Perinatal Comfort Care Program
If you have a prenatal diagnosis that indicates your baby may die before or soon after birth, we offer our deepest condolences. The Perinatal Comfort Care team is here to be of support to you and your family through this difficult time. We are dedicated to embracing parents who have made the decision to continue their pregnancy and wish to spend every precious moment with their baby.
Expecting a new baby is a time filled with excitement, anticipation and hope for the future. However, for parents who have been given a prenatal diagnosis that their baby may be born with a condition incompatible with life, this can be a time filled with heartbreak and uncertainty. Parents who choose to continue the pregnancy may find themselves alone with limited information and resources. Other family members may also be facing their own unique struggles. In response to the need for more specialized Perinatal care, St. Joseph Hospice in collaboration with St. Joseph Hospital has developed a Perinatal Hospice program to help you and your family through this time of uncertainty. You do not have to walk alone.
Meet the Perinatal Comfort Care Team
The Program Coordinator admits the parents to the Perinatal Comfort Care (PCC) program, facilitates communication with the hospital staff, facilitates the Perinatal conference at the hospital and coordinates the PCC team.
The Clinical Social Worker completes the initial assessment, provides psychosocial support and counseling to the family. The social worker assists parents in developing a holistic Birthing Plan and offers referrals to community resources. The Social Worker also provides opportunities for the parents and family to participate in memory making.
A Nurse partners with the Social Worker to create a special Birthing Plan for the family. The PCC Nurse provides education and support to parents and family members to better understand their baby’s diagnosis and what to expect at the time of birth and aftercare.
The Chaplain provides a spiritual assessment and collaborates with the parents to establish a care plan to meet the spiritual needs of all family members. The Chaplain will help families find purpose and meaning in the lifetime of their baby. The Chaplain is also available to facilitate blessings, baptism and other rituals.
The Music Therapist provides an assessment and care plan to meet the psychosocial needs of the family. Through music, the therapist is available to assist family members in bonding with their baby and exploring their feelings regarding the birth and possible death of their baby.
Volunteers are available to assist the family by providing emotional support and respite.
This outpatient Hospice team, along with the mother’s obstetrician and hospital staff, partner together to provide comprehensive care from the time of diagnosis through bereavement.
Infant and Pregnancy Loss Resources
No one should feel they have to walk this journey alone. Here are some resources available to you and your loved ones:
www.perinatalhospice.org
www.plida.org
www.missfoundation.org
www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org
www.nationalshareoffice.com
www.childrenshospice.org
Perinatal Comfort Care in the News
The St. Joseph Hospital Perinatal Comfort Care Program has gained local and national attention for groundbreaking approaches aiding patients and families through a difficult time. Here are some recent news features:
Working Nurse
Ø Neonatal Hospice Nursing, Part I
Ø Neonatal Hospice Nursing, Part II
Orange County Register
Ø They Don't Regret a Single Second
Ø After Tragedy Family Greets Healthy Baby
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