Suffering AFE can lead to many different outcomes that range from the most severe, death of the mother and/or death of the infant, to the best possible outcome, a full recovery for the mother and infant.
Each person (patient, spouse, family members, friends, health care providers, etc.) affected by AFE has their own story and will have their own unique path to healing—physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. Feelings of confusion, isolation, grief and post-traumatic stress are to be expected after suffering or witnessing a traumatic event. These feelings may be compounded by the range of emotions surrounding the birth of child. The AFE Foundation offers several types of support for those affected by AFE.
Emotional Support
While there are many ways to seek comfort after such an event, we have found the most common needs among those who have experienced or are affected by AFE are to learn more about the condition and to connect with others who have also been affected.
If you currently have a loved one who remains hospitalized after experiencing an AFE and need immediate support, please see our Families in Crisis informational guide.
We also provide a wide variety of resources for families and individuals dealing with the myriad of issues surrounding AFE. These include managing grief, post-traumatic stress, postpartum depression, anxiety, and financial assistance. Please see our Resources page for more specific information.
The introduction of technology and social media has allowed those affected by AFE the ability to connect and communicate with others from all over the world. We offer several groups on Facebook for those affected by AFE to share and seek comfort from one another. The support groups are described below. If you are not a member of Facebook and would like to connect with others, please contact us.
AFE Foundation Support Group
This group provides a forum for those who have been affected by AFE to share in their experiences and connect with others. The group is a closed group to ensure the members posts are only available for others members to see. This group was established and is moderated by the AFE Foundation.
AFE Foundation Grieving Fathers Support Group is for fathers who have lost a spouse or partner to AFE, this group provides a forum for sharing in grief, seeking comfort, and asking questions of others in similar circumstances. Our hope is that this group will prove helpful in the days, weeks, months and years following your loss. The group is a closed group to ensure the members posts are only available for others members to see. This group was established and is moderated by the AFE Foundation.
AFE Foundation Grieving Family Support Group is for family members who have lost a loved one to AFE. This group provides a forum for sharing in grief, seeking comfort, and asking questions of others in similar circumstances. Our hope is that this group will prove helpful in the days, weeks, months and years following your loss. This group was established and is moderated by the AFE Foundation. It is a closed group, meaning members’ posts are only visible to the other members of the group, and not to the public.
Financial Support
We hope in the future to be able to provide financial assistance to families in financial need assistance after experiencing an AFE. Financial support will go to assist in the costs associated with housing, food or medical needs. Please visit our Resources page for helpful links to a variety of financial assistance through governmental agencies and other organizations.