How one mother supported others experiencing perinatal loss — and how you can, too

The loss of a pregnancy or newborn is often unexpected, traumatic — and lonely.

Family members often have innumerable questions, but perhaps are too much in shock to ask them. They experience a unique set of emotions that may include guilt, sadness, anger and even denial. And many parents do not know where to turn for help with their grief.

After experiencing the loss of her baby boy, Noah, at 18 weeks, Brooke Bragg and her husband Dawson, felt many of these emotions. Brooke had been under the care of the physicians at Lankenau Medical Center when she suffered the devastating loss. She found solace, however, in Main Line Health's Perinatal Bereavement Program, where staff trained to care for the unique needs of bereaved family members comforted her and provide information on counseling and support programs. Brooke was also given take-home items like cherished footprints and educational materials placed in a beautiful butterfly bag.

Brooke was so touched by the bag of items, and the sensitivity of the staff, that she and Dawson decided to pay it forward for other parents experiencing perinatal loss due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and traumatic neonatal and infant death. They helped fund their own version of take-home items called "Noah's Purpose" bags, which provides support materials for bereaved mothers and their families while also honoring their loss with keepsake items. 

Main Line Health's Perinatal Bereavement Program is offered to all patients and their families who experience perinatal loss. Programs like these are rare in the U.S., but one that Main Line Health considers an integral part of compassionate care. In some cases, the immediate support provided to these parents may be the only emotional aid and acknowledgment of their pain that they receive.

The program is guided by evidence-based practices and the latest research on grief and bereavement in perinatal settings. Education is an integral part of our program, with caregivers trained by Resolve Through Sharing (RTS), the leading provider of bereavement education and resources for healthcare professionals worldwide, which gives practitioners the knowledge, skills and personal awareness they need to care for patients and families experiencing perinatal loss.

In addition to the training of staff, the Perinatal Bereavement Program offers:

• Take-home educational and support resources for parents, grandparents and surviving siblings
• Personalized memory-making opportunities such as specialized molds and photography
• Access to grief counseling and organized support groups
• A fund to help financially disadvantaged patients cover the cost of cremation, burial or funeral services
• An annual "Service of Remembrance," open to all bereaved family members, who can come together to honor their loss and create relationships with others experiencing loss

For patients like Brooke, the program makes an immeasurable difference in navigating one of life's hardest undertakings. As one bereft mother shared recently:

"You helped provide us light and resources during our time of need, and it truly makes a difference. Although I left the hospital with a broken heart, I didn't feel alone in my grief. I had direction on how to heal from our loss, and that meant the world to me."

The Perinatal Bereavement Program at Main Line Health is funded by donors and provided free of charge. Donations and memorial gifts help us continue this important work.

To support the Perinatal Bereavement Program at Main Line Health, visit our giving page and designate "Perinatal Bereavement" in the drop-down box.