The basket
What is in a Basket of Healing
Everything a mother needs for her physical recovery after stillbirth or infant loss, packed with care into one soft basket.
Who receives a basket
Our baskets are donated to partner hospitals, where staff give them to loss moms before they leave the hospital. They are intended for women who give birth after 16 weeks of pregnancy, because many of the supplies help with the discomfort of lactation, which typically begins after that point whether or not a baby survives.
A basket is not something a mother has to ask for, qualify for, or pay for. It is simply handed to her, with love, at a moment when she may not be able to think about what she needs.
If you know someone who is grieving and is not at one of our partner hospitals, please reach out. We do our best to get a basket to any mother who could use one.
Why these supplies
Medical and care supplies are costly, yet they are one hundred percent necessary for the well-being of a grieving mother. Currently an individual basket costs about $250 to fill. Each item was chosen with help from a mother who has walked this road, and we keep refining the list as we hear from the women who receive them.
Each Basket of Healing includes
Medical supplies
These address the physical realities of postpartum recovery: bleeding, perineal soreness, and the pain of milk coming in.
- Lanolin creamSoothes sore, cracked skin as milk comes in.
- Lactation ice and heat packsRelieve engorgement and help the body wind down milk production gently.
- Maxi padsPostpartum bleeding lasts for weeks, regardless of how a pregnancy ends.
- Mesh underwearSoft, stretchy and disposable, the same kind hospitals use during recovery.
- Nursing padsAbsorb leaking milk discreetly in the days after delivery.
- Peri bottleMakes bathroom trips far more comfortable while the body heals.
- Perineal ice packsReduce swelling and pain after a vaginal delivery.
- Tucks padsWitch-hazel pads that cool and soothe tender skin.
Care supplies
Small comforts for the long nights and quiet days that follow a loss.
- Battery-operated candleA light to keep burning in memory of a baby. Read why the candle matters.
- BlanketOur signature cream blanket, embroidered with a heart that reads “Faith · Hope · Healing. May prayers of strength and love surround you in your healing.”
- Lip balmHospitals and tears are both drying.
- Cleansing wipesFor freshening up when a shower feels like too much.
- TeaSomething warm to hold.
- Toothbrush and toothpasteBecause no one plans for a hospital stay like this one.
- Warm socksA small kindness for cold hospital floors.
Printed resource
- Lactation After Loss guideA printed guide to what happens when milk comes in after a loss, and the options a mother has, from suppressing supply to donating milk. Read the guide online.
Frequently asked questions
Does the basket cost the mother or the hospital anything?
No. Baskets are always free, to the family and to the hospital. Donors cover the cost of every item.
Can I request a basket for myself or for a friend?
Yes. If you or someone you love has lost a baby and would benefit from a basket, email us. We will do everything we can to get one to you.
Why is the basket only for losses after 16 weeks?
Many of the supplies address lactation and the physical recovery from a later delivery. Earlier losses are no less real or painful, and our resources page lists organizations that support families through loss at every stage.
Can I donate the items instead of money?
Yes. Our Amazon wish list contains the exact items we pack. Anything you order ships straight to our storage location and goes directly into a basket.
Can I sponsor a basket in memory of someone?
We would be honored. A gift of $250 fills a complete basket. Donate and then email us the name you would like to remember.
Fill a basket for the next mother
Your gift becomes lanolin and ice packs and warm socks and a small steady light. It becomes the words “you are not alone” for a woman on the hardest day of her life.