Fw: Digest Number 233

[Guest guest]

Forwarded--from Patty (Paddymac)

Excellent information!

----Jeanine

Re: [OBnurses] Digest Number 233

> In a message dated 09/03/1999 6:52:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> OBnursesonelist writes:

>

> << I'm going to pose a question--how many of you have mothers who have had

a

> miscarriage on your units, and how do you meet their emotional needs

while

> they are there? >>

>

> Jeanine,

>

> At our hospital, we have an extensive library of booklets that

> we give to the mothers who have suffered a miscarriage, and

> or fetal demise or neonatal death. These include a wonderful

> booklet entitle " When Hello Means Good-bye. " Also, booklets

> for the fathers and for the siblings.

> We generally don't move the mothers off of the floor, unless,

> the mother requests to be moved. All of our rooms are private.

> We generally take an instant photograph of the fetus and

> take footprints and measure the fetus. The footprints and

> measurements are placed on a special memory card.

> In addition to the instant photographs, we take an entire

> roll of pictures with our newborn camera equipment.

> This film is developed and then sent to the hospital,

> if the mother wants these pictures, they are given to her

> at no cost.

> And, there is a program called SHARE, which helps

> the moms and families after their loss to cope.

> Information on SHARE is given to the patient,

> with the name and number of a contact person

> from that organization.

> Also, the mothers room is " marked " with a small card of

> an angel on her door, so that volunteers, other staff, etc.,

> know that there has been a loss.

> Very few of our mothers have asked to be transferred off

> the floor. I think it helps that the mother and family

> has bonded with the floor staff during the process of

> either being in the hospital as an antepartum patient

> who suffers a loss, or a newly admitted patient who

> comes in for induction for a fetal demise, etc.

> On a personal note, I suffered two miscarriages

> prior to my son's birth (he is now 27years old).

> Anyway, I was kept on the same floor as the maternity

> patients, but, in a room alone. It was OK.

>

> Sorry that this is so long.

> Feel free to edit as you see fit.

> If you want a more complete list of the booklets

> that we give to the mothers and the SHARE program,

> e-mail me directly and I will sent it to you.

>

> Patty