Doula services for Fetal Demise, Miscarriage, Stillbirth

[SuzieQ_Scrapper]

A friend of mine and I (both OB RN's with over 15 years of experience together) are thinking about offering doula/labor support for women who are going to labor (or D&C) with a known demise, miscarriage or labor where the mom knows the baby is not compatable with life and chooses to give birth.

Are there any services like that out there now? We would like to talk to someone who has experience with the business end of this.

We are trying to figure out reimbursement for the services.

What we would like to offer is labor support (not as the nurse), answer questions about what to expect, emotional support for mother and father, etc. All the things the floor nurse wishes she had more time to do. We would offer follow-up services as well.

I attended a Perinatal Berevement Seminar recently and there was a panal of mothers who spoke about there loss. The mother that struck me the most, was the one that had a miscarriage. She had 3 D&C's and everyone treated her like it was "just a surgery" after each one. She just needed someone there to help her morn her pregnancy loss.

Does anyone know of services like this. What do you think of the idea.

Susan

[SuzieQ_Scrapper]

While I have nothing constructive to add except I think that it is a wonderful idea. Unfortunately I cannot think how to execute this but, wow, I know in our hospital this would be greatly appreciated. Nothing could be worse than on a horribly busy shift and you are trying to tend to everyone adequately and there is this laboring mom that needs all the support she can get-laboring and beyond.

A very thoughtful, and much needed service. Good luck.

It does seem that it is the absolute busiest days/nights when the demises come, doesn't it?

Susan

[goats'r'us, ASN, RN]

that is a wonderful idea, and i really hope you can pull it off. there's a real need, and you sound like just the people to fill it.

[BSNtobe2009]

To market yourself, I would suggest finding out if in your state if you have to have a counseling certificate or any other credentials besides an RN.

Then get a business license and come up with a flyer or brochure and set up appointments with area OB-GYN's...that would be your referral source.

[SuzieQ_Scrapper]

To market yourself, I would suggest finding out if in your state if you have to have a counseling certificate or any other credentials besides an RN.

Then get a business license and come up with a flyer or brochure and set up appointments with area OB-GYN's...that would be your referral source.

I guess what we want to figure out first is how we will get paid for this service. I know that sounds harsh, but we do have families we need to provide for.

My friend is a trained doula, and I want to get the same. We plan to take some courses in grief counseling as well.

Thanks for your marketing ideas.

Susan

[CEG]

I think it's a great idea. Remember that the woman also doesn't know the nurse she is getting and probably doesn't know her doctor really well. Having someone who's sole goal is to take care of her emotional needs, stranger or not, would usually be very welcome I would think.

[SuzieQ_Scrapper]

I think it's a great idea. Remember that the woman also doesn't know the nurse she is getting and probably doesn't know her doctor really well. Having someone who's sole goal is to take care of her emotional needs, stranger or not, would usually be very welcome I would think.

That is a good thought--most of the people are strangers to her at that point already. My friend and I were kind of thinking along those lines as well. My friend and I both seem to be able to warm up to people quickly and there are very few people I would say that we have a hard time connecting with on some level. I think the family (husband, grandparents, etc) would appreciate the relief from being the support person (that we usually expect to be there during a normal delivery) since they will have their own issues to be dealing with as well.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Susan

[BonnieSc]

Quite a few doulas out there work with women they haven't built a relationship with--they're "on call" for whoever needs one, or they're backup doulas if the mother's original doula suddenly can't make it. You can definitely be an effective doula without knowing the family ahead of time.

Some hospitals do hire doulas already, so I would definitely approach them with this plan, especially as you need to charge money. I do think it would be hard to find clients who would be willing to spend the $400 (or whatever) doula fee if they weren't already planning to hire a doula.

[SuzieQ_Scrapper]

Quite a few doulas out there work with women they haven't built a relationship with--they're "on call" for whoever needs one, or they're backup doulas if the mother's original doula suddenly can't make it. You can definitely be an effective doula without knowing the family ahead of time.

Some hospitals do hire doulas already, so I would definitely approach them with this plan, especially as you need to charge money. I do think it would be hard to find clients who would be willing to spend the $400 (or whatever) doula fee if they weren't already planning to hire a doula.

I agree that I would not want to add another fee to an already hurting family. That's why I am looking at other funding options. I didn't, until recently, know that some hospitals hire doulas. That will be a good way to approach the nurse managers. Not sure that any hosptials in my area already hire them--so may be something I need to investigate.

I also agree that an effective doula doesn't have to know the family ahead of time. I feel that I do this all the time when patients walk through the door. You quickly assess their needs and build a relationship from there.

Thanks for your insight.

Susan

[veggiegarden]

I do think it would be hard to find clients who would be willing to spend the $400 (or whatever) doula fee if they weren't already planning to hire a doula.

As someone who has personally gone through a fetal demise in the hospital, I came to post something similar--but now will just reiterate this point. After the devestation of what happened, I would not have been happy to have had to pay for yet another service if it were not covered by insurance. I'm remembering the mountains of bills I had to pay after the experience. I think the service is a great idea, but would hope that the hospital would foot the bill or that funding would somehow otherwise be covered. Best of luck.

[SuzieQ_Scrapper]

As someone who has personally gone through a fetal demise in the hospital, I came to post something similar--but now will just reiterate this point. After the devestation of what happened, I would not have been happy to have had to pay for yet another service if it were not covered by insurance. I'm remembering the mountains of bills I had to pay after the experience. I think the service is a great idea, but would hope that the hospital would foot the bill or that funding would somehow otherwise be covered. Best of luck.

Thanks for your insight. I certainly would not offer this service if the reinbursment would come from the family's pocket! I am hoping to find hospitals willing to foot the bill in order for families to recieve the best care possible at their facility. It will take some marketing of the idea, but I pray that hospitals will see the benefit.

Susan

[CEG]

There are some organizations that offer services like bereavement photography. I don't know if their services are volunteer or if they are paid for their time, but it might be worthwhile to find out how their services are provided. Unfortunately I can't think of any of the names of the groups:) You could probably google it and get some info.

[preemieRNkate, RN]

Where I work (in NICU) we have a group founded by a family who had lost a baby in our unit about 20 years ago. They have fundraisers (dinners, golf outings, raffles, etc) throughout the year to raise money and then with the money they purchase memory boxes for families who lose a baby, put together welcome kits for every baby admitted and also serve as a support group for all families with babies in NICU. They also buy us things when we need them (copy machine, refridgerator for break room, etc.). Maybe you could find out if any of your local hospitals have anything similar that could help pay for doula services for these moms.