How does your facility deal with fetal demise?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

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.

Specializes in Med/Surg; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; L&D.

I have always felt the trade off of the priveledge of being a part of the happiest time in the life of a family is being there during the saddest of the sad. Fortunately, it doesn't happen that often, and even when it does it's an honor and a priviledg, as well. I feel that we at Rio Grande Regional handle these situations well. We have demise packets, with all the appropriate forms topped by an algorithm sheet that tells us how to proceed depending on whether the baby is more or less than 20 weeks. We offer our chaplain's services for those parents that need, and we have two different sized memory boxes, depending on the age of the baby. Inside are some small keepsake items, a card we all sign, a booklet entitled when hello means goodbye, and a list of resource numbers and websites for them. We take pictures of the baby and put them in the bottom of the box and offer to let them see and hold the baby if they chose to. We have a baptism kit, as well, if desired.

If it is a first baby, I try to make correlations with some of the process with one day when they hopefully return under happier circumstances, but I'm careful how I approach this and make sure they know that this baby's memory is a treasure. Most find it reassuring that even under normal situations, that is what labor feels like, or that is what getting an epidural is like, etc.

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Specializes in L&D, GYN, Neo ICU, Nursing Education.

Oh, how sad. When I was working I was in L&D, PP, GYN, and Neo ICU. I am and was a perinatal bereavement counselor/coordinator for RTS from LaCrosse, WI. We worked with the families closely. Our work included making sure the parents and family were able to hold their baby and say good-bye. The parents were given a packet full of information about how to cope, about how to handle grief, and what to expect. We bathed the baby, dressed them in some gorgeous little handmade outfits provided by a ladies group at church, wrapped them in warm blankets, and took them to the room. It's rewarding work. If you're interested in OB nursing consider becoming a counselor with RTS and implementing a program. If you have to some kind of project for a class this would be perfect. Enjoy your career, it's the best despite the junk.

Winona Cross, BSN, RN

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Hey all! I was wondering if anyone would be willing to send me a copy of their hospital policies/procedures for IUFD. We're trying to re-do ours and I'm on the commity for this and could use as many resouces as possible because ours is not good and I'd love for it to be great! Thanks!

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At the hospital I work at we have a nurse who is certified as a grief counselor. We have have lots of materials for the parents to read and we put together a little box with a disposable camera that we take pictures of the baby on and the parents can develop it if and when they would like. Sometimes we even cut a little bit of the baby's hair and put it in a plastic bag. We just put some stuff together in a memory box that the parents can take with them. We also do a memorial service in May for all the babies that were lost through the year. Parents are also invited to this as well. I feel that our hospital does a good job at helping parents deal with fetal demise.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
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.

Sounds like what we have. THere are MANY resources for families suffering infant and fetal loss. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise and if you offer none at your hospital, it's time to start searching. These people need ALL the support we can offer.

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Hello fellow nurses, I came acrosss this question when I was actually looking for informatio for parents that have fetal demises at my facility, I am a newer nurse of 2 yrs and have worked my unit this entire time, I have gotten to see and comfort families of fetal demises quiet often, I had one of my one a few years ago and since being a nurse I have had a few pts ranging form GA of 14 weeks to 34 weeks, my unit does have a policy that we do for fetal demises, but we all have a memory box that we give patients, we do footprints, hand prints, locks of hair if available and photos, we also have recently since I have been there started working with a mortuary that will cremate the infants if families choose. I hope this helps in answering your question. A loss of a pregnancy at any GA is horrific for the family, we as nurses to remember compasion and give them tokens from that birth.

Elizabeth

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Does anyone have a policy related to fetal demise and the amount of time allowed before the babies body must be in the morgue? We have one, but it seems unrealistic (1.5 hours). Thanks!

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Specializes in L&D,Wound Care, SNC.

I have worked L&D at two different hospitals and in both places the policy stated that the mother decides when the baby goes to the morgue.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Ours is the same as above. Some babies never go to the morgue, and the family takes the remains home and buries them.

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Specializes in NICU.

We let family decide when the baby goes to the morgue, too. Wow, an hour and a half isn't very long :(. I've had babies who have stayed with their families for an entire shift. If they are facing a lifetime without their child, a few hours seems a small enough gift to give them.

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Thank you for your responses!

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Here's your chance to show "innitiative" and start a program yourself. This will look great to the big wigs at the hospital, will look great on your resume BUT ABOVE ALL this is your chance to really have a major positive impact on the lives of your patients and there familes! There will be a lot of work involved to get this going but if you really believe in it's importance then don't take no for an answer and don't let anyone block your way. Put together a game plan, make in organized and consistant, propose the plan to your supervisor after you have it all put together and then the next step if you get approval will be a meeting with your co-workers to put it into effect. Make sure you have everything planned out and organized as a finished project when you present it to your supervisor, lots of details and know your stuff otherwise it will just get put off. If your supervisor procrastinates or isn't on board, then keep going up the ladder. This is a great opportunity for you as a patient advocate.

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