MEND stands for mommies enduring neonatal death. Although technically, neonatal death is the death of a baby in the first 28 days after birth, the group and website is also for families who have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth as well.

This Christian site was founded Rebekah Mitchell after the loss of her son Jonathan. Like many of us who've experienced miscarriage or infant loss, Rebekah felt isolated in her loss. She also felt the need to reach out to others who'd experienced the same losses. One day, she read the obituary of a stillborn baby and reached out to the mom. Soon they became friends and found other grieving mothers. MEND sponsor support groups in the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas area and they have additional chapters in the American south and mid-west. Even if there's not a chapter near you, you may want to check out their website.

The site includes an interesting link called “here for you”. It lets you connect via email with group directors and chapter leaders by name. I think this is nice. Many websites have a “contact us” button but frequently you wind up with a generic email address. Even though I didn't know any of the contacts personally, I still found it more personal.

MEND publishes bi-monthly newsletter which you can read on their site or subscribe to for free. There is also a printed version of the newsletter available if you provide your mailing address. In addition to their traditional support groups, the website also includes an online forum where women can receive support from one another.

They include an extensive list of resources. Their book and publication section is fairly long and includes some titles I hadn't seen before. Also under the resources tab is a long list of pregnancy and infant loss organizations and websites. This list includes generic websites and also several that address a specific cause of miscarriage or infant loss such as the aveolar capilary dysplasia.

MEND's website also includes an online family memorial wall and links to several companies which offer keepsake items. The site has a brief list of songs you may fine relevant as well. The website is easy to navigate and visually appealing. Even if there's not a chapter near you and you can't attend one of MEND's support groups or events, their website is worth checking out.