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How does your facility deal with fetal demise?



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Jun 05, 2009 05:54 PM

How does your facility deal with fetal demise?


Hello. I am a student nurse with a job in L&D this summer. I overall like the unit but there are several things that I find strange. One of the things I found strange was when I asked the nurse manager what kind of resources are available to parents after fetal demise, I was told there weren't any. Is this normal? I feel the hospital should offer at least something for the parents. I was really surprised by this since this is a large l&d with a good reputation. I was also told that they avg about 9 cases of fetal demise a month. I just want to hear the thoughts of l&d nurses.

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21 Comments
No. 1
from chulaRN2be
Old Jun 05, 2009, 06:07 PM

Default Re: How does your facility deal with fetal demise?
O man how sad I couldn't imagine how to deal with an issue like that for the nurse and patient they should have a social worker and or a support group associated with the hospital!?!?!
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No. 2
from GrumpyRN63
Old Jun 05, 2009, 06:21 PM

Default Re: How does your facility deal with fetal demise?
I am no longer on L and D, but we deliver demises up to 23 weeks on my floor. We (and l and d) have a protocol in place. All pts see SW, given lots of support group/genetic counseling resources, we do a whole bereavement protocol, memory box, lock of hair, footprints etc, baby blanket and hat, photos if they desire, memory/angel candle, beautiful poems, resources for the sign other and children storybooks for any siblings that explains in their terms the loss
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No. 3
from hikernurse
Old Jun 05, 2009, 10:47 PM

Default Re: How does your facility deal with fetal demise?
Look up www.nationalshare.org. They have some great resources for professionals.

"Now I lay me down to sleep" is an organization where photographers volunteer their time to take pictures of babies who are in the process of dying or have died. I have seen some of their work and it is amazing. They give a disc to parents to print when they are ready.

I'm disappointed to hear that this hospital doesn't provide bereavement services for this patient population. Fetal demise is an event that permanently shapes the lives of the parents and families. If you end up working there after graduation, I'd hope you'd seriously consider setting up a protocol for this.

Thanks for your concern about these families, your advocacy for your patients is commendable .
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No. 4
from LauraLiz
Old Jun 06, 2009, 12:17 AM

Default Re: How does your facility deal with fetal demise?
Originally Posted by GrumpyRN63 View Post
I am no longer on L and D, but we deliver demises up to 23 weeks on my floor. We (and l and d) have a protocol in place. All pts see SW, given lots of support group/genetic counseling resources, we do a whole bereavement protocol, memory box, lock of hair, footprints etc, baby blanket and hat, photos if they desire, memory/angel candle, beautiful poems, resources for the sign other and children storybooks for any siblings that explains in their terms the loss

Do you happen to know the names of those children's books?
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No. 5
from anggelgal
Old Jun 06, 2009, 12:05 PM

Default Re: How does your facility deal with fetal demise?
Thank you so much for the nationalshare website. I found it to be very helpful. I will definitely share these resources with the nurse manager. I hope they will use some of these to educate their staff. Thank you so much for sharing.
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No. 6
from ducknurse
Old Jun 06, 2009, 11:38 PM

Default Re: How does your facility deal with fetal demise?
We have a share program that deals with everything from sab's to 40 week demises. We have 2 Share co-ordinators. If u want any info, let me know and I can send it your way!!
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No. 7
from Elvish
Old Jun 07, 2009, 06:14 PM

Default Re: How does your facility deal with fetal demise?
We have grief packets and information about support groups, that we offer at any gestation loss. We offer chaplain service as well but it's parents' choice to say yes or no to that. Our grief packets contain information about the grief process and books to help siblings deal, if that applies.

Our memory box contains of
pictures
hand/footprints
the clothes that were used in the picture
armbands like the ones we use for live newborns w/ birth info
locks of hair, if possible

I love the work that the folks at NILMDTS do. So professional and so beautiful.
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No. 8
from michelledouglas
Old Jun 15, 2009, 01:48 PM

Default Re: How does your facility deal with fetal demise?
We have 24/7 chapilin and social workers on board. We also have a therapist that they can talk to.

We give them a hospital bracelet, footprints, handprints, baby blanket, and pictures if they so request. We have social workers for siblings to read and we also give the mother and father a list of outside resources.

I have seen a lot of NILMDTS work and it is amazing. I wish they did it around us...
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No. 9
from LDRNMOMMY
Old Jun 21, 2009, 05:03 AM

Default Re: How does your facility deal with fetal demise?
Originally Posted by GrumpyRN63 View Post
I am no longer on L and D, but we deliver demises up to 23 weeks on my floor. We (and l and d) have a protocol in place. All pts see SW, given lots of support group/genetic counseling resources, we do a whole bereavement protocol, memory box, lock of hair, footprints etc, baby blanket and hat, photos if they desire, memory/angel candle, beautiful poems, resources for the sign other and children storybooks for any siblings that explains in their terms the loss
We do the same here here. We also have a photographer affiliated with NILMDTS, we are overseas so this is amazing! Unfortunately they will not come to photograph a demise that is less than 25 weeks. We did have a photographer come for a 22 week demise informed us of their policy, but she took photos anyway. We also have plaster mixes to make casts of the baby's feet, when the condition permits. I have seen a set of the feet a co-worker made for the 22 week demise, and they were a perfect set of feet!

There is also a perinatal loss support group that meets monthly at one of the base chapels.
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