Recently we shared an article on journaling as a tool for helping process the emotions of baby loss. Gail Powell, Life coach, Author and Publisher continues by discussing how putting pen to paper can help parents navigate grief, memory, and meaning. She introduces the ‘Whispers to my baby journal’ as a guided way to help reflection.
Grief after baby loss is a deeply personal, often isolating experience. As midwives and professionals supporting families during the most vulnerable moments of their lives, we know that words can fail us, both for the grieving parents and for those trying to help.
One gentle, accessible tool that can offer both comfort and connection in this space is journaling.
Why journaling helps in grief
Journaling isn’t just about writing down thoughts. It’s about giving grief a space to land somewhere safe and private where emotion can move, memories can be honoured, and silence can speak. Especially after the loss of a baby, journaling can support a grieving parent in several healing ways:
- Naming and honouring their baby’s story
Writing allows parents to record memories, hopes, dreams and details about their baby. This can be particularly powerful when those around them may feel uncomfortable bringing the baby up or don’t know what to say.
- Making sense of complex emotions
Grief is rarely tidy. It can manifest as anger, numbness, love, guilt, hope and heartbreak all in one day. Journaling helps untangle those emotions, offering a non-judgmental space to just be.
- Creating ritual and routine
A daily or weekly journaling practice can be grounding. It offers rhythm to the days when time may feel distorted, and anchors grieving parents in something they can return to again and again.
- Supporting emotional regulation
Studies have shown that expressive writing can reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and help with emotional resilience. The process of externalising pain through journaling can ease the internal pressure that many grieving parents carry.
- Building a legacy of love
For some, journaling becomes a letter to their baby, a way of continuing a bond. For others, it’s a place to chart their journey over time and to witness their own strength, sorrow, and healing.
Journaling isn’t about “moving on” – it’s about moving with.
This gentle practice doesn’t rush grief. It allows it to unfold with compassion and care, as slowly or suddenly as necessary. It can also be a way for partners, grandparents, and siblings to engage in their own grief process or a tool to revisit during anniversaries or challenging dates.
Supporting parents with journaling
When recommending journaling to a bereaved parent, sensitivity is key. Some parents will immediately take to it. Others may find it too painful – or fear “doing it wrong.” Reassure them that:
- There is no right or wrong way to journal. A few words. A drawing. A single date or name. It all counts.
- They don’t need to write every day. Even once a week, or once in a while, can be valuable.
- It’s for them, not anyone else. It doesn’t need to be neat, grammatically correct, or complete.
- If they don’t know where to start, prompts can help.
A journal created with loss in mind
At Loss Books, we’ve created ‘Whispers to My Baby Journal’. It is a guided memory and reflection journal designed specifically for parents navigating the heartbreak of baby loss.
It combines space to remember, pages to honour a baby’s short but meaningful life, and gentle prompts that support emotional expression and healing. With room to reflect on love, grief, and the small details that matter, it meets parents wherever they are in their journey, whether the loss was recent or many years ago.
The journal has been used by families, midwives, bereavement teams and hospital units to offer a comforting way to hold memory and meaning in one place.
To find out more or to explore our full collection of gentle grief resources, including memory books for parents, siblings and grandparents, visit:
Or for direct access to the journal, visit:
Whispers to My Baby Journal
https://www.lossbooks.com/product-category/journal/
Gail Powell – Life Coach, Author and Publishing Director at Loss Books Ltd
May 2025