer in or around pregnancy to connect and support one another. Our main forum, The Star Forum, is open to all and we also host the 4 Star Forum specifically for those who have been diagnosed with secondary or incurable cancer.
You are very welcome to join these spaces to help find connection, understanding and to share experiences related to your cancer, treatment, recovery and anything else that is happening in your life, however, we recognise that discussions around pregnancy and topics relating to babies, which often occur on these forums, may be very upsetting for you.
If you are uncertain as to whether these are the right spaces for you, your Mummy’s Star Support Worker will be happy to talk this through with you.
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If you have specific questions that you wish to ask on a Forum but it feels too difficult to be actively involved there, you can ask your Support Worker to place a post on your behalf, and they will feedback via email any responses from other Forum users.
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Alternatively, your Support Worker may be able to help you look for an alternative forum or peer support provided by another organisation, that more closely matches the support that you are needing right now.
Financial Support
Cancer can bring unexpected costs and financial pressures and this can feel particularly heavy at a time when you need to focus on your treatment, recovery and adjusting to life after your loss.
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Mummy’s Star offers a small non-means tested grant of £350 which aims to provide some financial relief when most needed. If you are living in the UK or Ireland and have sadly experienced the loss of a pregnancy while diagnosed with cancer or in the 12 months prior to your diagnosis, you may be eligible for this one-off payment. You can find out more about this by reading our Grant Guidelines and you can speak with your Mummy’s Star Support Worker if you wish to apply.
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They can also signpost you to other charities that may be able to offer you a grant and direct you to welfare experts to ensure that you are receiving all the financial support you qualify for from the Government, help you manage any debts, look for any locally available grants and check if you may be eligible for support from your energy provider.
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​We also have a number of useful articles on the topic of financial support and management of finances when ill which you can find in our Support library
Secondary and Incurable Cancer
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If you have been diagnosed with a secondary, sometimes called metastatic cancer, we are here to help support you to live your best possible life alongside your cancer diagnosis. We recognise that this might feel overwhelming hard when you are also grieving for the loss of your baby but we are here for you as long as you want us.
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These links will take you to dedicated pages detailing the specific support we can provide if you have received a secondary or incurable cancer diagnosis.
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We will also be launching an article of relevant information and resources in the near future.
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Get in touch
Support Library and Expert Contacts
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We have an ever-growing library of articles and real life stories that you might find helpful to explore. These articles are grouped into collections, for ease of access. Feel free to browse the library as a whole but we thought that you might find the following collections especially helpful:
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Mummy’s Star has also created a library of recordings of live webinars that we have hosted over recent years. Each of these ‘Ask The Expert’ sessions covers a specific topic related to cancer and/or pregnancy including loss. An expert speaker is invited to answer questions submitted by our mums and gives in-depth information and advice on a wide range of important subjects. You can browse the entire collection here, but you may find the following videos particularly helpful:
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Our website also has a comprehensive list of charities and organisations who offer tailored support for specific parts of the cancer experience.​​
Support can take many different forms and sometimes you may not know exactly what you may need right now. Regardless, we would love to hear from you. If you are not already receiving support from Mummy’s Star please do get in touch using our Self Referral Form.